Patents by Inventor Karl Birk
Karl Birk 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).
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Patent number: 12030457Abstract: A method for a seat belt system (10) in a vehicle (14), the seat belt system (10) comprising a control unit (36) and at least one seat belt (18) with an extendable webbing (20) and a webbing extension measuring device (30), includes the steps of: a) determining whether a vehicle seat (16) is occupied, b) determining whether the webbing (20) is in a storage position, if the vehicle seat (16) is not occupied, and c) outputting a warning signal, in particular via an output device (34), if the webbing (20) is not in the storage position. Moreover, the invention provides a seat belt system (10) for a vehicle (14) comprising an extendable seat belt (17, 18) as well as a vehicle (14) comprising a seat belt system (10).Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2020Date of Patent: July 9, 2024Assignee: ZF AUTOMOTIVE GERMANY GMBHInventors: Martin Seyffert, Karl Birk
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Patent number: 11794689Abstract: A method for the dynamic fixation of an occupant wearing a seatbelt on a vehicle seat involves determining a lateral acceleration of the vehicle and a road course ahead of the vehicle. The seatbelt is tightened with a predetermined belt force for a predetermined period of time before entering a bend having a certain curvature.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2019Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignee: MERCEDES-BENZ GROUP AGInventors: Karl Birk, Ralf Bogenrieder, Uwe Merz, Christian Nierla, Martin Seyffert
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Patent number: 11614346Abstract: A method for sensing the webbing extension of a seat belt (12) from a webbing retractor (10) of a vehicle includes sensing the position of the magnet (18) by means of the magnetic field sensor (20) by the control unit (22). The control unit (22) detects when the magnet (18) has completed a full turn. The control unit (22) deposits the number of the full turns in a memory (26). The control unit (22) determines the webbing extension by way of number of the full turns and the position of the magnet (18). A webbing retractor (10) for a seat belt (12) has a magnet (18).Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2018Date of Patent: March 28, 2023Assignee: ZF AUTOMOTIVE GERMANY GMBHInventors: Martin Seyffert, Karl Birk
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Publication number: 20230070331Abstract: A method for a seat belt system (10) in a vehicle (14), the seat belt system (10) comprising a control unit (36) and at least one extendable seat belt (18) with a locking tongue (22), at least one belt buckle (24) and at least one webbing extension measuring device (30), includes the steps of: a) determining the webbing extension by means of the webbing extension measuring device (30), b) determining whether a buckling operation has occurred, c) activating at least one guide element on the belt buckle (24) and/or the seat belt (18), if a buckling operation has occurred. Moreover, the invention provides a seat belt system (10) for a vehicle (14) comprising an extendable seat belt (18) as well as a vehicle comprising a seat belt system (10).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2020Publication date: March 9, 2023Inventors: Oliver GROSS, Karl HUDELMAIER, Karl BIRK, Marcel KÖNIG
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Publication number: 20230052692Abstract: A method for a seat belt system (10) in a vehicle (14), wherein the seat belt system (10) comprises an extendable seat belt (18), a webbing extension measuring device (30) and a control unit (36), includes the steps of: a) determining the webbing extension by means of the webbing extension measuring device (30), b) determining whether a locking tongue (22) is connected to a belt buckle (24), c) determining whether the webbing extension is above a threshold. Moreover, the invention provides a seat belt system (10) for a vehicle (14) comprising an extendable seat belt (18) and a vehicle (14) comprising a seat belt system (10).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2020Publication date: February 16, 2023Inventors: Karl BIRK, Martin SEYFFERT
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Publication number: 20230031409Abstract: A method for a seat belt system (10) in a vehicle (14), the seat belt system (10) comprising a control unit (36) and at least one seat belt (18) with an extendable webbing (20) and a webbing extension measuring device (30), includes the steps of: a) determining whether a vehicle seat (16) is occupied, b) determining whether the webbing (20) is in a storage position, if the vehicle seat (16) is not occupied, and c) outputting a warning signal, in particular via an output device (34), if the webbing (20) is not in the storage position. Moreover, the invention provides a seat belt system (10) for a vehicle (14) comprising an extendable seat belt (17, 18) as well as a vehicle (14) comprising a seat belt system (10).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2020Publication date: February 2, 2023Inventors: Martin SEYFFERT, Karl BIRK
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Publication number: 20210001801Abstract: A method for the dynamic fixation of an occupant wearing a seatbelt on a vehicle seat involves determining a lateral acceleration of the vehicle and a road course ahead of the vehicle. The seatbelt is tightened with a predetermined belt force for a predetermined period of time before entering a bend having a certain curvature.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2019Publication date: January 7, 2021Inventors: Karl BIRK, Ralf BOGENRIEDER, Uwe MERZ, Christian NIERLA, Martin SEYFFERT
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Publication number: 20200292357Abstract: A method for sensing the webbing extension of a seat belt (12) from a webbing retractor (10) of a vehicle includes sensing the position of the magnet (18) by means of the magnetic field sensor (20) by the control unit (22). The control unit (22) detects when the magnet (18) has completed a full turn. The control unit (22) deposits the number of the full turns in a memory (26). The control unit (22) determines the webbing extension by way of number of the full turns and the position of the magnet (18). A webbing retractor (10) for a seat belt (12) has a magnet (18).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2018Publication date: September 17, 2020Inventors: Martin Seyffert, Karl Birk
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Patent number: 10457247Abstract: A belt buckle feeder comprises a stationary base (12) adapted to be fixedly mounted to the vehicle and a carriage (14) movable to a retracted position and to an extended position vis-à-vis the base (12), which carriage is connected to a belt buckle (20) via an intermediate plate (22) provided between the belt buckle (20) and the carriage (14). The intermediate plate (22) is tightly connected to the belt buckle (20) and there is provided a positive guidance by which the intermediate plate (22) is pivoted during traversing to the extended position by a predetermined degree vis-à-vis the carriage (14) so that in addition to the traversing movement of the carriage (14) along a tilting direction (N) the belt buckle (20) reversibly tilts from a home position to an inclined position.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2015Date of Patent: October 29, 2019Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBHInventors: Jens Klaassen, David Reich, Karsten Kortschack, Karl Birk
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Patent number: 10266146Abstract: A belt buckle feeder comprises a base (12) adapted to be fixedly attached to the vehicle and a carriage (14) being movably supported on the base (12) to which carriage a belt buckle (20) can be coupled and which can be moved by a drive arranged on the base (12). The drive includes an electric motor (26) and a worm gear comprising a worm shaft (34) which has a worm (36) as well as drive spur wheel teeth (40), with the shaft (28) of the electric motor (26) including a pinion (30) which is engaged in the drive spur wheel teeth (40) and drives the worm shaft (34).Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2015Date of Patent: April 23, 2019Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbHInventors: Jens Klaassen, Karl Birk
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Patent number: 10227057Abstract: In a method for identifying misuse of a seat belt in a vehicle, vehicle data are detected and, based on said data, a plausibility check is performed for determining whether the seat belt is fastened as intended. Signals of at least one belt buckle sensor and of at least one webbing extension sensor are detected and a plausibility check for misuse is performed by taking the time course of the signals and/or the point in time of input of the signals into account so as to make a comparison with stored reference data. A seat belt system in a vehicle for carrying out said method comprises at least one belt buckle sensor and at least one webbing extension sensor as well as at least one seat occupation sensor, one door sensor, one vehicle acceleration sensor and/or one vehicle speedometer as well as a control unit in which the signals of the sensors are stored and evaluated.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2016Date of Patent: March 12, 2019Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GmbHInventors: Martin Seyffert, Karl Birk
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Publication number: 20170369031Abstract: In a method for identifying misuse of a seat belt in a vehicle, vehicle data are detected and, based on said data, a plausibility check is performed for determining whether the seat belt is fastened as intended. Signals of at least one belt buckle sensor and of at least one webbing extension sensor are detected and a plausibility check for misuse is performed by taking the time course of the signals and/or the point in time of input of the signals into account so as to make a comparison with stored reference data. A seat belt system in a vehicle for carrying out said method comprises at least one belt buckle sensor and at least one webbing extension sensor as well as at least one seat occupation sensor, one door sensor, one vehicle acceleration sensor and/or one vehicle speedometer as well as a control unit in which the signals of the sensors are stored and evaluated.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2016Publication date: December 28, 2017Inventors: Martin Seyffert, Karl Birk
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Publication number: 20170253214Abstract: A belt buckle feeder comprises a base (12) adapted to be fixedly attached to the vehicle and a carriage (14) being movably supported on the base (12) to which carriage a belt buckle (20) can be coupled and which can be moved by a drive arranged on the base (12). The drive includes an electric motor (26) and a worm gear comprising a worm shaft (34) which has a worm (36) as well as drive spur wheel teeth (40), with the shaft (28) of the electric motor (26) including a pinion (30) which is engaged in the drive spur wheel teeth (40) and drives the worm shaft (34).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2015Publication date: September 7, 2017Inventors: Jens Klaassen, Karl Birk
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Publication number: 20170225646Abstract: A belt buckle feeder comprises a stationary base (12) adapted to be fixedly mounted to the vehicle and a carriage (14) movable to a retracted position and to an extended position vis-à-vis the base (12), which carriage is connected to a belt buckle (20) via an intermediate plate (22) provided between the belt buckle (20) and the carriage (14). The intermediate plate (22) is tightly connected to the belt buckle (20) and there is provided a positive guidance by which the intermediate plate (22) is pivoted during traversing to the extended position by a predetermined degree vis-à-vis the carriage (14) so that in addition to the traversing movement of the carriage (14) along a tilting direction (N) the belt buckle (20) reversibly tilts from a home position to an inclined position.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2015Publication date: August 10, 2017Applicant: TRW Automotive GmbHInventors: Jens Klaassen, David Reich, Karsten Kortschack, Karl Birk
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Patent number: 9216714Abstract: A belt presenter system for a seat belt system of a vehicle includes an arm (22) mounted on a vehicle pillar, wherein the arm (22) can adopt a feeding position (A) and a parking position (P). An end portion (40) of the arm (22) is connected to a fixed arm portion (36) via a hinge (42) so that the end portion (40) is bendable about a pivot axis relative to the fixed arm portion (36).Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2012Date of Patent: December 22, 2015Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbHInventors: Martin Seyffert, Karl Birk
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Patent number: 8950781Abstract: A belt presenter for a seat belt system of a vehicle includes an arm (22) which is pivotal in a state mounted on the vehicle, wherein the arm (22) can adopt a feeding position (A) and a parking position (P). The arm (22) includes a finger (44) for seizing the strap (20) when the arm moves into the feeding position (A), and the finger (44) is pivoted at the arm (22) so that it can adopt a folded position in which it is located substantially in parallel to the arm (22) and an unfolded position in which the finger (44) is orientated substantially perpendicularly to a pivoting plane of the arm (22).Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2012Date of Patent: February 10, 2015Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbHInventors: Martin Seyffert, Karl Birk
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Patent number: 8899626Abstract: In an assembly comprising a belt height adjuster (104) and a belt feeder for feeding a belt webbing (110) the belt feeder includes an arm (112) which is adapted to be moved, especially pivoted from a home position into a feeding position by means of a drive. The arm (112) is arranged at the belt height adjuster (104).Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2012Date of Patent: December 2, 2014Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbHInventors: Karl Birk, Martin Seyffert
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Publication number: 20140291975Abstract: A belt presenter system for a seat belt system of a vehicle includes an arm (22) mounted on a vehicle pillar, wherein the arm (22) can adopt a feeding position (A) and a parking position (P). An end portion (40) of the arm (22) is connected to a fixed arm portion (36) via a hinge (42) so that the end portion (40) is bendable about a pivot axis relative to the fixed arm portion (36).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2012Publication date: October 2, 2014Applicant: TRW Automotive GmbHInventors: Martin Seyffert, Karl Birk
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Publication number: 20140252840Abstract: A belt presenter for a seat belt system of a vehicle includes an arm (22) which is pivotal in a state mounted on the vehicle, wherein the arm (22) can adopt a feeding position (A) and a parking position (P). The arm (22) includes a finger (44) for seizing the strap (20) when the arm moves into the feeding position (A), and the finger (44) is pivoted at the arm (22) so that it can adopt a folded position in which it is located substantially in parallel to the arm (22) and an unfolded position in which the finger (44) is orientated substantially perpendicularly to a pivoting plane of the arm (22).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2012Publication date: September 11, 2014Inventors: Martin Seyffert, Karl Birk
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Publication number: 20140175780Abstract: In an assembly comprising a belt height adjuster (104) and a belt feeder for feeding a belt webbing (110) the belt feeder includes an arm (112) which is adapted to be moved, especially pivoted from a home position into a feeding position by means of a drive. The arm (112) is arranged at the belt height adjuster (104).Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2012Publication date: June 26, 2014Applicant: TRW Automotive GmbHInventors: Karl Birk, Martin Seyffert