Patents by Inventor Tzu-Chen Weng

Tzu-Chen Weng 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: 11891006
    Abstract: An assembly for a vehicle includes a steering wheel. The assembly includes an airbag inflatable to an inflated position. The airbag has a main chamber supported by the steering wheel. The main chamber in the inflated position has a rear panel facing the steering wheel, an impact panel opposite the rear panel, and an outermost periphery between the impact panel and the rear panel. The airbag includes an extension having a first end and a terminal end. The extension extends from the first end to the terminal end adjacent the rear panel of the main chamber. The first end extends from the outermost periphery and the rear panel and the terminal end is connected to the rear panel. The airbag has an inflation chamber extending from the main chamber to the terminal end through the first end of the extension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Tzu-Chen Weng, Srinivas Reddy Malapati, Zhibing Deng
  • Publication number: 20220185218
    Abstract: An airbag system includes an airbag and an inflator positioned in an instrument panel. The airbag includes a first chamber and a second chamber spaced from the instrument panel by the first chamber. A plurality of tethers is positioned within the second chamber. Each tether is coupled between a central area of a lower side and a central area of an upper side. A first and second lower extensions and a first and second upper extensions extend from the lower side and the upper side of the airbag, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Zhibing Deng, Tzu-Chen Weng, Deepak Patel
  • Patent number: 11358551
    Abstract: An airbag system includes an airbag and an inflator positioned in an instrument panel. The airbag includes a first chamber and a second chamber spaced from the instrument panel by the first chamber. A plurality of tethers is positioned within the second chamber. Each tether is coupled between a central area of a lower side and a central area of an upper side. A first and second lower extensions and a first and second upper extensions extend from the lower side and the upper side of the airbag, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Zhibing Deng, Tzu-Chen Weng, Deepak Patel
  • Patent number: 11173866
    Abstract: An airbag assembly includes an airbag having a knee chamber and an upper chamber. A wall fluidly isolates the knee chamber and the upper chamber. A sleeve extends from the knee chamber through the wall to the upper chamber and fluidly communicates the knee chamber and the upper chamber. A one-way vent is in the sleeve. The one-way vent allows for the knee chamber and the upper chamber to be maintained at different relative pressures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Zhibing Deng, Tzu-Chen Weng, Deepak Patel
  • Publication number: 20210261080
    Abstract: An assembly for a vehicle includes a steering wheel. The assembly includes an airbag inflatable to an inflated position. The airbag has a main chamber supported by the steering wheel. The main chamber in the inflated position has a rear panel facing the steering wheel, an impact panel opposite the rear panel, and an outermost periphery between the impact panel and the rear panel. The airbag includes an extension having a first end and a terminal end. The extension extends from the first end to the terminal end adjacent the rear panel of the main chamber. The first end extends from the outermost periphery and the rear panel and the terminal end is connected to the rear panel. The airbag has an inflation chamber extending from the main chamber to the terminal end through the first end of the extension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Tzu-Chen Weng, Srinivas Reddy Malapati, Zhibing Deng
  • Patent number: 10960841
    Abstract: An assembly includes a seatback and an airbag. The airbag includes an upper panel and a lower panel spaced from each other and an intermediate panel disposed therebetween. The upper panel and the lower panel are each uninflatable and each supported by the seatback. The intermediate panel is supported by the seatback and inflatable to an inflated position. The intermediate panel in the inflated position includes a valley elongated in a direction from the lower panel towards the upper panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Zhibing Deng, Krishnakanth E. Aekbote, Tzu-Chen Weng
  • Publication number: 20210024026
    Abstract: An airbag assembly includes an airbag having a knee chamber and an upper chamber. A wall fluidly isolates the knee chamber and the upper chamber. A sleeve extends from the knee chamber through the wall to the upper chamber and fluidly communicates the knee chamber and the upper chamber. A one-way vent is in the sleeve. The one-way vent allows for the knee chamber and the upper chamber to be maintained at different relative pressures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: ZHIBING DENG, TZU-CHEN WENG, DEEPAK PATEL
  • Patent number: 10857966
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a system including an instrument panel, a knee airbag, and a front airbag assembly. The knee airbag is inflatable downwardly from the instrument panel. The front airbag assembly is inflatable upwardly from the instrument panel. The front airbag assembly may be spaced from a windshield of the vehicle when the front airbag assembly is in the inflated position such that the windshield does not act as a reaction surface for the front airbag assembly, and the front airbag assembly is designed to control the kinematics of the occupant without using the windshield as a reaction surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Zhibing Deng, Alison Callaghan, Tzu-Chen Weng, Krishnakanth E. Aekbote, Srinivas Reddy Malapati
  • Publication number: 20200324728
    Abstract: An assembly includes a seatback and an airbag. The airbag includes an upper panel and a lower panel spaced from each other and an intermediate panel disposed therebetween. The upper panel and the lower panel are each uninflatable and each supported by the seatback. The intermediate panel is supported by the seatback and inflatable to an inflated position. The intermediate panel in the inflated position includes a valley elongated in a direction from the lower panel towards the upper panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Zhibing Deng, Krishnakanth E. Aekbote, Tzu-Chen Weng
  • Publication number: 20200062211
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a system including an instrument panel, a knee airbag, and a front airbag assembly. The knee airbag is inflatable downwardly from the instrument panel. The front airbag assembly is inflatable upwardly from the instrument panel. The front airbag assembly may be spaced from a windshield of the vehicle when the front airbag assembly is in the inflated position such that the windshield does not act as a reaction surface for the front airbag assembly, and the front airbag assembly is designed to control the kinematics of the occupant without using the windshield as a reaction surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Zhibing Deng, Alison Callaghan, Tzu-Chen Weng, Krishnakanth E. Aekbote, Srinivas Reddy Malapati
  • Patent number: 10300882
    Abstract: Embodiments include a vehicle airbag assembly comprising an airbag including a first chamber and a second chamber, a first internal vent permitting gas entry into the first chamber, and a second internal vent permitting gas entry into the second chamber, where the first chamber has a greater volume than the second chamber in an inflated state of the airbag, and the first internal vent is configured for a larger gas flow than the second internal vent. Embodiments also include a vehicle airbag assembly comprising an airbag including a first chamber and a second chamber and at least one internal tether coupled to the second chamber for restricting an inflated depth of the second chamber, where the first chamber has an unrestricted depth and a volume that is larger than a volume of the second chamber in an inflated state of the airbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Zhibing Deng, Deepak Patel, Tzu-Chen Weng
  • Publication number: 20180037187
    Abstract: Embodiments include a vehicle airbag assembly comprising an airbag including a first chamber and a second chamber, a first internal vent permitting gas entry into the first chamber, and a second internal vent permitting gas entry into the second chamber, where the first chamber has a greater volume than the second chamber in an inflated state of the airbag, and the first internal vent is configured for a larger gas flow than the second internal vent. Embodiments also include a vehicle airbag assembly comprising an airbag including a first chamber and a second chamber and at least one internal tether coupled to the second chamber for restricting an inflated depth of the second chamber, where the first chamber has an unrestricted depth and a volume that is larger than a volume of the second chamber in an inflated state of the airbag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Zhibing Deng, Deepak Patel, Tzu-Chen Weng
  • Patent number: 9789844
    Abstract: Embodiments include a vehicle airbag assembly comprising an airbag including a first chamber and a second chamber, a first internal vent permitting gas entry into the first chamber, and a second internal vent permitting gas entry into the second chamber, where the first chamber has a greater volume than the second chamber in an inflated state of the airbag, and the first internal vent is configured for a larger gas flow than the second internal vent. Embodiments also include a vehicle airbag assembly comprising an airbag including a first chamber and a second chamber and at least one internal tether coupled to the second chamber for restricting an inflated depth of the second chamber, where the first chamber has an unrestricted depth and a volume that is larger than a volume of the second chamber in an inflated state of the airbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Zhibing Deng, Deepak Patel, Tzu-Chen Weng
  • Publication number: 20170120858
    Abstract: Embodiments include a vehicle airbag assembly comprising an airbag including a first chamber and a second chamber, a first internal vent permitting gas entry into the first chamber, and a second internal vent permitting gas entry into the second chamber, where the first chamber has a greater volume than the second chamber in an inflated state of the airbag, and the first internal vent is configured for a larger gas flow than the second internal vent. Embodiments also include a vehicle airbag assembly comprising an airbag including a first chamber and a second chamber and at least one internal tether coupled to the second chamber for restricting an inflated depth of the second chamber, where the first chamber has an unrestricted depth and a volume that is larger than a volume of the second chamber in an inflated state of the airbag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Inventors: Zhibing Deng, Deepak Patel, Tzu-Chen Weng
  • Patent number: 9623826
    Abstract: A seat includes a seat back having a frame and a cover, an impact absorbing device, and an actuator in communication with the impact absorbing device. The impact absorbing device is movable from a stowed position to a deployed position. The impact absorbing device includes a base connected to the frame, a panel adjacent to the cover in the stowed position and spaced from the cover in the deployed position, and an intermediate portion connected to the base and the panel. The intermediate portion defines a chamber between the base and the panel. The intermediate portion has a portion thickness and the panel has a panel thickness greater than the portion thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Tzu-Chen Weng, Srinivas Reddy Malapati, Djamal Eddine Midoun, Sean Timothy Ryan
  • Publication number: 20160250988
    Abstract: A seat includes a seat back having a frame and a cover, an impact absorbing device, and an actuator in communication with the impact absorbing device. The impact absorbing device is movable from a stowed position to a deployed position. The impact absorbing device includes a base connected to the frame, a panel adjacent to the cover in the stowed position and spaced from the cover in the deployed position, and an intermediate portion connected to the base and the panel. The intermediate portion defines a chamber between the base and the panel. The intermediate portion has a portion thickness and the panel has a panel thickness greater than the portion thickness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Tzu-Chen Weng, Srinivas Reddy Malapati, Djamal Eddine Midoun, Sean Timothy Ryan
  • Patent number: 9308842
    Abstract: A seat assembly including a seat pan that drops vertically in the event of a frontal impact event to help safeguard against the head of an unbelted seat occupant striking the headliner, windshield or other components of the vehicle. The seat assembly includes a seat pan attached to a seat track. The seat track further includes an attachment bracket. A swing linkage movably connects the seat pan with the seat track by a movable fastener. A slot is formed in the bracket through which at least a part of the movable fastener passes. A pyrotechnic fastener also attaches the swing linkage to the bracket. In a frontal impact event, the pyrotechnic fastener is caused to explode thus separating the pyrotechnic fastener into two parts and allowing the swing linkage and its attached seat pan to drop vertically relative to the seat track and lowering the unbelted occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Tzu-Chen Weng, Erika Kristin Low, Djamal Eddine Midoun, Se Kyoon Shin
  • Patent number: 9296358
    Abstract: A motor vehicle airbag system comprises a dual chambered combined head, torso, and knee airbag having a head and torso chamber and a lower extremities chamber in fluid communication with the head and torso chamber. A multidirectional inflator substantially simultaneously inflates both of the head and torso chamber and the lower extremities chamber. The head and torso chamber in the inflated condition acts against a head and a torso of the motor vehicle occupant to generate a restraining force against the occupant to mitigate contact of the occupant head and torso with the upper portion of the instrument panel during the impact event. The lower extremities chamber in the inflated condition acts against the pair of knees of the occupant to mitigate contact of the knees of the occupant with the lower portion of the panel during the impact event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Roger Chen, Tzu-Chen Weng, Kirk David Arthurs
  • Publication number: 20150239373
    Abstract: A seat assembly including a seat pan that drops vertically in the event of a frontal impact event to help safeguard against the head of an unbelted seat occupant striking the headliner, windshield or other components of the vehicle. The seat assembly includes a seat pan attached to a seat track. The seat track further includes an attachment bracket. A swing linkage movably connects the seat pan with the seat track by a movable fastener. A slot is formed in the bracket through which at least a part of the movable fastener passes. A pyrotechnic fastener also attaches the swing linkage to the bracket. In a frontal impact event the pyrotechnic fastener is caused to explode thus separating the pyrotechnic fastener into two parts and allowing the swing linkage and its attached seat pan to drop vertically relative to the seat track, thereby lowering the unbelted occupant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Tzu-Chen Weng, Erika Kristin Low, Djamal Eddine Midoun, Se Kyoon Shin
  • Publication number: 20150151707
    Abstract: A motor vehicle airbag system comprises a dual chambered combined head, torso, and knee airbag having a head and torso chamber and a lower extremities chamber in fluid communication with the head and torso chamber. A multidirectional inflator substantially simultaneously inflates both of the head and torso chamber and the lower extremities chamber. The head and torso chamber in the inflated condition acts against a head and a torso of the motor vehicle occupant to generate a restraining force against the occupant to mitigate contact of the occupant head and torso with the upper portion of the instrument panel during the impact event. The lower extremities chamber in the inflated condition acts against the pair of knees of the occupant to mitigate contact of the knees of the occupant with the lower portion of the panel during the impact event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Publication date: June 4, 2015
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Roger Chen, Tzu-Chen Weng, Kirk David Arthurs