Timothy J Wright

US Patent:

6439007, Aug 27, 2002

Filed:

Nov 28, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/723390

Inventors:

Paul Leo Sumner - Farmington Hills MI
Timothy Chester Wright - Ann Arbor MI
Kevin Daniel Weiss - Farmington Hills MI
Gustavo Andres Delfino - Miranda, VE

Assignee:

TRW Inc. - Lyndhurst OH

International Classification:

B60R 2200

US Classification:

70 45, 180268, 180274, 180273, 180282, 280735, 280732, 280806, 2807281, 200 6153

Abstract:

An apparatus for switching the value of a spring constant K used in a spring mass model ( ) for modeling a vehicle occupant in an occupant restraint system ( ) includes a sensor ( ) for sensing a crash event and providing a crash signal ( ) indicative thereof. The spring mass model adjusts the acceleration signal and determines a virtual velocity value ( ) and a virtual displacement value ( ). The spring value K of the spring mass model is controlled in response to the determined virtual velocity value and the determined virtual displacement value relative to associated switching quadrants defined by predetermined velocity and displacement thresholds.

US Patent:

6529810, Mar 4, 2003

Filed:

Apr 9, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/829115

Inventors:

Paul Leo Sumner - Farmington Hills MI
Timothy Chester Wright - Ann Arbor MI
Meng-Fu Tsai - Ann Arbor MI

Assignee:

TRW Inc. - Lyndhurst OH

International Classification:

B60R 2200

US Classification:

701 45, 701 46, 280734, 280735, 180271, 180282, 307 101

Abstract:

The present invention is directed to controlling a vehicle multistage actuatable occupant restraining system ( ). A crash sensor ( ) senses crash acceleration and provides a crash acceleration signal ( ) indicative thereof. Crash velocity and crash displacement are determined ( ) in response to the crash acceleration signal. A first stage ( ) of the multistage actuatable occupant restraining system is actuated when the determined crash velocity as a function of crash displacement exceeds a low threshold ( ). A transverse accelerometer ( ) senses transverse crash acceleration. The transverse acceleration as a function of the crash displacement is compared ( ) against a transverse threshold ( ). The value of the low threshold ( ) is switched to a different value ( ) when the transverse acceleration exceeds the transverse threshold.

US Patent:

6776435, Aug 17, 2004

Filed:

Apr 9, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/829320

Inventors:

Paul Leo Sumner - Farmington Hills MI
Timothy Chester Wright - Ann Arbor MI
Meng-Fu Tsai - Ann Arbor MI

Assignee:

TRW Inc. - Lyndhurst OH

International Classification:

B60R 2132

US Classification:

280735, 701 45

Abstract:

The present invention is directed to controlling a vehicle multistage actuatable occupant restraining system ( ). A crash sensor ( ) senses crash acceleration and provides a crash acceleration signal ( ) indicative thereof. Crash velocity and crash displacement are determined ( ) in response to the crash acceleration signal. A first stage ( ) of the multistage actuatable occupant restraining system is actuated when the determined crash velocity as a function of crash displacement exceeds a low threshold ( ). A crush zone accelerometer ( ) senses crash acceleration at a crush zone location. The crush zone acceleration as a function of the crash displacement is compared ( ) against a crush zone threshold ( ). The value of the low threshold ( ) is switched to a different value ( ) when the crush zone acceleration exceeds the crush zone threshold.

US Patent:

60955546, Aug 1, 2000

Filed:

Sep 25, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/160999

Inventors:

Kevin Daniel Weiss - Farmington Hills MI
Paul Leo Sumner - Farmington Hills MI
Timothy Chester Wright - Ann Arbor MI

Assignee:

TRW Inc. - Lyndhurst OH

International Classification:

B60R 2132

US Classification:

280735

Abstract:

An apparatus for controlling side actuatable restraint (14, 16) includes a side acceleration sensor (22, 34) mounted to a vehicle at a side location and having an axis of sensitivity (24, 36) oriented in a direction substantially perpendicular to a front-to-rear axis (25) of the vehicle. The side sensor provides a discriminating crash signal when a transverse crash acceleration of the vehicle is sensed indicating a deployment crash event. A first central safing acceleration sensor (52) is mounted at a substantially central location of the vehicle (11) and having an axis of sensitivity (58) oriented in a direction substantially perpendicular to the front-to-rear axis (25) of the vehicle. The first safing sensor provides a first safing crash signal when a deployment crash acceleration is sensed in the transverse direction. A second central safing acceleration sensor (50) is mounted at the substantially central location of the vehicle (11) and having an axis of sensitivity (56) oriented in a direction substantially parallel to the front-to-rear axis (25) of the vehicle (11).

US Patent:

60362251, Mar 14, 2000

Filed:

Jul 1, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/108819

Inventors:

Paul Leo Sumner - Farmington Hills MI
Timothy Chester Wright - Ann Arbor MI
Shiyi Jia - Herndon VA
Scott Andrew William Martin - Pontiac MI

Assignee:

TRW Inc. - Lyndhurst OH

International Classification:

B60R 2132

US Classification:

280735

Abstract:

An apparatus for controlling an actuatable occupant restraint device for a vehicle, the restraining device having a plurality of actuatable stages (24, 26), the apparatus including a crash sensor (14, 16) for sensing crash acceleration and providing a crash acceleration signal indicative thereof. A controller (22) includes an integrator (72, 172) for determining a velocity value from the crash acceleration signal and for providing a velocity signal (74, 174). The controller (22) is coupled to the actuatable device for (i) effecting actuation of a first of the actuatable stages (24) when the determined velocity value exceeds a first threshold value, and (ii) upon the determined velocity value exceeding a second threshold value, determining a crash severity index (112, 212) having a value related to a time interval from when the determined velocity value (74, 174) exceeds the first threshold value (88, 188) to when the determined velocity value exceeds the second threshold value (96, 196). The controller effects actuation of a second of the actuatable stages (26) in response to the crash severity index value (112, 212).