Patents by Inventor Scott D. Thomas
Scott D. Thomas 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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Publication number: 20250042352Abstract: A system includes an occupant detection module configured to identify an occupied state when an occupant is seated on a vehicle seat and an unoccupied state when the vehicle seat is free from an occupant. The system also includes a buckle sensor configured to identify a time of buckling when a latch plate is initially secured to a buckle. A seatbelt wear condition module is configured to identify the occupied state at the time of buckling and after buckling regardless of whether the occupant detection module detects the occupied state at the time of buckling and after buckling or the unoccupied state at the time of buckling and after buckling based on the occupant detection module identifying the occupied state within a predetermined timeframe prior to the time of buckling and disregarding any unoccupied state produced from the occupant detection module while the seatbelt remains buckled.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2023Publication date: February 6, 2025Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventor: Scott D. Thomas
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Publication number: 20250042355Abstract: A system includes a first webbing payout sensor configured to detect a first webbing payout of a seatbelt associated with a vehicle seat, the first webbing payout being a length of webbing extended from a retractor of the seatbelt, an occupant detection module configured to identify a state of the vehicle seat, the occupant detection module identifying an occupied state when an occupant is seated on the vehicle seat and an unoccupied state when the vehicle seat is free from an occupant, and a seatbelt wear condition module in communication with the first webbing payout sensor and the occupant detection module and configured to identify whether a seatbelt buckle extender is used in conjunction with the seatbelt based on the first webbing payout and the state of the vehicle seat identified by the occupant detection module.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2023Publication date: February 6, 2025Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Scott D. Thomas, Sean Taylor Coughlin
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Publication number: 20250026293Abstract: An airbag deployment system including a memory configured to store a default weight/pressure threshold value, a weight/pressure sensor configured for detecting a weight/pressure on a vehicle seat surface, a remote sensor for detecting a presence of a child restraint seat installed at a vehicle seat, wherein, the remote sensor can detect the presence or lack of presence of a child restraint seat on a vehicle seat with at least one focused detection zone, wherein the child restraint seat has different viewable features for the portion in the focused detection zone when compared to the vehicle seat and an occupant, wherein a compensation occurs to at least one of the weight/pressure threshold and the weight/pressure measured on the vehicle seat based on the detection or lack of detection of a child restraint seat.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2023Publication date: January 23, 2025Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventor: Scott D. Thomas
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Publication number: 20240410790Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for vehicle braking, collision, or braking and collision simulations. The systems include a seat platform configured to be secured within a vehicle such that the seat platform is located on or above a seat of the vehicle, the seat platform configured to be controllably displaced relative to the vehicle seat in at least a forward direction towards the front of the vehicle while having a passenger disposed on the seat platform during a deceleration simulation that includes displacing the seat platform having the passenger disposed thereon from an initial position toward the front of the vehicle, one or more sensors configured to gather sensor data indicative of spatial characteristics of the passenger during the deceleration simulation, wherein at least one of the sensors is a sensor of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2023Publication date: December 12, 2024Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventor: Scott D Thomas
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Publication number: 20240198941Abstract: A method for controlling an airbag aboard a motor vehicle includes measuring a respective position of landmark points on an occupant of the motor vehicle using a sensor suite. The method includes receiving occupant landmark signals from the sensor suite, with the signals being indicative of the respective positions of the landmark points. A trajectory of the occupant is predicted, via the controller, using the occupant landmark signals. A controller adjusts a restraint capacity setting of the airbag in response to the predicted occupant trajectory. A motor vehicle includes a vehicle body, an airbag, a sensor suite, and a controller operable for controlling a restraint capacity setting of the airbag using the method. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium includes an instruction set that is executed to perform the method.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2022Publication date: June 20, 2024Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Scott D. Thomas, Dorel M. Sala, Sean T. Coughlin, Praneeth Nelapati, Lisa M. Furton
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Publication number: 20240198944Abstract: A method for controlling an inflatable airbag system in a motor vehicle having a seatbelt includes detecting a position of a vehicle occupant relative to an airbag suppression zone (ASZ). Electronic input signals are received from a sensor suite, including an occupant position signal and a seatbelt usage status signal. A restraint capacity setting of the airbag is adjusted in response to the electronic input signals such that corresponding restraint activation logic is executed by the controller based on whether the occupant is belted or unbelted. Different ASZs may be used for belted and unbelted occupants. A motor vehicle includes a vehicle body defining a vehicle interior, an airbag, a seatbelt, a sensor suite for detecting a position of an occupant relative to the ASZ, and a controller operable for controlling a restraint capacity setting and location of the ASZ in accordance with the method.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2022Publication date: June 20, 2024Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Scott D. Thomas, Lisa M. Furton, Dorel M. Sala, George D. Allen, Sean T. Coughlin
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Patent number: 11951935Abstract: A system includes an in-cabin sensor, a seatbelt routing zone module, and a seatbelt routing classification module. The in-cabin sensor is operable to generate an image of an occupant in a vehicle seat. The seatbelt routing zone module is configured to generate a seatbelt routing zone based on at least one of a size of the occupant in the image and a shape of the occupant. The seatbelt routing classification module is configured to determine whether a seatbelt is routed properly around the occupant based on whether the seatbelt is at least partially within the seatbelt routing zone.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2021Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Scott D. Thomas, Dorel M. Sala, Joseph Philip McLaine
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Patent number: 11884233Abstract: A method for controlling a passenger restraint system aboard a motor vehicle includes receiving, via a controller, biometric vulnerability classifier signal(s) indicative of vulnerability characteristics of a passenger seated in an interior of the motor vehicle. In response to the biometric vulnerability classifier signal(s) and a detected vehicle event requiring an actuation of the passenger restraint system, the method includes automatically adjusting an actual capacity setting of the passenger restraint system via the controller. A motor vehicle includes a vehicle body defining a vehicle interior, a passenger restraint system positioned in the vehicle interior; and a controller operable for controlling the actual capacity setting of the passenger restraint system in accordance with the method. The passenger restraint system may include a seatbelt, a seat, and one or more airbag systems.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2022Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Lisa M. Furton, Scott D. Thomas, Dorel M. Sala, George D. Allen, Sean T. Coughlin
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Patent number: 11850979Abstract: A knee bolster assembly for a vehicle seat includes a knee bolster moveably mounted in proximity to the vehicle seat, the knee bolster selectively moveable between a first position, wherein a passenger is able to enter and exit the vehicle seat, and a second position, wherein the knee bolster is positioned directly in front of a seating surface of the vehicle seat, such that legs of a passenger seated within the vehicle seat are positioned between the seating surface of the vehicle seat and the knee bolster, the knee bolster adapted to prevent an occupant of the vehicle seat from sliding forward off the vehicle seat and restrict any hyper-extending of their lower legs due to forward inertia, and an energy absorbing device adapted to absorb energy when knees or legs of a passenger within the vehicle seat impact the knee bolster.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2022Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Scott D. Thomas, Chin-hsu Lin, George H. Baker
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Patent number: 11794690Abstract: A vehicle seatbelt monitoring system for monitoring seatbelts of a plurality of seats comprising: i) a buckle sensor for each seat configured to determine whether a seatbelt is buckled into a buckle attachment of each seat; ii) a seatbelt webbing payout sensor for each seat configured to determine an amount of seatbelt webbing that is unwound from a seatbelt retractor associated with each seat; and iii) a seatbelt monitor control module coupled to the buckle sensor and the seatbelt webbing payout sensor and configured to receive buckle state data from the buckle sensor for each seat and seatbelt payout data from the seatbelt webbing payout sensor for each seat. The seatbelt monitor control module is further configured to determine if a first seatbelt is unbuckled or not properly worn and, if so, to determine if a second seatbelt is buckled or properly worn when the first seatbelt is unbuckled or not properly worn.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2020Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventor: Scott D. Thomas
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Publication number: 20230278472Abstract: A knee bolster assembly for a vehicle seat includes a knee bolster moveably mounted in proximity to the vehicle seat, the knee bolster selectively moveable between a first position, wherein a passenger is able to enter and exit the vehicle seat, and a second position, wherein the knee bolster is positioned directly in front of a seating surface of the vehicle seat, such that legs of a passenger seated within the vehicle seat are positioned between the seating surface of the vehicle seat and the knee bolster, the knee bolster adapted to prevent an occupant of the vehicle seat from sliding forward off the vehicle seat and restrict any hyper-extending of their lower legs due to forward inertia, and an energy absorbing device adapted to absorb energy when knees or legs of a passenger within the vehicle seat impact the knee bolster.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2022Publication date: September 7, 2023Inventors: Scott D. Thomas, Chin-hsu Lin, George H. Baker
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Patent number: 11708090Abstract: Vehicle behavioral monitoring includes determining a measure of distraction of the operator of a target vehicle, characterizing the type or category of distraction, determining level of risk that the target vehicle poses, and invoking various responses including host vehicle notifications and evasive actions and external notification and information sharing.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2020Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Simon J. Trask, Scott D. Thomas, Joseph R. Abrash, Tracy Gonzalez, Dustin Knapp, Kaleb R. Lepak, Eva Rousseau
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Patent number: 11634049Abstract: A child restraint seat sensing device for a vehicle including a structural element at least partially defining a volume, wherein the structural element is located in a vehicle passenger seat between a seat base and seat back or is located behind the vehicle passenger seat, a stationary anchor in the vehicle, wherein the stationary anchor is located within the volume defined by the structural element, and a sensor mounted to the structural element, wherein the sensor is configured to detect whether a child restraint seat connector is attached to the stationary anchor.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2022Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Scott D. Thomas, Tricia E. Morrow, Dorel M. Sala, Eugene J. Lau, Suzanne L. Johansson, Orhan Demirovic
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Patent number: 11603060Abstract: A system includes a seat belt routing module and a user interface device (UID) control module. The seat belt routing module is configured to: determine a routing of a seat belt relative to an occupant in a vehicle seat based on input from a webbing payout sensor; and determine the seat belt routing based on an input from an in-cabin sensor. The in-cabin sensor includes at least one of a camera, an infrared sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a radar sensor, and a lidar sensor. The UID control module is configured to control a user interface device to indicate that the seat belt is being worn improperly when: the seat belt routing determined using at least one of the webbing payout sensor and the in-cabin sensor is improper; and the seat belt routing determined using the webbing payout sensor corresponds to the seat belt routing determined using the in-cabin sensor.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2020Date of Patent: March 14, 2023Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Scott D. Thomas, Michael Baltaxe, Kobi Nistel
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Publication number: 20230026640Abstract: A system includes an in-cabin sensor, a seatbelt routing zone module, and a seatbelt routing classification module. The in-cabin sensor is operable to generate an image of an occupant in a vehicle seat. The seatbelt routing zone module is configured to generate a seatbelt routing zone based on at least one of a size of the occupant in the image and a shape of the occupant. The seatbelt routing classification module is configured to determine whether a seatbelt is routed properly around the occupant based on whether the seatbelt is at least partially within the seatbelt routing zone.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2021Publication date: January 26, 2023Inventors: Scott D. THOMAS, Dorel M. SALA, Joseph Philip MCLAINE
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Patent number: 11529893Abstract: An adjustable seat for a vehicle including a first seat section configured to support a lower leg portion of the passenger when the passenger is sitting facing the first direction and a second seat section configured to support an upper leg portion of the passenger when the passenger is sitting facing the first direction and a torso and head portion of the passenger when the passenger is sitting facing the second direction. The adjustable seat also comprising a third seat section configured to support the torso and head portion of the passenger when the passenger is sitting facing the first direction and the upper leg portion of the passenger when the passenger is sitting facing the second direction. The adjustable seat also comprising a fourth seat section configured to support the lower leg portion of the passenger when the passenger is sitting facing the second direction.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2019Date of Patent: December 20, 2022Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Mark O. Neal, Louis D. Thole, David Acosta, Chin-Hsu Lin, Yi-Pen Cheng, Scott D. Thomas
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Patent number: 11491940Abstract: A system for determining when an occupant in a motor vehicle seat and restrained by a seatbelt restraint system has improper posture. The system and method include: a seatbelt buckle sensor, a seatbelt payout sensor, an occupant posture sensor. Moreover, a control module executes code to: determine the presence of the seatbelt latchplate in the seatbelt buckle, determine whether the difference between the first seatbelt payout length when the seatbelt is buckled and the second seatbelt payout length is greater than a seatbelt payout length threshold, compare the image of the occupant to at least one of a stored image and a posture zone when the seatbelt payout length threshold is exceeded, and determine whether the occupant has improper posture based on the comparison of the captured image of the occupant and the at least one of the stored image and the posture zone.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2019Date of Patent: November 8, 2022Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventor: Scott D. Thomas
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Publication number: 20220274511Abstract: A child restraint seat sensing device for a vehicle including a structural element at least partially defining a volume, wherein the structural element is located in a vehicle passenger seat between a seat base and seat back or is located behind the vehicle passenger seat, a stationary anchor in the vehicle, wherein the stationary anchor is located within the volume defined by the structural element, and a sensor mounted to the structural element, wherein the sensor is configured to detect whether a child restraint seat connector is attached to the stationary anchor.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2022Publication date: September 1, 2022Inventors: Scott D. Thomas, Tricia E. Morrow, Dorel M. Sala, Eugene J. Lau, Suzanne L. Johansson, Orhan Demirovic
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Patent number: 11396248Abstract: An anchor attachment detection sensor for a vehicle including an anchor including an anchor attachment loop bar; a slide mount defining an opening, wherein the slide mount is positioned aft of the anchor attachment loop bar; a slide positioned in the opening of the slide mount, a plate secured to a first end of the slide, a spring, wherein the spring biases the plate against the anchor attachment loop bar; and a sensing device configured to transmit a control signal having a value, wherein the value of the control signal is based on a displacement of a portion of the slide.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2020Date of Patent: July 26, 2022Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Eugene J. Lau, Scott D. Thomas, Tricia E. Morrow, Dorel M. Sala, Suzanne L. Johansson
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Patent number: 11390244Abstract: A seat belt pretensioner for a motor vehicle includes a cam that rotates, a cable with a first end and a second end, a section of the cable positioned on an outer portion of the cam. Upon deployment the cam rotates and guides the first end from a first location to a second location.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2019Date of Patent: July 19, 2022Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventor: Scott D. Thomas