Patents by Inventor Forrest Wen Liau

Forrest Wen Liau has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230242070
    Abstract: A system for detecting improper usage of a seatbelt of a vehicle includes a vehicle seat having a seat cushion and a seat back. A shoulder belt and a lap belt are intended to restrain an occupant sitting on the vehicle seat. The system includes a sensor module associated with the shoulder belt and the lap belt. The sensor module generates signals indicative of at least one parameter associated with the vehicle seat, the shoulder belt, and the lap belt when the occupant is sitting on the vehicle seat. The system also includes a controller that receives the signals indicative of the at least one parameter associated with the seat back, the shoulder belt, and the lap belt. The controller analyzes the received one or more signals, and determines whether the seatbelt is being used improperly by the occupant, based on the analysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventor: Forrest Wen Liau
  • Patent number: 11661028
    Abstract: A system for detecting improper usage of a seatbelt of a vehicle includes a vehicle seat having a seat cushion and a seat back. A shoulder belt and a lap belt are intended to restrain an occupant sitting on the vehicle seat. The system includes a sensor module associated with the shoulder belt and the lap belt. The sensor module generates signals indicative of at least one parameter associated with the vehicle seat, the shoulder belt, and the lap belt when the occupant is sitting on the vehicle seat. The system also includes a controller that receives the signals indicative of the at least one parameter associated with the seat back, the shoulder belt, and the lap belt. The controller analyzes the received one or more signals, and determines whether the seatbelt is being used improperly by the occupant, based on the analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventor: Forrest Wen Liau
  • Patent number: 11554699
    Abstract: A cushion having a fibrous foam architecture. The cushion has a trim cover and a number of fibrous layers attached to the trim cover. One or more structural properties of a fibrous layer can be controlled to differ from that of other layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignees: Tesla, Inc., PIANA NONWOVENS. LLC
    Inventors: Forrest Wen Liau, Stefan Kuzmanovski, Jorge C. Fialho, Andrea Piana, Eric McCann, Mehran Jafari, Andy Hollis, Helias Andriessen
  • Patent number: 11167676
    Abstract: A load-bearing fabric architecture including a soft surface material, a support system provided in contact with the soft surface material. The support system comprises a frame and structural surface material connected to the frame. The soft surface material is at least partially disposed above the support system, and the support system is configured to support an applied load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: TESLA, INC.
    Inventors: Forrest Wen Liau, Stefan Kuzmanovski
  • Publication number: 20210309180
    Abstract: A system for detecting improper usage of a seatbelt of a vehicle includes a vehicle seat having a seat cushion and a seat back. A shoulder belt and a lap belt are intended to restrain an occupant sitting on the vehicle seat. The system includes a sensor module associated with the shoulder belt and the lap belt. The sensor module generates signals indicative of at least one parameter associated with the vehicle seat, the shoulder belt, and the lap belt when the occupant is sitting on the vehicle seat. The system also includes a controller that receives the signals indicative of the at least one parameter associated with the seat back, the shoulder belt, and the lap belt. The controller analyzes the received one or more signals, and determines whether the seatbelt is being used improperly by the occupant, based on the analysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventor: Forrest Wen Liau
  • Patent number: 10889262
    Abstract: A system for detecting improper usage of a seatbelt of a vehicle includes a vehicle seat having a seat cushion and a seat back. A shoulder belt and a lap belt are intended to restrain an occupant sitting on the vehicle seat. The system includes a sensor module associated with the shoulder belt and the lap belt. The sensor module generates signals indicative of at least one parameter associated with the vehicle seat, the shoulder belt, and the lap belt when the occupant is sitting on the vehicle seat. The system also includes a controller that receives the signals indicative of the at least one parameter associated with the seat back, the shoulder belt, and the lap belt. The controller analyzes the received one or more signals, and determines whether the seatbelt is being used improperly by the occupant, based on the analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventor: Forrest Wen Liau
  • Publication number: 20190344691
    Abstract: A cushion having a fibrous foam architecture. The cushion has a trim cover and a number of fibrous layers attached to the trim cover. One or more structural properties of a fibrous layer can be controlled to differ from that of other layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Applicant: TESLA, INC.
    Inventors: Forrest Wen Liau, Stefan Kuzmanovski, Jorge C. Fialho
  • Publication number: 20190208914
    Abstract: A method for forming a skin-foam architecture for a seat. The method includes loading a backing cover into a first portion of the tool. The method includes applying and curing a skin on a second portion of the tool, the skin including a first layer, and a second layer under the first layer. The method includes laminating a mesh under the skin. The method includes attaching and curing a foam layer under the mesh and the skin. The method includes mating the first and second portions of the tool. The method includes introducing foam between the mated first and second portions of the tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Applicant: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventor: Forrest Wen Liau
  • Publication number: 20190168710
    Abstract: A system for detecting improper usage of a seatbelt of a vehicle includes a vehicle seat having a seat cushion and a seat back. A shoulder belt and a lap belt are intended to restrain an occupant sitting on the vehicle seat. The system includes a sensor module associated with the shoulder belt and the lap belt. The sensor module generates signals indicative of at least one parameter associated with the vehicle seat, the shoulder belt, and the lap belt when the occupant is sitting on the vehicle seat. The system also includes a controller that receives the signals indicative of the at least one parameter associated with the seat back, the shoulder belt, and the lap belt. The controller analyzes the received one or more signals, and determines whether the seatbelt is being used improperly by the occupant, based on the analysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Applicant: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventor: Forrest Wen Liau
  • Publication number: 20190168648
    Abstract: A load-bearing fabric architecture including a soft surface material, a support system provided in contact with the soft surface material. The support system comprises a frame and structural surface material connected to the frame. The soft surface material is at least partially disposed above the support system, and the support system is configured to support an applied load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Applicant: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventor: Forrest Wen Liau