Jeffrey Dominick Morin

US Patent:

6442504, Aug 27, 2002

Filed:

Feb 8, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/500346

Inventors:

David S. Breed - Boonton Township NJ
Wilbur E. DuVall - Kimberling City MO
Jeffrey L. Morin - Lincoln Park MI

Assignee:

Automotive Technologies International, Inc. - Denville NJ

International Classification:

G01G 1100

US Classification:

702173, 701 45, 701 49

Abstract:

Method and weight sensor for determining the weight of an occupant of a seat including a bladder having one or more chambers adapted to be arranged in a seat portion of the seat and one or more transducers for measuring the pressure in a respective chamber. The weight distribution of the occupant in a seat can be measured by using a multi-chambered bladder, measuring the pressure in each chamber and determining the weight distribution of the occupant therefrom. The position of the occupant and center of gravity can also be determined based on the weight distribution.

US Patent:

7359527, Apr 15, 2008

Filed:

Nov 20, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/561618

Inventors:

David S. Breed - Boonton Township NJ, US
Jeffrey L. Morin - Lincoln Park MI, US
Wendell C. Johnson - Kaneohe HI, US
Wilbur E. DuVall - Reeds Spring MO, US

Assignee:

Automotive Technologies International, Inc. - Denville NJ

International Classification:

G06K 9/00
G06F 7/00
G06F 15/00
B60K 28/00
G06E 1/00
G06F 15/18

US Classification:

382100, 701 45, 702173, 180271, 180273

Abstract:

Method and system for obtaining and optionally utilizing information about an occupant of a vehicle includes a weight sensor system arranged in connection with a bottom portion of a seat on which the occupant will be seated to provide data about weight of an occupant, and a spatial sensor system which monitors a space above the seat in which the occupant would be situated if seated in the seat to provide data about occupancy of the space above the seat. Information about the occupant is determined based on data provided by the weight sensor system and the spatial sensor system. The weight sensor system is a bladder arranged in the bottom portion or at least one strain gage mounted on structural members of the seat.

US Patent:

7770920, Aug 10, 2010

Filed:

Oct 22, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/876292

Inventors:

David S. Breed - Boonton Township NJ, US
Jeffrey L. Morin - Lincoln Park MI, US
Wilbur E. DuVall - Reeds Spring MO, US

Assignee:

Automotive Technologies International, Inc. - Denville NJ

International Classification:

B60R 21/16

US Classification:

280735

Abstract:

System for measuring the weight of an occupant in a vehicle seat having a bottom portion and a back portion at an angle to the bottom portion and for controlling a safety restraint system responsive thereto which includes a fluid-containing bladder mounted within or beneath an upper surface of the bottom portion of the seat and supported by a base of the seat, a pressure sensor operatively coupled to the bladder for generating a signal responsive to pressure of the fluid within the bladder caused by pressure applied to the upper surface of the seat, and a processor coupled to the pressure sensor for determining the weight of the occupant from the signal and generating a control signal for controlling the safety restraint system responsive to the weight determination. The weight of the occupant can be used to control components in the vehicle or the seat itself.

US Patent:

7779956, Aug 24, 2010

Filed:

Nov 20, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/561442

Inventors:

David S. Breed - Boonton Township NJ, US
Jeffrey L. Morin - Lincoln Park MI, US
Wilbur E. DuVall - Reeds Spring MO, US

Assignee:

Automotive Technologies International, Inc.. - Denville NJ

International Classification:

G06F 19/00
B60R 21/015
B60K 28/00
G01G 19/10

US Classification:

180273, 280735, 177136, 177144, 177208, 177254

Abstract:

Vehicle seat including a seat portion including a container having an interior containing fluid and a mechanism, material or structure therein to restrict flow of the fluid from one portion of the interior to another portion of the interior, a back portion arranged at an angle to the seat portion, and a measurement system arranged to obtain an indication of the weight of the occupant when present on the seat portion based at least in part on the pressure of the fluid in the container. The weight of the occupant can be used to control components in the vehicle or the seat itself.

US Patent:

7815219, Oct 19, 2010

Filed:

Jul 28, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/191850

Inventors:

David S. Breed - Boonton Township NJ, US
Wilbur E. DuVall - Kimberling City MO, US
Jeffrey L. Morin - Lincoln Park MI, US

Assignee:

Automotive Technologies International, Inc. - Denville NJ

International Classification:

B60R 21/16

US Classification:

280735, 180273, 180274, 701 45

Abstract:

Sensor system for sensing pressure applied to a seat by an occupant of the seat and for controlling deployment of an airbag which includes a bladder defining a chamber and which is adapted to be arranged in a seat portion of the seat, and a pressure sensor for measuring a pressure in the chamber. Deployment of the airbag is controlled based at least in part on the pressure in the chamber measured by the pressure sensor. A control module may be provided to control deployment of the airbag so that when the pressure sensor generates a signal based on the measured pressure in the chamber and provides the signal to the control module, the control module controls deployment of the airbag based on the signal.

US Patent:

20070135982, Jun 14, 2007

Filed:

Nov 16, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/560569

Inventors:

David Breed - Boonton Township NJ, US
Jeffrey Morin - Lincoln Park MI, US
Wilbur DuVall - Reeds Spring MO, US

Assignee:

AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL, INC. - Denville NJ

International Classification:

G06F 7/00

US Classification:

701036000

Abstract:

Method for determining weight of an occupant of an automotive seat involves arranging a bladder having at least one chamber in a seat portion of the seat, measuring the pressure in each chamber and deriving the weight of the occupant based on the measured pressure. The pressure in each chamber may be measured by a respective transducer associated therewith. The weight distribution of the occupant, the center of gravity of the occupant and/or the position of the occupant can be determined based on the pressure measured by the transducer(s). In one embodiment, the bladder is arranged in a container and fluid flow between the bladder and the container is permitted and optionally regulated, for example, via an adjustable orifice between the bladder and the container.

US Patent:

63305011, Dec 11, 2001

Filed:

Feb 8, 2000

Appl. No.:

9/500347

Inventors:

David S. Breed - Boonton Township NJ
Wilbur E. Duvall - Kimberling City MO
Jeffrey L. Morin - Lincoln Park MI

Assignee:

Automotive Technologies International Inc. - Denville NJ

International Classification:

B60R 2100

US Classification:

701 49

Abstract:

Methods for classifying and ascertaining the identity of an object in a seat in a vehicle in which a wave-receiving sensor receives waves at least from a space above the seat and generates a signal representative of the received waves and a weight sensing system obtains information about the weight being applied to the seat. Tests are conducted on different objects, each test entailing receiving waves by means of the wave-receiving sensor and the information about the weight being applied to the seat from the weight sensing system while that object is situated in the seat and associating the signal representative of the received waves and information about the weight being applied to the seat with that object. An algorithm is generated from the tests and adapted to process a signal representative of waves received by the wave-receiving sensor and information about the weight being applied to the seat from the weight sensing system and classify or identify the object most closely associated therewith. In use, waves are received by the wave-receiving sensor and a signal representative thereof is generated and information about the weight being applied to the seat is obtained by the weight sensing system.