Patents by Inventor Tadayuki Ato

Tadayuki Ato 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: 6971669
    Abstract: An airbag system including a passenger discriminating apparatus that can accurately recognize the type of the person being seated on a vehicle is provided. The discriminating apparatus receives input from a seat weight sensor and human proximity sensors and determines whether a child, an adult, or a child seat is mounted on the seat. The discriminating apparatus provides a signal to an airbag controller that controls the deployment of either a side or front airbag in either the soft or normal mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Aoki, Tadayuki Ato
  • Patent number: 6574540
    Abstract: A vehicle collision damage reduction system is provided. The system works by detecting the relative speed between the vehicle and an object, such as another vehicle. A danger level is calculated based on parameters such as speed and distance to the object; the danger level could be at an “emergency level” or at some lower level. Based on the danger level, different corrective measures and the degree of the corrective measures can be adjusted to attempt to minimize occupant injury. For example, the airbag can be adjusted to better protect the occupant, a pre-tensioner can be activated at a certain level, and the inclination of a child restraint seat may be adjusted as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventors: Keishi Yokota, Hiroaki Fujii, Tadayuki Ato, Eiji Yanagi, Hiroshi Aoki
  • Patent number: 6560520
    Abstract: A vehicle collision damage reduction system is provided. The system works by detecting the relative speed between the vehicle and an object, such as another vehicle. A danger level is calculated based on parameters such as speed and distance to the object; the danger level could be at an “emergency level” or at some lower level. Based on the danger level, different corrective measures and the degree of the corrective measures can be adjusted to attempt to minimize occupant injury. For example, the airbag can be adjusted to better protect the occupant, a pre-tensioner can be activated at a certain level, and the inclination of a child restraint seat may be adjusted as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventors: Keishi Yokota, Hiroaki Fujii, Tadayuki Ato, Eiji Yanagi, Hiroshi Aoki
  • Publication number: 20020188393
    Abstract: A vehicle collision damage reduction system is provided. The system works by detecting the relative speed between the vehicle and an object, such as another vehicle. A danger level is calculated based on parameters such as speed and distance to the object; the danger level could be at an “emergency level” or at some lower level. Based on the danger level, different corrective measures and the degree of the corrective measures can be adjusted to attempt to minimize occupant injury. For example, the airbag can be adjusted to better protect the occupant, a pre-tensioner can be activated at a certain level, and the inclination of a child restraint seat may be adjusted as well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2002
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Applicant: TAKATA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keishi Yokota, Hiroaki Fujii, Tadayuki Ato, Eiji Yanagi, Hiroshi Aoki
  • Publication number: 20020177934
    Abstract: A vehicle collision damage reduction system is provided. The system works by detecting the relative speed between the vehicle and an object, such as another vehicle. A danger level is calculated based on parameters such as speed and distance to the object; the danger level could be at an “emergency level” or at some lower level. Based on the danger level, different corrective measures and the degree of the corrective measures can be adjusted to attempt to minimize occupant injury. For example, the airbag can be adjusted to better protect the occupant, a pre-tensioner can be activated at a certain level, and the inclination of a child restraint seat may be adjusted as well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2002
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Applicant: TAKATA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keishi Yokota, Hiroaki Fujii, Tadayuki Ato, Eiji Yanagi, Hiroshi Aoki
  • Patent number: 6463372
    Abstract: A vehicle collision damage reduction system is provided. The system works by detecting the relative speed between the vehicle and an object, such as another vehicle. A danger level is calculated based on parameters such as speed and distance to the object; the danger level could be at an “emergency level” or at some lower level. Based on the danger level, different corrective measures and the degree of the corrective measures can be adjusted to attempt to minimize occupant injury. For example, the airbag can be adjusted to better protect the occupant, a pre-tensioner can be activated at a certain level, and the inclination of a child restraint seat may be adjusted as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventors: Keishi Yokota, Hiroaki Fujii, Tadayuki Ato, Eiji Yanagi, Hiroshi Aoki
  • Publication number: 20010033074
    Abstract: An airbag system including a passenger discriminating apparatus that can accurately recognize the type of the person being seated on a vehicle is provided. The discriminating apparatus receives input from a seat weight sensor and human proximity sensors and determines whether a child, an adult, or a child seat is mounted on the seat. The discriminating apparatus provides a signal to an airbag controller that controls the deployment of either a side or front airbag in either the soft or normal mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2001
    Publication date: October 25, 2001
    Inventors: Hiroshi Aoki, Tadayuki Ato
  • Patent number: 6227566
    Abstract: An airbag device is formed of a retainer, an outer bag having a gas inlet, an inner bag located in the outer bag, a module cover fixed to the retainer for covering the outer bag, and an inflator attached around the opening of the retainer. A periphery of the gas inlet is disposed around an opening of the retainer. The inflator includes a toroidal main body having a front side portion with a gas outlet and a rear side portion, a first flange extending from an outer periphery of the main body and fixed to the retainer, a second flange extending from an inner periphery of the main body to which the inner bag is fixed, and an air vent hole for providing a communication between the front side portion and the rear side portion. The gas from the inflator is supplied between the inner and outer bags.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventors: Shuji Kusaka, Tadayuki Ato
  • Patent number: 6213496
    Abstract: An airbag device is formed of a retainer having a center opening, an air bag, and at least one inflater fixed to the retainer. The air bag includes an outer bag having an outer bag opening, and an inner bag arranged inside the outer bag and having an inner bag opening. The peripheries of the outer and inner bag openings are directly or indirectly fixed to the retainer so that the inner bag communicates with an outside through the outer bag opening and the center opening. The inflater has a main body containing a gas generating agent therein and faces a space between the outer and inner bags to directly supply gas to the space when the inflater is actuated. When the gas is supplied to the space between the outer and inner bags, air is inspired into the inner bag through the center opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Minami, Yoshiyuki Nakano, Shuji Kusaka, Norihiko Kitagishi, Tadayuki Ato
  • Patent number: 6203062
    Abstract: In folding an air bag, the air bag is folded in a first direction and a counter first direction to form a loosing portion in a center area of the air bag at a side opposite to the occupant. Then, the air bag is folded in a second direction and a counter second direction perpendicular to the first and counter first directions, and the air bag is folded in the first direction and the counter first direction. The air bag can smoothly deploy upon actuation of an air bag device, and can securely and sufficiently restrain an occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventors: Shuji Kusaka, Tadayuki Ato