Patents by Inventor Horst Kettern-Kohler

Horst Kettern-Kohler 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).

  • Method for controlling a belt pretensioner and safety arrangement comprising a belt pretensioner
    Patent number: 8335614
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for controlling a reversible seat belt pretensioner in a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of detecting the speed and the steering angle of the vehicle, calculating an expected turning rate of the vehicle about its vertical axis from the speed and the steering angle and calculating an upper and a lower turning rate limiting value using the expected turning rate, detecting the actual turning rate of the vehicle about its vertical axis and activating the seat belt pretensioner of the vehicle if the actual turning rate of the vehicle is greater than the upper turning rate limiting value or is less than the lower turning rate limiting value. The present invention also relates to a safety arrangement for implementing the method according to the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Klaus Bauer, Simon Hesse, Horst Kettern-Kohler, Ulrich Rick
  • Headlamp in an automobile
    Patent number: 8297810
    Abstract: A headlamp in an automobile, which is rotatable about a yaw axis when negotiating a bend, has a controller for controlling the rotary movement. In order to improve the illumination of a roadway lying in front of an automobile, the controller may take into account unstable driving situations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Horst Kettern-Kohler
  • HEADLAMP IN AN AUTOMOBILE
    Publication number: 20100149827
    Abstract: A headlamp in an automobile, which is rotatable about a yaw axis when negotiating a bend, has a controller for controlling the rotary movement. In order to improve the illumination of a roadway lying in front of an automobile, the controller may take into account unstable driving situations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2007
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Horst Kettern-Kohler
  • Method for Controlling a Belt Pretensioner and Safety Arrangement Comprising a Belt Pretensioner
    Publication number: 20080300753
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for controlling a reversible seat belt pretensioner in a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of detecting the speed and the steering angle of the vehicle, calculating an expected turning rate of the vehicle about its vertical axis from the speed and the steering angle and calculating an upper and a lower turning rate limiting value using the expected turning rate, detecting the actual turning rate of the vehicle about its vertical axis and activating the seat belt pretensioner of the vehicle if the actual turning rate of the vehicle is greater than the upper turning rate limiting value or is less than the lower turning rate limiting value. The present invention also relates to a safety arrangement for implementing the method according to the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Klaus Bauer, Simon Hesse, Horst Kettern-Kohler, Ulrich Rick