Patents by Inventor Keith R. Miciuda

Keith R. Miciuda 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).

  • Communication system and method utilizing message frames having multiple thresholds for a multi-device vehicle occupant protection system
    Patent number: 6744820
    Abstract: A communication system (10) includes a communication bus (16) through which a power/voltage transmitter (44) conveys electrical energy and messages to a plurality of units (18, 20). The power/voltage transmitter (44) includes components for adjusting voltage of the electrical energy past a first predetermined threshold to provide a first type message frame and modulating the voltage of the electrical energy during the first type message frame to convey a first type message. The power/voltage transmitter (44) also includes components for adjusting the voltage past a second predetermined threshold to provide a second type message frame and modulating the voltage of the electrical energy during the second type message frame to convey a second type message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventors: Farid Khairallah, Russell J. Lynch, Roger A. McCurdy, Keith R. Miciuda, Jon K. Wallace, Scott E. Kolassa
  • Vehicle occupant protection system and method utilizing Z-axis central safing
    Patent number: 6249730
    Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection system (10) includes an actuatable device (e.g., 20) for protecting a vehicle occupant (12). An accelerometer (e.g., 50) and a crash determination portion (66) of a controller (56) derive a first metric indicative of a vehicle crash condition. A Z-axis accelerometer (54) and a safing portion (50) of the controller (38) derive a second metric indicative of a vehicle vertical acceleration characteristic. The controller (66) actuates the device (e.g., 16) to protect the occupant (12) in response to the first metric indicating a vehicle crash condition and the second metric exceeding a predetermined threshold. Preferably, the system (10) includes a second device (e.g., 18) and another accelerometer (e.g., 58) and another crash determination portion (72) of the controller (56) to derive a third metric indicative of a vehicle crash condition. The controller (66) actuates the device (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: TRW, Inc.
    Inventors: Farid Khairallah, Scott E. Kolassa, Russell J. Lynch, Keith R. Miciuda, Jon Kelly Wallace
  • Mixed parallel and daisy chain bus architecture in a vehicle safety system
    Patent number: 6212457
    Abstract: A distributed vehicle safety system (10) and an associated method provide for connection of a plurality of devices (14). Each of the devices (14) performs a function associated with protection of a vehicle occupant. A communication bus (16) conveys communication for the devices (14). The bus includes first and second conductors (18A and 18B). A first portion (subset K) of the devices (14) are daisy-chain connected, with respect to each other, along one (e.g., 18A) of the conductors of the bus (16). A second portion (subset L) of the devices (14) are connected in parallel across the first and second conductors (18A and 18B) of the bus (16). The second portion (subset L) contains at least one and preferably several devices (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventors: Keith R. Miciuda, Russell J. Lynch, Jon Kelly Wallace