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Patent No. 5377411

Hair Cutting Appliance

A haircutting appliance comprises an enclosed housing having a hollow handle connecting the housing to a vacuum source to carry away cut hairs from a subject's head.

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Assignee: TRW Automotive U.S. LLC


Location: Livonia, MI
No. of patents: 104

1      
NumberTitleIssue Date
8184159Forward looking sensor system
Systems and methods are provided for controlling a plurality of vehicle systems. A forward looking sensor (12) is configured to obtain a two-dimensional image of a space in front of the vehicle. A region identification element (14) divides the two-dime...
05/22/2012
8132828Apparatus and method for connecting a control module to a steering column
An apparatus for connecting a steering column control module to a steering column of a vehicle comprises a bracket for mounting the steering column control module and a collet for interconnecting the bracket and the steering column. The collet snaps into engagement ...
03/13/2012
8129637Switch mechanism
A switch mechanism includes a support; a plurality of switches connected to the support. An encoder rotatable about an axis of a shaft; an actuator rotatable with the shaft and tiltable relative to the shaft; and a connector assembly interconnecting the actuator and...
03/06/2012
8095275Method and apparatus for controlling an actuatable safety device
A method for determining a crash condition of a vehicle comprises the step of sensing crash acceleration in a first direction substantially parallel to a front-to-rear axis of the vehicle and providing a first crash acceleration signal indicative thereof. The method...
01/10/2012
8069945Method and apparatus for rear wheel steering control
An apparatus (10) for use in turning steerable wheels of a vehicle (12) upon manual rotation of a steering wheel (14) comprises a front steering motor (36) coupled to a front steerable wheel (18) of the vehicle (12) for turn...
12/06/2011
8059418Assembly with a printed circuit board
An assembly (10) comprises a housing (11) and a printed circuit board (14) received in the housing. The housing includes a housing body (12) and a cover (16). The housing body (12) has a first surface (26) supporting ...
11/15/2011
7914054Vehicle latch and method of manufacturing the same
A releasable latch has a latched condition latching two parts together of an unlatched condition releasing one part for movement relative to another part. A base (20) is fixed to one of the parts and a catch (22) is supported by the base (20) an...
03/29/2011
7909132Apparatus for use in turning steerable vehicle wheels
An approved apparatus (10) for turning steerable wheels (14,16) of a vehicle includes a pinion (28) which is disposed in meshing engagement with a rack portion (32) of a steering member (12). A steering column (22) is connec...
03/22/2011
7840325Method and apparatus for controlling a front actuatable restraining device using side satellite safing sensors
An apparatus (10) for controlling a vehicle actuatable occupant restraining system including a crash accelerometer (32) for sensing frontal crash acceleration and providing a first crash acceleration signal indicative thereof. A side crash acceleromete...
11/23/2010
7831353Vehicle control system and method of controlling a vehicle system
A vehicle control system includes a steering mechanism adapted to be operatively connected to associated wheels of a vehicle. A position sensor is operatively connected to the steering mechanism to generate a signal representative of a position of the steering mecha...
11/09/2010
7798279Steer-by-wire steering apparatus with actuatable mechanism
A steering apparatus (10) for turning steerable wheels of a vehicle in response to rotation of a vehicle steering wheel (12) comprises a first assembly (16), a second assembly (26), and a mechanism (108). The first assembly is oper...
09/21/2010
7776160Method of producing a cold temperature high toughness structural steel tubing
An apparatus (10) includes a low-carbon steel tube (24). The low-carbon steel tube (24) yields plastically more than about 5% before fracturing at temperatures down to about −40° C. when stress is applied to the low-carbon steel tube sufficie...
08/17/2010
7744123Method and apparatus for controlling an actuatable restraining device using XY side satellite accelerometers
An apparatus is provided for controlling a vehicle actuatable occupant restraining system. A central crash accelerometer senses crash acceleration at a central vehicle location provides a first crash acceleration signal. A side-satellite accelerometer senses crash a...
06/29/2010
7686353Cabinet catch for use in a cabinet latch assembly and a method for making the catch
A cabinet catch (10) consists of an integrally molded plastic clip (14) and bracket (12) for mounting to a portion of a cabinet structure. The clip (14) is manufactured from a first plastic material. The clip (14) is rotatable rela...
03/30/2010
7684913System and method for adjusting a zero point of a seat load sensing system
A method (60) for adjusting the zero point of a vehicle seat weight sensing system (10) includes the step of determining a zero point error (64) of the seat weight sensing system. The method (60) also includes the step of adjusting the ze...
03/23/2010
7682471Austenitic iron-based alloy
The method of forming hard facing on an engine valve comprising providing an engine valve, providing an austenitic iron-based alloy, the austenitic iron-based alloy including, by weight, about 0.25% to about 0.9% carbon, about 1.5% to about 3.5% boron, about 1% to a...
03/23/2010
7636479Method and apparatus for controlling classification and classification switching in a vision system
A system for classifying image data includes a vision system (58) for continuously imaging an area (42) of interest and providing an image signals. A classifier (84) determines an image class corresponding to each image signal, determines a conf...
12/22/2009
7625006Method and apparatus for controlling an actuatable restraining device using crush zone sensors for safing function
The present invention is directed to an apparatus for controlling a vehicle actuatable occupant restraining system including a discrimination crash sensor (32, 34, 36) for sensing a vehicle crash condition and providing a discrimination crash signal indicativ...
12/01/2009
7609893Method and apparatus for producing classifier training images via construction and manipulation of a three-dimensional image model
A system (400) for generating training images for a pattern recognition classifier (54) from three-dimensional image data representing an output class comprises a model constructor (404) that constructs an image model in a standard coordinate do...
10/27/2009
7604255Steering column release mechanism
A steering column (10) includes a steering column member (12) connectable with a steering wheel (16) and rotatable to turn steerable vehicle wheels. A mounting bracket (40) connects the steering column (10) to a vehicle frame. A su...
10/20/2009
7592559Bezel and actuator
An improved actuator (24) and bezel (22) are assembled in a mold (140). The actuator (24) is linearly movable relative to the bezel (22). A guide surface (44 or 76-80) on the actuator (24) is formed by b...
09/22/2009
7584996Steering column memory mechanism
A steering column (10) includes a steering column member (12) connectable with a steering wheel and rotatable to turn steerable vehicle wheels. A support (24), through which the steering column member (12) extends, is connected with a mou...
09/08/2009
7574018Virtual reality scene generator for generating training images for a pattern recognition classifier
Systems and methods are provided for generating training samples for a classification system associated with a vehicle occupant protection system. A three-dimensional virtual reality scene is generated (138) from a cockpit model having a set of at least two u...
08/11/2009
7561731Method and apparatus for enhancing the dynamic range of a stereo vision system
Systems and methods are provided for producing a stereo disparity map representing an imaged subject. A plurality of sensors (102 and 104) are operative to produce a plurality of images. Each image has an associated exposure according to an exposure le...
07/14/2009
7547028Tie rod steering linkage
A steering linkage assembly adapted to steer a pair of wheels of a motor vehicle, the motor vehicle steering linkage assembly comprising a first tie rod element having a first end operatively connected to a first wheel of the vehicle and a second end. A second tie r...
06/16/2009
7528562Method and apparatus for controlling an electric motor using star voltage modulation
A method for controlling an electric motor includes the step of determining multi-phase voltage demand values. The method also includes the steps of determining a star voltage (vstar) of the electric motor and determining multi-phase voltage output command values as...
05/05/2009
7516005Method and apparatus for locating an object of interest within an image
Systems and methods are provided for identifying a position of a head of a vehicle occupant from a plurality of images of a vehicle interior. Image data is translated from the plurality of images to produce a virtual side view image of the vehicle interior (220
04/07/2009
7510044Power steering apparatus
A power steering apparatus (10) includes a first pump (24) which is continuously driven to supply fluid under pressure to a power steering motor assembly (18). A second pump (32) is driven by the engine (30) of the vehicle when a p...
03/31/2009
7503580Vehicle occupant protection system with disable mode
A system (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (12) includes a vehicle occupant protection device (20). An event sensor (14) is operative to sense a vehicle event condition such as a vehicle crash or rollover and provides a...
03/17/2009
7493199Method of controlling a roll control system for improved vehicle dynamic control
A method of controlling a roll control system includes monitoring the position of a steering mechanism of a vehicle. A rate of change of the position of the steering mechanism is determined. The rate of change is compared to a change threshold value. The lateral acc...
02/17/2009
7484588Closed center steering system
A steering apparatus (10) includes a hydraulic power steering gear (130) for turning the steerable wheels (15) of a vehicle. The steering gear (130) includes a closed center valve (150). An electric motor (18) is operatively...
02/03/2009
7483866Subclass partitioning in a pattern recognition classifier for controlling deployment of an occupant restraint system
Systems and methods are provided for constructing a classification architecture for a pattern recognition classifier that determines an associated occupant class of an occupant within a vehicle. A plurality of occupant classes are defined, with at least one of the o...
01/27/2009
7483796Method and apparatus for determining faults in an electric assist steering system
A method and apparatus for determining a fault in an electric motor (50) determines a calculated star voltage (Vstar—calc) of the electric motor. The calculated star voltage (Vstar—
01/27/2009
7481897Method of producing a cold temperature high toughness structural steel
An apparatus includes a low-carbon steel member. The low-carbon steel member yields plastically more than about 5% before fracturing at temperatures down to about −40° C. when stress is applied to the low-carbon steel member sufficient to cause the low-carbon ste...
01/27/2009
7481595Ball joint
An improved ball joint for use in a motor vehicle steering or suspension system comprises a ball joint having a shank portion and a ball portion disposed in a socket shell. A ball joint retention member is provided having a first end operatively secured to the socke...
01/27/2009
7481401Tube assembly one piece bracket
A one-piece bracket is provided for mounting a tubular housing of a steering gear tube assembly to a vehicle member. At least one folded portion forming at least one receiving member is adapted for receiving a fastening member therethrough that couples the bracket t...
01/27/2009
7478822Steering gear pinion bearing assembly for use in a rack and pinion steering apparatus
A steering gear pinion bearing assembly adapted to support a pinion in a rack and pinion steering apparatus comprises a pinion support member including a first end, a second end and a stepped body portion; and a bearing assembly carried by the pinion support member,...
01/20/2009
7471832Method and apparatus for arbitrating outputs from multiple pattern recognition classifiers
A system (400) for classifying an input image into one of a plurality of output classes includes a plurality of pattern recognition classifiers (420, 422, 424). Each of the plurality of pattern recognition classifiers determines a candidate output clas...
12/30/2008
7448466Sensor mounting for power assisted steering system
A power assisted steering system includes a steering assembly and a power assist assembly. The power assist assembly includes a motor having an output shaft that is connected to the steering assembly. A target disc is connected to the output shaft for rotation there...
11/11/2008
7445073Sensor assembly including a sensing channel having a void and an associated method
A sensor assembly (14) for sensing an impact to a vehicle (10) includes a light source (34) for emitting light and a sensing channel (40) for receiving the emitted light. The sensing channel (40) is configured to deform in response...
11/04/2008
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