Inventor · Big Rapids, MI, US

Charles E. Steffens, Jr.

44Patents
22h-index
44Co-inventors
81Inventor score

Filing activity: Aug 31, 1992 → Jul 28, 2009

Most-cited inventions

PatentTitleAreaCited byStatus
US5413378A Method and apparatus for controlling an actuatable restraining device in response to discrete control zones Performing Operations; Transporting 376 Expired
US5626359A Method and apparatus for controlling an actuatable restraining device in response to discrete control zones Performing Operations; Transporting 180 Expired
US5439249A Vehicle occupant restraint system including occupant position sensor mounted in seat back Performing Operations; Transporting 126 Expired
US5531472A Apparatus and method for controlling an occupant restraint system Physics 107 Expired
US5722686A Method and apparatus for sensing an occupant position using capacitance sensing Performing Operations; Transporting 100 Expired
US6025783A Wireless switch detection system Electricity 86 Expired
US5366242A Apparatus for controlling inflation of an air bag Performing Operations; Transporting 70 Expired
US7077472B2 Apparatus with actuatable tether for resisting rearward movement of a backrest portion of a seat Performing Operations; Transporting 64 Expired
US6158768A Apparatus and method for discerning certain occupant characteristics using a plurality of capacitive sensors Performing Operations; Transporting 59 Expired
US5524924A Method and apparatus for restraining an occupant of a vehicle upon a side impact against the vehicle Performing Operations; Transporting 48 Expired
US6464250B1 Inflatable curtain with slidable tether Performing Operations; Transporting 45 Expired
US5507521A Automatic tilt mechanism for steering wheel with inflatable restraint Performing Operations; Transporting 41 Expired
US5485758A Method and apparatus for simulating vehicle side impacts Physics 39 Expired
US5870816A Method of assembling a tongue assembly for use with a seat belt system Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies 38 Expired
US5364125A Apparatus for protecting an occupant of a vehicle upon a side impact to the vehicle Performing Operations; Transporting 38 Expired
US6094610A Characterizing a proximately located occupant body portion with a sensor matrix Performing Operations; Transporting 35 Expired
US6282473A System and method for controlling a vehicle occupant protection device Performing Operations; Transporting 31 Expired
US6454304B1 Apparatus for sensing and restraining an occupant of a vehicle seat Performing Operations; Transporting 28 Expired
US5294150A Pretensioning safety belt apparatus Performing Operations; Transporting 28 Expired
US7364192B2 Air bag module with locking member for locking the position of a vent member Performing Operations; Transporting 28 Expired
US5641198A Seat integrated vehicle occupant restraint Performing Operations; Transporting 27 Expired
US6273458A Inflatable curtain Performing Operations; Transporting 27 Expired
US5899399A Seat belt pretensioner Performing Operations; Transporting 22 Expired
US5944135A Seat belt buckle with field effect locking indicator and method of use Performing Operations; Transporting 18 Expired
US5823570A Seat belt retractor with energy management Performing Operations; Transporting 18 Expired

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Inventor disambiguation is heuristic; counts are objective bibliographic measures.