Patents by Inventor Frank Zerrweck

Frank Zerrweck 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).

  • Patent number: 6758495
    Abstract: A method and system for restraining an occupant on a vehicle seat, the occupant being pulled into the vehicle seat is provided with a force by a belt tensioner when a critical driving state is detected and then held in a pulled-back position on the vehicle seat with a holding force. The holding force selected is lower than the force for pulling the occupant back. A forward-looking detection system for a dangerous driving state and an occupant-position detection system unprovided, in which, when a dangerous driving state is detected, a belt tensioner is subjected to a force and the occupant is thereby pulled into the vehicle seat, and in which the occupant is held in a pulled-back position on the vehicle seat with a holding force which is lower than the force for pulling the occupant back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Luigi Brambilla, Wilfried Bullinger, Walter Eberle, Juergen Gimbel, Markus Hartlieb, Florent Paviot, Frank Zerrweck
  • Patent number: 6513616
    Abstract: An occupant-restraining system has a belt force limiter that limits a restraining force exerted on an occupant via a restraining belt by switching from a relatively higher to a relatively lower level of restraining force depending on predefined parameters. The belt-force limiter is activated only after a predetermined forward displacement of the occupant is reached and only after a predefined air bag inflating time, when an excessive crash intensity and an occupant's weight are recognized as being below a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Werner Bacher, Harald Rudolf, Frank Zerrweck
  • Publication number: 20020008372
    Abstract: An occupant-restraining system has a belt force limiter that limits a restraining force exerted on an occupant via a restraining belt by switching from a relatively higher to a relatively lower level of restraining force depending on predefined parameters. The belt-force limiter is activated only after a predetermined forward displacement of the occupant is reached and only after a predefined air bag inflating time, when an excessive crash intensity and an occupant's weight are recognized as being below a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2001
    Publication date: January 24, 2002
    Inventors: Werner Bacher, Harald Rudolf, Frank Zerrweck
  • Publication number: 20010054816
    Abstract: A method and system for restraining an occupant on a vehicle seat, the occupant being pulled into the vehicle seat is provided with a force by a belt tensioner when a critical driving state is detected and then held in a pulled-back position on the vehicle seat with a holding force. The holding force selected is lower than the force for pulling the occupant back. A forward-looking detection system for a dangerous driving state and an occupant-position detection system unprovided, in which, when a dangerous driving state is detected, a belt tensioner is subjected to a force and the occupant is thereby pulled into the vehicle seat, and in which the occupant is held in a pulled-back position on the vehicle seat with a holding force which is lower than the force for pulling the occupant back.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2001
    Publication date: December 27, 2001
    Inventors: Luigi Brambilla, Wilfried Bullinger, Walter Eberle, Juergen Gimbel, Markus Hartlieb, Florent Paviot, Frank Zerrweck
  • Patent number: 6304004
    Abstract: An actuating control apparatus for the control of different passenger safety components of a passenger safety system in a motor vehicle. The actuating control apparatus can be controlled at its input at least by one deceleration sensor and includes a signal evaluation with a programmable actuating logic as well as a plurality of output stages. In case of an actuation signal, the output stages issue an actuation current to the passenger safety component that is to be controlled. The output stages are adapted in their electrical/electronic performance to the particular passenger safety component. At least one output stage is provided which by a preset electrical control signal is adaptable in its electrical/electronic performance to at least two different passenger safety components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Michael Meyer, Frank Zerrweck
  • Patent number: 6031484
    Abstract: The invention relates to a triggering control device for occupant restraint systems in a vehicle whose triggering readiness can be influenced as a function of collision-relevant parameters. According to the invention, collision parameter detection comprises object detection, which can detect a collision object before a collision occurs in an area near the vehicle, and can determine at least a relative speed. Whenever a collision object is detected, a signal generator delivers a collision parameter signal that depends on the relative speed determined. In a preferred embodiment the collision parameter detection unit also determines the intrinsic speed of the vehicle and whenever no collision object is detected, the signal generator supplies a collision parameter signal influenced by the intrinsic speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Wilfried Bullinger, Walter Eberle, Markus Hartlieb, Michael Meyer, Manfred Mueller, Frank Zerrweck
  • Patent number: 5868427
    Abstract: A triggering circuit for a passenger restraint system for motor vehicles is provided with at lest one belt tightener for tightening a safety belt associated with a vehicle seat. A triggering circuit evaluates the acceleration signal from an accelerometer and delivers a triggering signal to the belt tightener when a critical impact is detected. An evaluation channel detects a rear-end collision. In the evaluation channel, on the basis of the acceleration signal that appears in the event of a rear-end collision, a travel signal that characterizes backward displacement of the passenger is determined that permits the triggering signal to be output to the belt tightener when a threshold value is exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Manfred Mueller, Harald Rudolf, Michael Meyer, Frank Zerrweck
  • Patent number: 5806923
    Abstract: An impact protection device in a motor vehicle having a vehicle seat has a taut tightening strap which reaches from the upper area of the backrest into the forward area of the seat cushion, so that the backrest is prevented from folding backwards in a vehicle crash. A protective element is positioned laterally on the vehicle seat, so that the impact of a sitting person moving toward the side during a vehicle crash can be damped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ulrich Tschaschke, Frank Zerrweck
  • Patent number: 5804887
    Abstract: A safety device is provided for a vehicle with a removable seat, especially a passenger seat, with an occupant restraint device associated with the seat. In addition, a seat occupation detection device located in the seat is provided that detects various states of seat occupation, especially by a person or by a child seat, and delivers a corresponding seat occupation status signal through a signal interface to a triggering control device located in the vehicle. The triggering control device takes the seat occupation status into account in delivering the triggering signal, especially to determine the scope of triggering of the restraint device. A seat installation detection device is provided that detects the proper installation of the seat and delivers a corresponding seat installation status signal to the triggering control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AG
    Inventors: Bernhard Holzapfel, Michael Meyer, Frank Zerrweck
  • Patent number: 5758900
    Abstract: A protection system for a competition vehicle for a competition vehicle driver has shoulder belt parts provided with one shoulder air bag respectively which can be inflated within fractions of seconds and can be emptied again in an energy consuming manner. In the inflated condition, the shoulder air bags are supported on the driver's shoulder regions and support a protective helmet from below against a lateral tilting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AG
    Inventors: Heinz Knoll, Manfred Muller, Ulrich Tschaschke, Wolfgang Fischer, Frank Zerrweck