Scott M Gentry

US Patent:

20040032117, Feb 19, 2004

Filed:

Aug 19, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/222879

Inventors:

Nicholas Pinto - Ferndale MI, US
Scott Gentry - Romeo MI, US
Hossam Almasri - Sterling Heights MI, US
Edward Clancy - Novi MI, US
Mohannad Murad - Troy MI, US

International Classification:

B60R021/32

US Classification:

280/735000

Abstract:

A vehicle seat occupant position sensor has one of four mechanisms to provide input with respect to how a seat occupant is engaged with a seat back. The first mechanism has some of the individual tension wires forming the flexolator pass through magnetostrictive sensors to detect in wire tension. Another mechanism employs a potentiometer geared so that relative deflection between the seat back and the seat recliner is amplified. A further mechanism is a magnetostrictive sensor that senses the stress in a seat back structure that is loaded by the seat occupant leaning against the seat back. Lastly, a bladder filled with a fluid provides pressure measurements as an indicator of the force generated by the vehicle seat occupant leaning against the seat back.

US Patent:

20050189805, Sep 1, 2005

Filed:

Mar 1, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/791332

Inventors:

Edward Burley - Troy MI, US
Joseph Mazur - Leonard MI, US
Scott Gentry - Romeo MI, US
Louis Brown - Oxford MI, US
Keith Bergen - Fullerton CA, US

International Classification:

A47C001/08

US Classification:

297250100

Abstract:

A sensor for sensing when a latch of a child safety seat is coupled to a seat assembly of a vehicle. The sensor may include a first housing member that is mounted to a seat frame of the vehicle. The sensor may also include a second housing member that can move relative to the first housing member. A sensor subassembly may sense the relative movement of the second housing member. The latch of the child safety seat can be snapped onto a ring of the second housing member and subsequently tightened to secure the child seat to the vehicle. Coupling the child seat to the ring moves the second housing member relative to the first housing member. This movement is sensed by the sensor which provides an output signal. The output signal can be processed to provide an indication to the vehicle driver that the child seat has been coupled to the seat, and/or disable an airbag and/or disable a seat movement device.

US Patent:

55689396, Oct 29, 1996

Filed:

Apr 4, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/222120

Inventors:

Brian K. Blackburn - Rochester MI
Louis R. Brown - Oxford MI
Joseph E. Mazur - Washington MI
Scott B. Gentry - Romeo MI

Assignee:

TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc. - Lyndhurst OH

International Classification:

B60R 2236
B60R 2100

US Classification:

280806

Abstract:

A vehicle seat belt retractor system (10) includes two seats (16, 18) each having its own integrated seat belt webbing retractor (60, 112). Each retractor (60, 112) includes a locking assembly (76, 80) for blocking belt withdrawal in response to an electrical signal. At a central location in the vehicle spaced from the seats (16, 18), a sensor (24) is disposed for sensing vehicle deceleration exceeding a predetermined deceleration and for providing a control signal indicative thereof. An RF transmitter (42) is electrically connected with the sensor (24) and is actuatable in response to the control signal to transmit an RF signal. An RF receiver (100, 114) on each vehicle seat (16, 18) receives the RF signal and provides an output signal to actuate the locking assembly (76, 80) of the two seat belt retractors (60, 112). Each vehicle seat (16, 18) also has (a) a battery (98) for supplying electric power to actuate the locking assembly (76, 80) of the retractors (60, 112) and (b) a piezoelectric member (90) responsive to an occupant sitting on the seat for generating an electric current to charge the battery (96). In a second embodiment, a separate deceleration sensor (24a) is mounted on each vehicle seat for electrically actuating its associated retractor.

US Patent:

51093413, Apr 28, 1992

Filed:

May 29, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/708830

Inventors:

Brian K. Blackburn - Rochester Hills MI
Scott B. Gentry - Utica MI

Assignee:

TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc. - Lyndhurst OH

International Classification:

B60R 2108

US Classification:

36442405

Abstract:

A method and apparatus is disclosed for controlling actuation of an air bag restraint system. The apparatus includes a sensor securable to the vehicle for providing a vibratory electric signal having various frequency components indicative of whether the vehicle is in a deployment condition. The particular frequency components indicative of an deployment condition are not present when the vehicle is in a non-deployment condition. A filter circuit is connected to the sensor for providing an electric signal having a value indicative of the value of the particular frequency components indication of the occurrence of a deployment condition that are present in the signal provided by the sensor. A signal generator provides the actuation signal when the signal from the filtering circuit exceeds a predetermined value.

US Patent:

52442314, Sep 14, 1993

Filed:

Jul 10, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/911420

Inventors:

Barney Bauer - Clarkston MI
Brian K. Blackburn - Rochester MI
Scott B. Gentry - Utica MI

Assignee:

TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc. - Lyndhurst OH

International Classification:

B60R 2244

US Classification:

280807

Abstract:

A rotatable spool has seat belt webbing wound around the spool. A motor, when actuated, rotates the spool in the belt withdrawal direction. A spring has a biasing force which rotates the spool to wind the belt webbing onto the spool. A worm gear mechanism is located between the motor and the spool and is selectively drivingly connectable with the spool. When drivingly connected with the spool, the worm gear mechanism prevents the biasing force of the spring from winding the belt webbing onto the spool. A clutch, when engaged, connects the spool and the worm gear mechanism. The clutch is disengaged and the motor is deactuated when a belt tension signal is below a lower predetermined threshold value. The clutch is engaged and the motor is actuated when the belt tension signal is above an upper predetermined threshold value which is greater than the lower predetermined threshold value. The clutch is engaged and the motor is deactuated when the belt tension signal is between the upper and lower predetermined threshold values.

US Patent:

50653229, Nov 12, 1991

Filed:

Apr 4, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/505363

Inventors:

Joseph F. Mazur - Utica MI
Brian K. Blackburn - Rochester MI
Scott B. Gentry - Utica MI

Assignee:

TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc. - Lyndhurst OH

International Classification:

G06F 770
B60R 2132
B60K 2812
B60R 2510

US Classification:

36442405

Abstract:

A method and apparatus is disclosed for controlling actuation of a passenger restraint system in a vehicle. The apparatus includes an accelerometer for providing a time domain vibratory electric signal having frequency components indicative of a vehicle crash condition. An A/D converter converts the accelerometer signal into a digitized signal. A fast Fourier transform device transforms the digitized time domain vibratory electric signal over at least two time intervals into frequency domain signals. The amplitudes of corresponding frequency bins of the frequency domain signals are summed over the entire frequency spectrum, bin-to-bin. A microcomputer monitors the sum of the amplitudes of at least one selected frequency bin of the frequency domain signals and actuates the passenger restraint system when the sum is greater than a predetermined threshold thereby indicating a particular type of vehicle crash is occurring.

US Patent:

62717626, Aug 7, 2001

Filed:

Feb 27, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/259753

Inventors:

Mohannad F. Murad - Royal Oak MI
James C. Lotito - Warren MI
Edward Burley - Troy MI
Joseph F. Mazur - Washington MI
Brian K. Blackburn - Rochester MI
Scott B. Gentry - Romeo MI

Assignee:

Breed Automotive Technology, Inc. - Lakeland FL

International Classification:

G08B 2100

US Classification:

3406861

Abstract:

An apparatus and method of determining and tracking the position of a main target (an occupant) and secondary targets, comprising the steps of: transmitting a signal T. sub. 1, of determinable period toward the location of the occupant, generating and storing a first index of data indicative of the time any received signal exceeds a determinable threshold; separating the data within the first index into definable data groups indicative of individual received signals representing potential targets; determining, in relation to each transmitted signal T. sub. 1, a common group time of receipt T. sub. c for each data group; correlating the group time of receipt to the position of the main target and secondary targets occupant.

US Patent:

63007282, Oct 9, 2001

Filed:

Jun 16, 2000

Appl. No.:

9/596170

Inventors:

Brian K. Blackburn - Rochester MI
Joseph F. Mazur - Washington Township Macomb County MI
Scott B. Gentry - Romeo MI

Assignee:

BGM Engineering, Inc. - Shelby Township Macomb County MI

International Classification:

G05F 100

US Classification:

315307

Abstract:

The present invention is a power supply for a fluorescent light, particularly a sub-miniature fluorescent light (SFL) which provides compensation for temperature and age effects of the fluorescent light. One or more SFLs are powered by a variable output anode controller and a variable output cathode controller, wherein the illumination output of the SFLs is selectively adjustable based upon the voltage output of one or both of the anode and cathode controllers. In a first example of implementation of the invention, an illumination feedback circuit is provided to the anode/cathode controller, wherein the voltage output is adjusted to compensate for diminished illumination, caused for example by cold operating conditions or age of the sensed SFLs. In a second form of the present invention, a temperature feedback circuit is provided to the anode/cathode controller to provide the aforesaid voltage adjustment to compensate for diminished illumination. In another aspect of the present invention, the SFLs are placed into a ready-state for being presently illuminated based upon sensing of a wake-up signal.