公开(公告)号：US5964478A

公开(公告)日：1999-10-12

申请号：US911148

申请日：1997-08-14

申请人： James G. Stanley ,  Craig W. White

发明人： James G. Stanley ,  Craig W. White

IPC分类号： B60R22/46 ,  B60R21/01 ,  B60R21/015 ,  B60R21/16 ,  B60R21/215 ,  B60R21/32

CPC分类号： B60R21/01532 ,  B60R21/01566 ,  B60R21/215

摘要： An occupant position sensing system incorporates an electric field sensor (30) into or on the cover (14) of an air bag inflator assembly (12) for purposes of sensing an occupant proximate the air bag inflator so that the air bag inflator may be disabled, or a warning device (26) may be activated, if the occupant is found to be within the associated danger-zone thereof. The electric field sensor (30) may comprise a plurality of electrodes (16), at least one of which is incorporated into or on the cover (14) of the air bag inflator assembly (12), wherein an occupant proximate the sensor electrodes modifies the associated inter-electrode capacitance (50). The output from the electric field sensor (30) may be used to control a controllable air bag inflation system responsive to occupant position. The instant invention provides improved discrimination between animate and inanimate objects, and improved detection of rearward facing infant seats, with reduced likelihood of false position measurements due to occupant extremities or objects proximate the air bag inflator.

摘要翻译： 乘员位置感测系统将电场传感器（30）并入到气囊充气机组件（12）的盖子（14）中或上面，用于感测靠近气囊充气机的乘员，以使得气囊充气机可能被禁用 ，或者如果发现乘客在其相关联的危险区域内，则可以启动警告装置（26）。 电场传感器（30）可以包括多个电极（16），其中至少一个被并入到气囊充气机组件（12）的盖子（14）中或其上，其中靠近传感器电极的乘客改变 相关联的电极间电容（50）。 来自电场传感器（30）的输出可以用于响应于乘员位置来控制可控气囊充气系统。 本发明提供了在动画和无生命物体之间的改进的区分，并且改进了向后的婴儿座椅的检测，同时减少由靠近气囊充气机的乘员四肢或物体引起的假位置测量的可能性。

公开(公告)号：US5261694A

公开(公告)日：1993-11-16

申请号：US715344

申请日：1991-06-14

申请人： Craig W. White ,  Kevin E. Musser ,  James R. Paye

发明人： Craig W. White ,  Kevin E. Musser ,  James R. Paye

IPC分类号： G01P21/00 ,  B60R21/01 ,  B60R21/16 ,  G01P15/00

CPC分类号： B60R21/0173

摘要： An air bag firing circuit comprises a firing path which includes in series a safing sensor, a squib, and a FET operated under microprocessor control in response to the output of an electronic crash sensor. A power supply maintains a known voltage across the firing path sufficient to explode the squib upon simultaneous "closure" of both the safing sensor and the FET operated by the microprocessor in response to crash sensor output. Normally, upon detection of a failure in the electronic crash sensor, its supporting electronics, or the FET actuated in response thereto, the microprocessor reconfigures the firing threshold of the safing sensor, as by applying a current to its integral test coil to increasingly bias the sensor's inertial mass away from its switch contacts. However, if a failure of the safing sensor is detected, reconfiguration of its threshold is inhibited notwithstanding the failure of other circuit components to prevent inadvertent deployment of the air bag. Once the safing sensor is reconfigured, the microprocessor turns on another FET to pull one side of the squib to ground, thereby removing the inoperable FET from the firing path and ensuring continued protection of the vehicle passengers until the sensor is serviced or replaced.

公开(公告)号：US5060504A

公开(公告)日：1991-10-29

申请号：US413318

申请日：1989-09-27

申请人： Craig W. White ,  Leonard W. Behr ,  Kevin E. Musser

发明人： Craig W. White ,  Leonard W. Behr ,  Kevin E. Musser

IPC分类号： G01P15/08 ,  G01P15/12 ,  G01P21/00

CPC分类号： G01P21/00 ,  G01P15/0802 ,  G01P15/123 ,  G01P2015/0828

摘要： An acceleration sensor having a sensing mass supported relative to a frame by a plurality of beams having a plurality of resistors integral therewith. The resistance of the beam resistors varies as the sensing mass is displaced relative to the frame in response to acceleration of the frame in a direction generally normal to the plane of beam extension. The displacement of the sensing mass due to such acceleration produces a corresponding change in the output of a Wheatstone bridge incorporating the beam resistors in the legs thereof. At least one leg of the bridge additionally has a resistor of variable resistance in series with the beam resistor thereof, the resistance of which is controlled by a microprocessor, whereby the bridge output is adjusted to compensate for temperature effects and manufacturing tolerances. The output of the electrical control circuit for the sensor is periodically calibrated by electrostatically deflecting the sensing mass relative to the frame, whereby the sensing mass is subjected to the equivalent of a known accelerating field, and using the resultant change in bridge output as a reference value for calibrating the instantaneous changes in bridge output resulting from the acceleration of the sensor frame.

摘要翻译： 一种加速度传感器，其具有通过多个具有与其成一体的电阻器的多个梁相对于框架支撑的传感质量。 束电阻器的电阻随着感测质量相对于框架的移动而变化，响应于框架在大致垂直于光束延伸平面的方向上的加速度。 由于这种加速度导致的感测质量的位移产生了在其腿部结合有束电阻器的惠斯通电桥的输出的相应变化。 桥的至少一条腿还具有与其电阻器串联的可变电阻的电阻器，其电阻由微处理器控制，由此调整桥式输出以补偿温度影响和制造公差。 用于传感器的电气控制电路的输出通过相对于框架静电偏转感测质量而周期性地校准，由此感测质量受到已知加速场的等效，并且使用所得的桥输出变化作为参考 用于校准由传感器框架的加速度导致的桥梁输出的瞬时变化的值。

公开(公告)号：US4951963A

公开(公告)日：1990-08-28

申请号：US415720

申请日：1989-10-02

申请人： Leonard W. Behr ,  Craig W. White

发明人： Leonard W. Behr ,  Craig W. White

IPC分类号： B60R21/045 ,  B60R21/00 ,  B60R21/01 ,  B60R21/015 ,  B60R21/02 ,  F16F7/00 ,  G01S15/06

CPC分类号： B60R21/02 ,  B60R21/01536 ,  B60R2021/0051 ,  B60R2021/0226

摘要： A knee bolster for protecting the passengers of a motor vehicle comprises one or more deformable members positioned generally forward of each vehicle passenger; ultrasonic sensors for determining the position of the knees and tibiae of each passenger within the motor vehicle relative to the deformable members; and means responsive to the sensing means for articulating and translating each deformable member relative to the vehicle interior and, hence, relative to the knees and tibiae of each passenger corresponding thereto to provide optimum protection to the passengers in the event of a subsequent collision or marked vehicle deceleration.

公开(公告)号：US06557249B1

公开(公告)日：2003-05-06

申请号：US09557580

申请日：2000-04-22

申请人： Rick Ray Pruett ,  Craig W. White

发明人： Rick Ray Pruett ,  Craig W. White

IPC分类号： H01R4300

CPC分类号： G02B6/4486 ,  G02B6/502 ,  Y10T29/49117 ,  Y10T29/49888 ,  Y10T29/5185

摘要： The present invention is a strengthened fiber optic cable and the process for inserting the strengthened cable into a duct. The invention consists of pre-coating a fiber optic waveguide with an ultra violet (UV)/visible light curable resin such that the resin buffers the fiber optic waveguide. The pre-coated fiber optic waveguide is then cured in an UV/visible light oven at a temperature at ambient or above. An UV/visible light curable resin is pre-heated to a selected temperature and the buffered fiber optic waveguide and the at least one reinforcing fiber are transported through a binding resin bath, the fiber optic waveguide maintaining linear alignment throughout the bath as at least one reinforcing fiber is disposed about the fiber optic waveguide. The resin coated fiber optic waveguide and the least one reinforcing fiber are then cured in an UV/visible light curing station so as to form a fiber optic cable. The fiber optic cable is then transported to and insertion means which imparts sufficient translational force to the cable to impel the cable to a selected location in a duct.

摘要翻译： 本发明是一种加强的光缆，以及将强化电缆插入管道的过程。 本发明包括用紫外（UV）/可见光固化树脂预先涂覆光纤波导，使得树脂缓冲光纤波导。 然后将预涂布的光纤波导在UV /可见光烘箱中在环境温度或更高温度下固化。 将UV /可见光固化树脂预加热到所选择的温度，并且缓冲的光纤波导和至少一种增强纤维通过粘合树脂浴输送，光纤波导在整个浴中保持线性对齐作为至少一个 增强纤维围绕光纤波导设置。 然后将树脂涂覆的光纤波导和至少一个增强纤维在UV /可见光固化站中固化，以形成光缆。 然后将光纤电缆输送到插入装置，该插入装置向电缆施加足够的平移力，以将电缆推进到管道中的选定位置。

公开(公告)号：US5163325A

公开(公告)日：1992-11-17

申请号：US776071

申请日：1991-10-10

申请人： Craig W. White ,  Leonard W. Behr ,  Kevin E. Musser

发明人： Craig W. White ,  Leonard W. Behr ,  Kevin E. Musser

IPC分类号： G01P15/08 ,  G01P15/12 ,  G01P21/00

CPC分类号： G01P15/0802 ,  G01P15/123 ,  G01P21/00 ,  G01P2015/0828

摘要： An acceleration sensor having a sensing mass supported relative to a frame by a plurality of beams having a plurality of resistors integral therewith. The resistance of the beam resistors varies as the sensing mass is displaced relative to the frame in response to acceleration of the frame in a direction generally normal to the plane of beam extension. The displacement of the sensing mass due to such acceleration produces a corresponding change in the output of a Wheatstone bridge incorporating the beam resistors in the legs thereof. At least one leg of the bridge additionally has a resistor of variable resistance in series with the beam resistor thereof, the resistance of which is controlled by a microprocessor, whereby the range of bridge outputs is adjusted to initially compensate for manufacturing tolerances and thereafter compensate for temperature effects and component aging. The resistance is varied by way of the microprocessor switching fixed resistors in paarallel connection with the leg of the bridge.

摘要翻译： 一种加速度传感器，其具有通过多个具有与其成一体的电阻器的多个梁相对于框架支撑的传感质量。 束电阻器的电阻随着感测质量相对于框架的移动而变化，响应于框架在大致垂直于光束延伸平面的方向上的加速度。 由于这种加速度导致的感测质量的位移产生了在其腿部结合有束电阻器的惠斯通电桥的输出的相应变化。 桥的至少一条腿还具有与其电阻器串联的可变电阻的电阻器，其电阻由微处理器控制，由此调节桥式输出的范围以最初补偿制造公差，然后补偿 温度影响和组件老化。 电阻随着微处理器的切换而变化，固定电阻器与桥的腿部并联连接。

公开(公告)号：US5085464A

公开(公告)日：1992-02-04

申请号：US612783

申请日：1990-11-14

申请人： Leonard W. Behr ,  Craig W. White

发明人： Leonard W. Behr ,  Craig W. White

IPC分类号： B60R21/16 ,  B60R21/01

CPC分类号： B60R21/0176

摘要： An air bag firing circuit comprises a firing path which includes redundant acceleration sensors, i.e., two sensors of like threshold connected in parallel. Each sensor comprises normally-open switch means operated by an inertial mass and shunted by a resistor. A battery maintains a known voltage across the firing path while a microprocessor checks the integrity of the firing path by periodically reading and comparing the voltages achieved at various points thereabout. The microprocessor further tests each sensor individually by electromagnetically biasing the sensor's inertial mass in a manner so as to close the switch means thereof while determining the effect of such testing on the voltages achieved about the firing path. Upon the detection of a sensor failure, the microprocessor electromagnetically biases the sensor's inertial mass in a manner so as to maintain the switch means thereof in its open position, whereby the malfunctioning sensor is functionally removed from the firing path without impairing the function of the other sensor connected in parallel therewith.

公开(公告)号：US6070113A

公开(公告)日：2000-05-30

申请号：US878090

申请日：1997-06-18

申请人： Craig W. White ,  Michael P. Bruce ,  Jeffrey S. Bennett ,  Debra A. Rice

发明人： Craig W. White ,  Michael P. Bruce ,  Jeffrey S. Bennett ,  Debra A. Rice

IPC分类号： G01P15/00 ,  B60R21/01 ,  B60R21/16 ,  B60R22/46 ,  B60R22/00 ,  E05F15/00 ,  G05D1/00

CPC分类号： B60R21/013 ,  B60R21/0132 ,  B60R2021/01006 ,  B60R2021/01027

摘要： A vehicular crash discrimination system (10) incorporates first (12) and second (14) crash sensors operatively coupled to a logic AND gate (16), which activates a safety restraint system (2). The first crash sensor (12) is mounted in a location which for a preferred sensing characteristic causes susceptibility to activation by crashes which are so directed that the safety restraint system (2) should not otherwise be activated. The second crash sensor (14), having a lower detection threshold than the first crash sensor (12), is mounted at a distinct location and is responsive to crashes for which the safety restraint system (2) is preferably activated, but is not responsive to those crashes which cause false activation of the first crash sensor (12). The instant invention thus provides for a preferred sensing characteristic determined by a first crash sensor mounted in an inferior location without being subject to false activation of the safety restraint system (2). In another aspect, the first crash sensor (2) incorporates a plurality of crash sensing characteristics and the selection of the active sensing characteristic is dependent upon the operative state of the second crash sensor (14).

摘要翻译： 车辆碰撞识别系统（10）包括操作地耦合到逻辑与门（16）的第一（12）和第二（14）碰撞传感器，其激活安全约束系统（2）。 第一碰撞传感器（12）安装在一个位置，对于优选的感测特性，这种位置使得易于被崩溃引起的激活，使得安全限制系统（2）不应该被激活。 具有比第一碰撞传感器（12）更低的检测阈值的第二碰撞传感器（14）安装在不同的位置处并且响应于安全约束系统（2）优选地被激活但不响应的碰撞 涉及导致第一碰撞传感器（12）的错误启动的那些碰撞。 因此，本发明提供了由安装在下位置的第一碰撞传感器确定的优选感测特性，而不会被安全限制系统（2）的错误启动。 在另一方面，第一碰撞传感器（2）包括多个碰撞感测特性，并且主动感测特性的选择取决于第二碰撞传感器（14）的操作状态。

公开(公告)号：US4987316A

公开(公告)日：1991-01-22

申请号：US414668

申请日：1989-10-03

申请人： Craig W. White ,  Kevin E. Musser

发明人： Craig W. White ,  Kevin E. Musser

IPC分类号： G01R31/00 ,  B60R21/01 ,  B60R21/16 ,  G01M17/007 ,  H02J9/00

CPC分类号： B60R21/0176

摘要： A firing circuit for deploying a pair of air bags comprises four circuit legs connected in parallel across a voltage supply via a diode shunted with a resistor. The first and second circuit legs each comprise in series a safing sensor, a squib, and a crash sensor, with each sensor being shunted by a like resistor whose resistance is substantially greater than the nominal resistance of the squibs. The third and fourth circuit legs each preferably comprise a resistor in series with a capacitor, with the resistance of the series resistor being significantly greater than that of the resistor shunting the grounded diode. Five bridges interconnect the four circuit legs so as to provide multiple firing paths and continued circuit viability notwithstanding the presence of one or more "faults" in the instant firing circuit. The addition, for example, of voltage detecting and comparing means about the four circuit legs, diodes and/or current-limiting devices in the bridges between the circuit legs further, and means operative to draw current from a junction on the first and second circuit legs, respectively, renders the instant firing circuit fully diagnosable in situ.

公开(公告)号：US4980573A

公开(公告)日：1990-12-25

申请号：US413869

申请日：1989-10-02

申请人： Craig W. White ,  Kevin E. Messer

发明人： Craig W. White ,  Kevin E. Messer

IPC分类号： F42B3/10 ,  B60R21/01 ,  B60R21/16 ,  G01R31/00 ,  G01R31/28

CPC分类号： B60R21/0176 ,  G01R31/006 ,  G01R31/007 ,  G01R31/2829

摘要： A firing circuit for deploying a pair of air bags comprises two circuit legs connected in parallel across a voltage supply. Each circuit leg comprises in series a safing sensor, a squib, and a crash sensor, with each sensor being shunted by a like resistor having a nominal resistance substantially greater than the nominal resistance of the squibs. A first diode bridge comprising a pair of oppositely-biased diodes extends between a first pair of junctions on the circuit legs located between the safing sensors and the squibs thereof. A second diode bridge comprising a pair of oppositely-biased diodes extends between a second pair of junctions on the circuit legs located between the squibs and the crash sensors thereof. A third diode bridge comprising oppositely-biased diodes connected in series also extends between the latter pair of junctions on the circuit legs. A third crash sensor connects a junction on the third diode bridge between the diodes thereof with both circuit legs, respectively, so as to be placed in parallel with the crash sensors thereof. The diode bridges provide multiple firing paths for both squibs to ensure deployment of both air bags upon simultaneous closure of either safing sensor and any crash sensor. Full circuit diagnosability is achieved through a comparison of the voltages achieved about the circuit and the effects thereon of incrementing the supply voltage and/or the operation of a plurality of current drains connected about the circuit.