Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
280735000 | Electric control and/or sensor means | 82 |
20080203712 | Switch-based seat sensor for occupant presence detection - A switch-based sensor apparatus is disposed between the bottom cushion and frame of a seat. The sensor apparatus includes upper and lower rigid and generally parallel force translation plates biased apart by a set of springs, and a switch assembly. The force translation plates are joined so as to pre-load the springs while permitting closing movement between the upper and lower force translation plates in response to occupant seat force that exceeds the pre-load force of the springs. The switch assembly includes a circuit board and elastomeric switch pad defining one or more switch elements that are actuated by a prescribed closing movement between the upper and lower force translation plates for electrically detecting the presence of a seat occupant. | 08-28-2008 |
20080211213 | Capacitive Sensor for Morphological Discrimination of a Motor Vehicle Seat Occupant - The invention concerns a detection set comprising in combination a sensor ( | 09-04-2008 |
20080231027 | Method and apparatus for classifying a vehicle occupant according to stationary edges - System and methods are provided for classifying an occupant of a vehicle. An edge image generation component ( | 09-25-2008 |
20080238056 | MOTORCYCLE PASSENGER PROTECTING SYSTEM - Multiple protecting devices, such as an air bag and an air bag jacket, are controlled and operated in accordance with the shape and size of an impact. A normal collision determining section causes the air bag and/or the air bag jacket to operate in accordance with the magnitude and direction of a collision based on outputs of G sensors. When a collision predicting section predicts a collision on the basis of other vehicle information obtained by a vehicle-to-vehicle communication device and own-vehicle information, it causes a stand-by collision determining section to start instead of the normal collision determining section. The stand-by collision determining section determines a collision mode in advance and sets a threshold value for determining the outputs of the G sensors to a value different from a value used in the determination of the normal collision determining section so as to permit quick determination of a collision. | 10-02-2008 |
20080238057 | Side airbag apparatus - A side airbag apparatus is provided with an inflator, and an airbag. The airbag is stored in a vehicle seat, is inflated and deployed by gas from the inflator, breaks the vehicle seat so as to jump out, and is inflated and deployed between a body side portion of a vehicle and the vehicle seat. In this side airbag apparatus, a controller predicts a side collision of the vehicle, and makes the inflator start an actuation in advance of the side collision in response to the prediction. Further, in the airbag inflated and deployed in accordance with the actuation start of the inflator, a deploying speed of the airbag is lowered in comparison with the deploying speed at a time of starting the actuation of the inflator after the side collision, at least outside the vehicle seat. | 10-02-2008 |
20080258443 | Safety Arrangement for Use in a Motor Vehicle - A safety arrangement to provide protection for an occupant in a motor vehicle includes a seat-belt provided with a measuring device to measure energy absorbed by the seat-belt. The measuring device may determine the length of safety-belt paid-out after a retractor locks, the belt being paid-out against a force provided by a force-limiter. The energy absorbed is calculated and is used to control the vents of a ventable air-bag. The air-bag is vented if a substantial part of the energy of the occupant is absorbed by the seat-belt, but is not vented if a large proportion of the energy has not been absorbed by the seat-belt. | 10-23-2008 |
20080258444 | Vehicle occupant protection apparatus - An air bag device of the present invention includes squibs and a capacitor, an electric discharge circuit as well as a backup power supply, a voltage stabilizer and ignition circuits. The voltage stabilizer converts the voltage of the backup power supply to the predetermined target voltage, and the converted voltage is supplied for the ignition circuit. The capacitor removes a noise emitted by the ignition circuit. The electric discharge circuit discharges electricity accumulated in the capacitor right after the supply of an ignition current from the ignition circuit has ended. In this manner, a voltage rise of the capacitor occurring after the end of the supply of the ignition current can be resolved immediately, thereby enabling a supply of a stable ignition current for the squibs. | 10-23-2008 |
20080272580 | Aspirated Inflators - Airbag inflator system includes an inflatable airbag, a flexible housing, and a gas generating system for generating gas which is directed from the housing to the interior of the airbag. The housing may be made by an extrusion process to provide it with its flexible form and a curved or arcuate form if necessary or desired. The housing may be elongate and/or mounted to a roof rail and/or made of plastic. An aspirating structure or nozzle may be arranged between the gas generating system and an interior of the airbag, which nozzle is varied as a function of temperature. The aspirating structure or arrangement enables air from the passenger compartment of the vehicle to mix with the generated gas prior to being directed into the airbag. | 11-06-2008 |
20080277909 | Actuator of Passenger Protection Device - In an actuator of a passenger protection device, a sub ECU | 11-13-2008 |
20080277910 | Vehicle seat including sensor - An occupation detection apparatus is provided including a conductor, a sensor, and a shielding electrode. The shielding electrode is located between the sensor and the conductor, and the shielding electrode is coupled, through a low impedance, to electrical ground. The conductor potentially represents an electrical potential of electrical ground. The coupling of the shielding electrode to electrical ground mitigates the susceptibility of the sensor to the conductor and other objects having a potential of electrical ground or near electrical ground. | 11-13-2008 |
20080290636 | Device for Triggering Personal Protective Means - A device for triggering personal protective means in a vehicle, an inertial sensor system being provided in a first location, a processor being provided in a second location, and a firing circuit control being provided in a third location in the vehicle. The processor processes the signals of the inertial sensor system and as a function of this triggers the firing circuit control. | 11-27-2008 |
20080303254 | SENSOR INTEGRATION FOR AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT - A system and method for deploying one or more airbags in a vehicle is provided. The system comprises a passive detection device, an active detection device and a controller. The passive detection device is configured to present one or more passive signals indicative of the motion of the vehicle after the vehicle has experienced an impact. The active detection device is configured to present suspension information related to the vehicle that is indicative of the motion of the vehicle prior to the vehicle experiencing an impact. The controller is configured to predict vehicle impact and deploy the airbags in response to the suspension information and the one or more passive signals. | 12-11-2008 |
20080315568 | Crash Sensor - A crash sensor comprising a support arrangement for supporting opposed ends of a yieldable element directly on one of an outer skin of a vehicle and a component adjacent to the outer skin with the yieldable element substantially parallel with the outer skin of the vehicle. A sensor arrangement in the form of resistors mounted on the yieldable element to generate a signal in response to deformation or bending of the yieldable element. A stiffness and a mass of the yieldable element is selected to achieve such that a period for a complete oscillation of the element at its resonance frequency is of at least 2 milliseconds. | 12-25-2008 |
20090008916 | Airbag Deployment Disabling System - A system for inhibiting deployment of an airbag includes a rollover sensor and a circuit that are enclosed in an enclosure. The enclosure is mounted on a surface that is at a predetermined potential. The circuit detects presence of the predetermined potential when the enclosure is mounted on the surface. The circuit detects absence of the predetermined potential when the enclosure is dismounted from the surface. The circuit inhibits deployment of the airbag when absence of the predetermined potential is detected. | 01-08-2009 |
20090033078 | Dual function capacitive sensor for seat occupant detection - A dual function capacitive occupant detection sensor includes a capacitive load cell disposed below a seat cushion, an electric field emitter disposed above the seat cushion and a capacitance-responsive control circuit. The control circuit determines a seated weight of an occupant based on the load cell capacitance, and a coupling of the electric field through an occupant based on the capacitance between the electric field emitter and the vehicle ground. The measured seated weight and electric field coupling parameters are logically combined to detect an occupant and to distinguish between a normally seated occupant and a cinched down infant or child seat of similar apparent weight. | 02-05-2009 |
20090066065 | Optical Occupant Sensing Techniques - Vehicular system for determining the presence of an object in a passenger compartment of the vehicle includes a first image receiver arranged at a first location for obtaining a first two-dimensional view of a portion of the compartment, and a second image receiver arranged at a second location for obtaining a second two-dimensional view of the same portion of the compartment, the second image receiver being arranged relative to the first image receiver such that three dimensions of the portion of the compartment are encompassed by the first and second views. A processor receives images from the first and second image receivers and determines whether an object is present in the compartment based on the images. A reactive system, such as an airbag assembly, may be coupled to the processor and controlled thereby based on the determination of whether an object is present in the imaged portion of the compartment. | 03-12-2009 |
20090066066 | Triggering Device for a Safety Device in an Automotive Vehicle - A triggering device for a safety device in an automotive vehicle, in particular for an airbag, has an electrical component that has at least one force sensor and that is attached to the body of the automotive vehicle in such a way that a measurement signal that is dependent on the deformation of the body can be applied at a measurement signal output of the force sensor. An evaluation device for processing the measurement signal is connected to the measurement signal output. The force sensor has at least one piezo element, which is integrated into a CMOS chip together with the evaluation device. | 03-12-2009 |
20090066067 | Airbag module - An airbag module for a motor vehicle includes a gas sack that can be inflated with gas to protect an occupant, a gas generator for generating the gas provided for inflating the gas sack, and an additional cooling device comprising an openable reservoir for storing a coolant. The reservoir is opened when the gas sack is inflated, so that the coolant for cooling the gas used to inflate the gas sack can come into contact with the gas. The cooling device comprises a movement generating device that opens the reservoir to release the coolant. | 03-12-2009 |
20090072524 | Vehicle air bag minimum distance apparatus, method and system - A vehicle safety device includes a seat mounted within a passenger compartment of the vehicle, in which the seat is movably connected to a vehicle frame by a seat position adjusting mechanism that allows the seat to move along an axis between a forward-most position and a rearward-most position. An air-bag is mounted within the passenger compartment in front of the forward-most position of the seat, with the forward-most position of the seat defined as a position of the seat in which a distance between a passenger seated in the seat and the air-bag is equal to a minimum safe clearance. In addition, an exemplary method of maintaining a minimum safe clearance between an air-bag mounted in a vehicle and a vehicle passenger includes the steps of preventing motion of a seat toward the air-bag beyond a forward-most position, in which, when in the forward-most position, a passenger seated in the seat is separated from the air-bag by a predetermined minimum safe clearance, and providing a position adjusting mechanism for at least one vehicle control pedal to allow a passenger seated in the seat to adjust a distance between the seat and the at least one pedal by moving the at least one pedal toward and away from the seat. An automatic seat positioning system, which takes into account both seat to air-bag distance and eye height and automatically, may be used to optimally and automatically position a passenger to maximize safety and comfort. | 03-19-2009 |
20090167004 | Air Bag Control Apparatus - To prevent short-time energization of an air bag due to a bit error occurring in a safing ON/OFF command, the invention provides an air bag control apparatus comprising a first electronic circuit ( | 07-02-2009 |
20090167005 | Airbag deployment controller and passenger protection device including the same - An airbag deployment controller and a passenger protection device including the same are provided to prevent erroneous operation of an airbag due to noises and quickly deploy the airbag. The passenger protection device determines whether or not to drive an airbag unit, upon determining a detected value of a front acceleration sensor as being over a first collision threshold. Then, when determining to drive the airbag unit, the passenger protection device determines whether or not a detected value of a central acceleration sensor exceeds a second collision threshold. With the detected value being over the second threshold, it generates a driving signal and outputs it to the airbag unit in a final deployment control process. Thereby, the airbag unit operates an inflator to drive an airbag. | 07-02-2009 |
20090200777 | Apparatus and method for controlling an inflatable cushion - An air bag module, comprising: an inflatable cushion being configured for deployment from the air bag module; an inflator for inflating the inflatable cushion, the inflator being in fluid communication with the inflatable cushion, the inflator comprising a first initiator for initiating a first stage of inflation and a second initiator for use with the first initiator for initiating a second stage of inflation, the first stage of inflation providing a first inflation output to the inflatable cushion and the second stage producing a second inflation output to the inflatable cushion, the second inflation output being greater than the first inflation output; a deployable member, the deployable member being deployed in a first direction either before or during the first stage of inflation; and wherein unobstructed deployment of the deployable member in the first direction will cause an activation signal to be sent to the second initiator to initiate the second stage of inflation. | 08-13-2009 |
20090212543 | Safety System - A safety system for vehicle occupants includes a control unit and sensors situated remotely from the control unit and connected via conductors to the control unit. The safety system encompasses means for testing the sensors and the conductors to the sensors. | 08-27-2009 |
20090212544 | Control Unit for Personal Protection - A control unit for personal protection having a polarity reversal protection between an external battery voltage and an internal voltage, to prevent an energy discharge from the control unit. The control unit also has a bidirectional DC/DC converter between an energy reserve and the internal voltage, the DC/DC converter determining its direction of conversion as a function of the internal voltage. The control unit is configured so that the control unit, after a switching-off process, records at least one measured value and generates a signal as a function of this measured value which characterizes an autarchy behavior of the control unit. | 08-27-2009 |
20090230663 | DUAL DEPTH AIRBAG WITH ACTIVE VENTING - An inflatable airbag cushion assembly with a release device for electronic communication with a sensor in a vehicle. The cushion assumes two different configurations depending on the occupant's position. The configurations are achieved via tethers along with closeable vent(s) to control cushion pressure. | 09-17-2009 |
20090256338 | DYNAMIC SAFETY VENT - An inflatable airbag cushion assembly with a release device, at least one vehicle sensor, at least one vent strap, and at lest one dynamic vent. The vent strap, release device, and dynamic vent operate together such that the vent can adopt at least two configurations, with one of the configurations venting less inflation gas than the other. | 10-15-2009 |
20090256339 | VEHICLE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM CONFIGURATION AND METHOD - A vehicle supplemental restraint system (SRS) can include an SRS control unit located rearward of the instrument panel in the vehicle. The SRS control unit can be located at or connected to a cross member of the vehicle frame that is located rearward of the instrument panel in the vehicle such that signals from a side sensor attached to a side portion of the vehicle frame are quickly transmitted to the SRS control unit with high signal strength. A space in the control panel or in the instrument panel of the vehicle can then be used to house a multi-axis or single axis satellite sensor to increase signal strength and sensor accuracy and speed for the front crash sensor or sensors in the vehicle. The SRS control unit can be equipped with an impact sensor. The position of the SRS control unit in combination with use of an impact sensor in the SRS control unit | 10-15-2009 |
20090261561 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRE-IMPACT DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG - An air bag deployment system includes a pre-impact sensor operative to detect an imminent impact and at least one post-impact sensor operative to detect an impact. An air bag has a non-deployed volume, a pre-impact deployed volume, and a post-impact deployed volume smaller than the pre-impact deployed volume. The air bag is deployed to the pre-impact volume wherein the air bag deployment system is arranged to deploy the air bag before the impact and the at least one air bag is deployed into the pre-impact deployed volume, in reaction to the imminent impact, and to the post-impact deployed volume in reaction to the impact. The system provides for enhanced occupant safety during a collision by allowing pre-impact deployment of the air bag in order to utilize the full possible length of deceleration for the occupant as the impact pulse affects the occupant. | 10-22-2009 |
20090283995 | Variable output using piezo valve technology - An airbag inflator that contains a first quantity of inflation gas. This gas may be housed in a chamber. A quantity of liquid fuel may also be added. This fuel may be housed within a liquid fuel chamber. The quantity of inflation gas may operate to pressurize the liquid fuel chamber. A piezo-valve is also added. The piezo-valve seals the liquid fuel chamber. The piezo-valve is capable of variably releasing liquid fuel from the chamber such that when this secondary liquid is ignited, the airbag inflation gas can be augmented as desired. | 11-19-2009 |
20090289443 | VEHICLE SAFETY APPARATUS AND METHOD - An apparatus for a vehicle is provided comprising a first seat occupant detector, a first seat belt buckled sensor, and a seat belt warning device. The seat belt warning device may be configured to communicate with the first seat occupant detector and the first seat belt buckled sensor. The seat belt warning device may be programmed to cause an audible warning when the first seat occupant detector detects the presence of an individual in a first seat of the vehicle and the first seat belt buckled sensor detects that a first seat belt corresponding to the first seat is not buckled. The apparatus may include a first seat belt contacting seat sensor, wherein the first seat belt contacting seat sensor may determine if the first seat belt is in contact with the first seat. | 11-26-2009 |
20090309341 | Airbag device - An airbag is inflated by gas for deployment to the front of and for restraining an occupant. A tether allows an inner capacity of the airbag to be equal to or smaller than a predetermined value by restricting a distance between a proximal end of the airbag and a surface of the airbag at deployment. A control unit acquires information relating to at least one of an occupant seat position, an occupant position to an instrument panel, an occupant physique, an occupant weight, and a magnitude of a collision impact. A release unit controls capacity and configuration of the airbag by releasing an end of the tether at a side of the proximal end according to the information acquired by the control unit. A vent discharges the gas before activation of the release unit and is closed on activation of the release unit. | 12-17-2009 |
20100025974 | Apparatus for allowing or suppressing deployment of a low risk deployment airbag - A low-cost automatic suppression apparatus allows or suppresses deployment of a low risk deployment airbag based solely on occupant seat load and seat belt tension. The seat load and belt tension parameters are detected by low-cost sensors, and an airbag control unit suppresses airbag deployment when the occupant load is below a specified load threshold or the belt tension is above a specified tension threshold, and otherwise allows airbag deployment. The sensors are preferably switch-based so that the signals provided to the airbag control unit are in the form of a differential electrical current, and only two wires are needed to interface each sensor to the airbag control unit. | 02-04-2010 |
20100123302 | INDUCTIVE VEHICLE SEAT POSITION SENSOR ASSEMBLY - An inductive vehicle seat position sensor assembly determines a linear vehicle seat position and has a circuit board member. First and second transmitter coils are proximate to a periphery of the circuit board member and radiate an out of phase magnetic field in response to an alternating current input. First and second receiver coils are offset relative to one another. The first and second transmitter coils and the first and second receiver coils span along the circuit board member. A loop coil member is provided for relative motion to the circuit board member. The first and second receiver coils generate a voltage with phase information corresponding to a position of the loop coil member relative to the circuit board member. A signal conversion unit produces a seat position output corresponding to the vehicle seat position based on the voltage with phase information of the first and second receiver coils. | 05-20-2010 |
20100148479 | Airbag module - An airbag module for a motor vehicle includes a gas sack that can be inflated with gas to protect an occupant, a gas generator for generating the gas provided for inflating the gas sack, and an additional cooling device comprising an openable reservoir for storing a coolant. The reservoir is opened when the gas sack is inflated, so that the coolant for cooling the gas used to inflate the gas sack can come into contact with the gas. The cooling device comprises a movement generating device that opens the reservoir to release the coolant. | 06-17-2010 |
20100171294 | Occupant protecting device for vehicle and method of controlling the device - A collision detector detects a collision relative to a lateral face of a vehicle. A left seat and a right seat are arranged adjacent to each other in a left-right direction of the vehicle. A left restraint restrains an occupant seated on the left seat, and a right restraint restrains an occupant seated on the right seat. A seat position detector detects seat positions of the seats in a front-rear direction of the vehicle. A driving portion drives one of the restraints based on a direction of the collision detected by the collision detector and a relationship of the seat positions detected by the seat position detector. | 07-08-2010 |
20100213693 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING AN ACTUATABLE RESTRAINT DEVICE USING A SIDE PRESSURE SENSOR - An apparatus for controlling an actuatable occupant restraint device of a vehicle comprises a central crash accelerometer that senses crash acceleration at a vehicle location and that provides a first crash acceleration signal indicative thereof. A side pressure sensor senses pressure in a chamber disposed at a side of the vehicle and provides a side pressure signal indicative thereof. A controller actuates the actuatable occupant restraint device in response to the first crash acceleration signal and the side pressure signal. The controller determines a first moving average of acceleration value comprising a moving average of acceleration in a direction generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle determined from the first crash acceleration signal. The controller determines a change in pressure value comprising a change in pressure in the chamber determined from the side pressure signal. The controller actuates the actuatable occupant restraint device when both the first moving average of acceleration value exceeds a first threshold and the change in pressure value exceeds a second threshold. | 08-26-2010 |
20100264632 | Vehicle Occupant Safety System with Variable Support and Method of Operating the Same - A vehicle occupant safety system having an airbag prevents an excessive force from acting upon the thorax of an occupant who has fastened the seat belt, in the event of an impact. The vehicle occupant safety system comprises an airbag, a sensor device for sensing at least one situation parameter and a control device for controlling the inflation and/or deflation and/or unfolding and/or positioning of the airbag in dependence of the at least one situation parameter. The unfolding, position or shape of the airbag and/or distribution of pressure within the airbag at the end of the filling phase, is directly or indirectly controlled in a targeted manner by a control device based on the at least one situation parameter. A modification of the shape of the airbag in the thorax region can be obtained in particular by a releasable constriction. | 10-21-2010 |
20100283231 | INFLATOR FOR AN AIR-BAG - An inflator for an airbag comprises a bottle ( | 11-11-2010 |
20110031724 | IMPACT GUARD BEAM - An impact guard beam for vehicles comprises a beam ( | 02-10-2011 |
20110042926 | SAFETY ARRANGEMENT FOR A VEHICLE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A SAFETY ARRANGEMENT - The invention relates to a safety arrangement for a vehicle, in particular for a motor vehicle with an airbag ( | 02-24-2011 |
20110062690 | OCCUPANT RESTRAINING APPARATUS FOR A MOTORCYCLE - An occupant restraining apparatus for a motorcycle which can release an occupant smoothly from a motorcycle body upon falling down. An occupant's seat includes a releasing mechanism which allows release thereof from a seat support member together with an occupant upon falling down of the motorcycle. When the motorcycle falls down, the occupant's seat can be released smoothly from the seat support member. Accordingly, an occupant restraining apparatus for a motorcycle which allows, upon falling down, the occupant to be released smoothly from the seat support member (motorcycle body) can be provided. | 03-17-2011 |
20110074140 | CONTROL UNIT AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING OCCUPANT PROTECTION MEANS FOR A VEHICLE - A control unit and a method for triggering an occupant protection arrangement for a vehicle are described, at least two semiconductor modules being provided for actuating the triggering of the occupant protection arrangement. The at least two semiconductor modules are provided for actuating the control of the personal protective arrangement. The at least two semiconductor modules provide the power supply voltage for the control unit. The at least two semiconductor modules also monitor these power supply voltages and monitor each other in at least one direction relative to these power supply voltages. The at least two semiconductor modules jointly execute a reset for the control unit, depending on the monitoring of the power supply voltages. | 03-31-2011 |
20110101661 | AIRBAG CONTROL SYSTEM - An airbag control system may include a sensor unit monitoring status of a vehicle being driven and an object located in front of the vehicle, an interior airbag deployed to an interior of the vehicle being driven, an exterior airbag deployed to an exterior of the vehicle being driven, and a control unit measuring a relative speed between the vehicle being driven and the object located in front of the vehicle from the sensor unit after deploying the exterior airbag, and deploying the interior airbag when it is determined that the measured relative speed exceeds an interior critical speed at which the interior airbag is deployed. | 05-05-2011 |
20110148082 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR ACTIVATING OCCUPANT PROTECTION MEANS - In a method for activating occupant protection means as a function of at least one input quantity derived from at least one acceleration sensor, characteristic curves are calculated for the input quantities deceleration, forward displacement and/or speed reduction, which characteristic curves define at least one area in a quadrant of a coordinate system, which determines the deployment behavior of the occupant protection means. | 06-23-2011 |
20110169251 | VEHICLE BODY COMPONENT WITH INTEGRATED CRASH SENSOR - A crash sensor for use in a safety system of an automotive vehicle is molded directly into a body component, with no intervening housing being provided. The body component may be a vehicle cross member, such as for reinforcing a radiator grill opening. The crash sensor is molded into the body component together with connections and/or connecting lines and/or plug-in connections and/or electronic circuit board. The crash sensor may be encased in a protective layer prior to being molded into the body component. | 07-14-2011 |
20110233906 | AIRBAG JACKET ACTIVATING SYSTEM - A human body communications transmitter is provided to a vehicle body, for transmitting an activation signal by using the human body of a rider as a transmission path on the basis of an instruction from an on-vehicle ECU. A human body communications receiver is provided to an airbag jacket for receiving the activation signal which is transmitted by using the human body of the rider as the transmission path. The in-jacket ECU inflates and thus deploys the airbag jacket upon receipt of the activation signal for the airbag jacket through either human body communications or radio communications. The human body communications transmitter is connected to a right handlebar portion electrode, a left handlebar portion electrode, a seat portion electrode, a right footrest portion electrode and a left footrest portion electrode. The human body communications receiver is connected to an in-jacket electrode adjacent to the human body. | 09-29-2011 |
20110233907 | HOUSING FOR AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT - A housing for an electrical circuit, in particular for a sensor, pins projecting from the housing for the electrical contacting of the circuit, additional pins being provided which are not connected electrically to the circuit but instead are used as mechanical arrangement for fastening the housing to a printed circuit board in particular. The present invention further relates to a housing having an electrical circuit, in particular a sensor, pins projecting from the housing for the electrical contacting of the circuit, at least two pins being connected to one another mechanically via a connecting piece. | 09-29-2011 |
20110254253 | METHOD FOR ACTIVATING A RESTRAINT SYSTEM IN A VEHICLE - A method for activating a restraint system in a vehicle, in which the restraint system is activated as a function of a speed, an activation characteristic, and at least one quantity derived from an acceleration signal, and in which the at least one quantity exceeds a threshold function that is set as a function of the impact speed and a required activation time. The activation characteristic of a particular accident type runs linearly to a first impact speed value. The activation characteristic runs with a second slope between the first impact speed and a second impact speed value, the first and the second impact speed value depending on the particular vehicle type. | 10-20-2011 |
20110260435 | VEHICLE SEAT SYSTEM - An exemplary vehicle seat system includes a vehicle seat, an electronic control unit, a crash detection unit connected with the control unit, a seat occupancy sensing module configured for sensing an occupancy of the seat and generating a digital signal associated therewith, an airbag, and an airbag inflating module. The detection unit detects a crash and sends a crash signal associated therewith to the control unit. The inflating module is selectively operable in an activated mode where the inflating module is configured to inflate the airbag in response to the crash signal and an inactivated mode where the inflating module is deactivated and irresponsive to the crash signal. The control unit analyzes the digital signal and determining if the vehicle seat is occupied, and switches the inflating module either in the activated mode if the seat is occupied or in the inactivated mode if the seat is not occupied. | 10-27-2011 |
20110260436 | PASSENGER AIRBAG APPARATUS - Provided is a passenger airbag apparatus that not only allows an airbag cushion to inflate in different sizes, depending on the types and positions of passengers in a passenger seat, but can automate a folding process, because the airbag cushion is made in 2D. | 10-27-2011 |
20120018989 | METHOD FOR DEPLOYING A VEHICULAR OCCUPANT PROTECTION SYSTEM - Method for protecting an occupant seated on a seat of a vehicle which includes an airbag arranged to deploy to protect the occupant in the event of a crash involving the vehicle, a first sensor system for detecting presence of the occupant, a second sensor system connected to the seatbelt for obtaining information about seatbelt spool out, and a processor coupled to the first and second sensor systems and arranged to control deployment of the airbag based on the presence of the occupant and the information about seatbelt spool out. The second sensor system may be arranged to measure a length of the seatbelt pulled out of a seatbelt retractor and include an encoder arranged on a shaft around which the seatbelt is wound and a receptor arranged to generate a signal when a line on the encoder passes by the receptor. | 01-26-2012 |
20120032428 | VEHICLE RESTRAINT SYSTEM - An automotive passenger restraint system of the lapbelt/diagonal shoulder belt type wherein a sensor and lookup table are used to detect the onset of a collision and provide a programmed (a) relocation of the inboard seatbelt anchor point to increase pelvic area restraint and (b) asymmetric airbag deployment. | 02-09-2012 |
20120126519 | AIRBAG CONTROL APPARATUS - An airbag control apparatus of a vehicle includes an occupant determination device, a deployment determination device, a storage device, an airbag controller, and a voltage variation detector. The airbag controller is configured to control deployment of an airbag based on the deployment/non-deployment information. The voltage variation detector is configured to detect a variation in a voltage of an in-vehicle battery and configured to output voltage variation information to the airbag controller. If the voltage variation information indicates that the voltage detected by the voltage variation detector varies, the airbag controller controls the airbag based on deployment/non-deployment information stored in the storage device immediately before the airbag controller receives the voltage variation information indicating that the voltage detected by voltage variation detector varies. | 05-24-2012 |
20120139219 | AIRBAG CONTROL UNIT WITH IMU INTEGRATION - Provided is an airbag control unit with inertial measurement unit (IMU) integration, which includes an airbag collision sensor configured to detect airbag collision information; a digital sensor configured to detect a yaw rate and an acceleration, and to convert a detected data to a digital signal; and a micom configured to identify whether an output from the digital sensor and an output from the airbag collision sensor are within a measurement range of a corresponding sensor. | 06-07-2012 |
20120211972 | Airbag apparatus - An airbag apparatus is provided with at least one detent assembly each including a micro switch, a telescopic cylinder slidably disposed in the micro switch, a bifurcation for fastening the cylinder by attaching to the micro switch, a first rope secured to the micro switch, and a second rope secured to the bifurcation wherein the micro switch is open in an inoperative position; an airbag; a cover spaced around the airbag; sensors disposed in an automobile; and an ECU for controlling the airbag and the sensors. The airbag is surrounded and fastened by the first and second ropes of the detent assemblies. The airbag expands to close the micro switch and break loose when an actual accident event is sensed by at least one of the sensors. | 08-23-2012 |
20120256404 | Method and control device for the activation of a passenger safety arrangement of a vehicle - A method of activating a passenger safety arrangement of a vehicle, the method including reading in a roll rate of the vehicle and triggering the passenger safety arrangement when, at a first time, at least one roll rate value is present, which exhibits a positive sign and is larger than a roll rate positive threshold value and when, at a second time after the first time, at least one roll rate value is present, which exhibits a negative sign and is smaller than a roll rate negative threshold value. | 10-11-2012 |
20120256405 | SIDE COLLISION DETECTION SYSTEM, OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM AND VEHICLE - A control device is provided with a first collision determiner for determining a side collision to a vehicle based on velocity in a direction orthogonal to the advancing direction of the vehicle, and a second collision determiner for determining a side collision to the vehicle based on a displacement amount and displacement velocity of an acceleration sensor provided in a door of the vehicle. When the vehicle is traveling at a relatively high velocity, the control device detects a side collision to the vehicle using the determination result of the first collision determiner and the determination result of the second collision determiner. In addition, when the vehicle is traveling at a low velocity or is stopped, the control device detects a side collision to the vehicle using the determination result of the first collision determiner, without using the determination result of the second collision determiner. | 10-11-2012 |
20120267882 | Method To Achieve Early/Robust G-Signal For Side Pole - The embodiments herein describe a fundamental layout between the inner panel of a door, side sill reinforcement, and uncrushable items within the door of the vehicle. During a side impact collision, a side impact sensor receives a G-signal resulting from the collision. The G-signal must ramp up to a threshold value in order to deploy the side airbag. The fundamental layout between the inner panel of a door, side sill reinforcement, and uncrushable items within the door of the vehicle ensures a more robust G-signal which results in early deployment of the side airbag relative to the movement of the door toward the occupant. | 10-25-2012 |
20130020789 | ACTIVE SAFETY APPARATUS FOR VEHICLES AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME - An active safety apparatus for vehicles and a method of controlling the apparatus, which can actively control the operation of a safety device, such as an airbag device or a seatbelt device installed in a vehicle for restraining a passenger behavior and protecting a passenger in a vehicle collision, based on the conditions of a vehicle collision and the passenger behavior which vary depending on the conditions of the vehicle collision, thereby optimally protecting the passenger for the conditions of the vehicle collision and improving passenger safety of the vehicle. | 01-24-2013 |
20130038045 | WIRELESS AIRBAG APPARATUS - A wireless airbag apparatus may include an airbag control unit (ACU) receiving a sensing signal from a collision sensor and having a first wireless communication unit, and an airbag module having a second wireless communication unit and a power supply circuit to transceive a signal with the wireless communication unit of the ACU, wherein the power supply circuit supplies operating power to an inflator in accordance with a deployment signal of the airbag module. | 02-14-2013 |
20130062868 | SUPPORT MEMBER, DETECTION UNIT, SIDE SURFACE COLLISION DETECTION SYSTEM, AND OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM - An acceleration sensor ( | 03-14-2013 |
20130241182 | SIDE COLLISION OCCUPANT PROTECTION SYSTEM - A system and a method for protecting the occupant of a vehicle during a side-impact detects an approaching vehicle and identifies a collision threat. A collision threat level is assessed based on a set of parameters, and when the collision threat exceeds a pre-determined collision threat threshold level, the system unlatches the occupant's door, pushes it a few centimeters outwards, and locks it in that position. Pressure sensors and accelerometers disposed at suitable locations on the sides of the vehicle, provide crash signals to a Restraint Control Module (RCM). When the crash signals exceed a certain threshold, the RCM commands an airbag deployment module to deploy the airbag between the occupant and the door. Since the door is pushed outwards, an extra pre-crush space is created between the occupant and the door, which allows the use of larger and softer side airbags to provide enhanced protection to the vehicle occupants. | 09-19-2013 |
20130320654 | Vehicle Side Impact Detection Using Vehicle Yaw - A safety system for a motor vehicle includes a sensor suite detecting a lateral impact and a vehicle yaw, an occupant safety system, and a control module receiving signals from the sensor suite. The control module activates the occupant safety system if either: a) an impact magnitude detected by the sensor suite is greater than a first impact threshold and a vehicle yaw magnitude detected by the sensor suite is greater than a yaw threshold; or b) the impact magnitude is greater than a second impact threshold higher than the first impact threshold. The system may be operated to determine a longitudinal location of the impact on the vehicle by comparing a magnitude of the impact and a magnitude of the vehicle yaw. The occupant safety system may then be activated in a mode based upon the longitudinal location of the impact and/or appropriate for a spinning vehicle. | 12-05-2013 |
20140001738 | COLLISION SENSING DEVICE AND OCCUPANT PROTECTING SYSTEM | 01-02-2014 |
20140077482 | MOTOR VEHICLE WITH OCCUPANT PROTECTION DEVICE - A motor vehicle includes an occupant protection device which is provided for a side region of the motor vehicle. The occupant protection device includes a sensor capable of ascertaining an air pressure signal, and a control device capable of evaluating the air pressure signal and activating the occupant protection device when determining that the air pressure signal indicates the presence of a pressure wave generated before a collision. | 03-20-2014 |
20140210193 | AIRBAG AND VEHICLE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM - An exemplary passenger airbag for a vehicle passenger restraint system may include an inflatable cushion having an upper rear portion with a convex surface and a lower rear portion with a concave surface when the airbag is deployed. The airbag may further include a longitudinal tether secured to the lower rear portion to limit longitudinal expansion of the inflatable cushion and form the concave surface in the lower rear portion. | 07-31-2014 |
20140300091 | HIGH VOLTAGE COLOR INDICATED AIR BAGS - An airbag system upon deployment indicates the type of power system in a vehicle in which the airbag system is contained in. The airbag system includes an airbag inflator, a crash sensor in communication with the airbag inflator, and an airbag. The airbag includes a flexible fabric cushion that has an exposed surface after the airbag is inflated by the airbag inflator. The exposed surface has an indicator that shows the type of power system within the vehicle. | 10-09-2014 |
20150014972 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ACTIVATING AT LEAST ONE TRIGGERING ELEMENT FOR A PASSENGER PROTECTION MEANS - A system for activating a triggering element for a passenger protection unit includes: a high-side control circuit establishing a first connection from an energy source to the triggering element, a low-side control circuit establishing a second connection of the triggering element to ground, and a regulating device regulating a firing current for the triggering element). A firing mode is selected as a function of a connected triggering element. In a first firing mode, a first firing current having a first time characteristic is generated for an ohmic triggering element, and in a second firing mode, a second firing current having a second time characteristic is generated for an inductive triggering element. | 01-15-2015 |
20150054267 | VEHICLE OCCUPANT PROTECTION DEVICE - A vehicle occupant protection device includes a frontal collision airbag that is provided in front of a front seat, and inflates and deploys by gas being supplied into the airbag, and in which vent holes are provided in both a right side and a left side thereof; a frontal collision inflator that supplies the gas into the airbag by being activated; a discharge limiting portion capable of limiting a discharge of the gas from at least one vent hole, from among the left vent hole and the right vent hole; and a controller that activates the frontal collision inflator when a frontal collision is detected or predicted, and that controls the discharge limiting portion such that the discharge limiting portion limits the discharge of the gas from the one vent hole when a configuration of the frontal collision is an asymmetric collision on a side with the one vent hole. | 02-26-2015 |
20150084317 | OCCUPANT POSITION DETECTION DEVICE AND AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT CONTROL SYSTEM - An occupant position detection device is an occupant position detection device disposed inside a vehicle to detect a position of an occupant, and includes: a detector comprising two or more sensor electrodes disposed forward of a seat and at least one sensor electrode disposed at a position more rearward and higher than these sensor electrodes, the detector respectively outputting a detection signal based on a distance between each of the sensor electrodes and the occupant; and a computation unit inputted with the detection signal to compute an occupant position. The computation unit selects from the detection signals outputted from the detector three or more types of combinations configured from two of the detection signals, calculates a ratio or difference for each of these combinations of detection signals, and computes the occupant position based on the three or more calculated ratios or differences of the detection signals. | 03-26-2015 |
20150137494 | FLEXIBLE ELECTRO-RESISTIVE IMPACT DETECTION SENSOR FOR FRONT RAIL MOUNTED AIRBAG - A flexible electro-resistive impact detection sensor is mounted on an outboard portion of the front bumper for signaling an offset rigid barrier impact event to a forward corner of a motor vehicle and deployment of a small offset rigid barrier airbag mounted on the front rail. The airbag, is attached proximate a distal end of a front rail. The flexible electro-resistive impact detection sensor, attached to a rear surface of an outboard portion of the front bumper, generates a signal upon a corner impact event, whereby a controller processes the signal generated by the impact detection sensor and electrically actuates an inflator upon a predetermined impact severity. The airbag in the inflated condition acts against the offset rigid barrier to generate a lateral force against the offset rigid barrier to push the motor vehicle away from the barrier and thereby redirect impact energy by lateral movement of the motor vehicle. | 05-21-2015 |
20150145236 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DEPLOYING SIDE AIRBAG OF VEHICLE - A system for deploying a side airbag of a vehicle comprises a front/side airbag controller for controlling processes of deploying a front airbag and a side airbag independently. The front/side airbag controller comprises a front signal monitoring unit converting a front acceleration signal received from the airbag controller into a speed according to time and then determining whether or not the speed according to time exceeds a first threshold. A threshold adjustment unit receives a threshold adjustment request signal from the front signal monitoring unit to lower a second threshold that is a threshold with respect to decision factors for deploying the side airbag. | 05-28-2015 |
20150321632 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AIRBAG - A system for controlling an airbag may include: an accident information collector configured to collect accident information and divide an entire road into a plurality of sections; an accident information analyzer configured to generate statistical information for each section by analyzing the accident information; a threshold value calculator configured to calculate a threshold value for each section, wherein the threshold value is a reference for inflating the airbag; and a inflation controller configured to determine whether to inflate the airbag based on the threshold value for each section. | 11-12-2015 |
20150360639 | IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO AIR-BAGS - A method of weaving fabric for use in the manufacture of a vehicle air-bag includes: providing a weaving reed having a plurality of adjacent cells; introducing regular warp yarns into at least some of the cells; introducing an additional warp yarn into one of the cells that already includes a regular warp yarn; and carrying out a weaving process. In the weaving process, weft yarns are interwoven with the regular warp yarns and the additional warp yarn. The regular warp yarns each remain within one cell throughout the weaving process. The additional warp yarn is moved from a first cell to a second cell during the weaving process. | 12-17-2015 |
20160121833 | ELECTRONIC AIRBAG IGNITION CIRCUIT HAVING A VARIABLE IGNITION CURRENT DURATION - An electronic airbag ignition circuit includes a first and second output for the electrically conductive connection to a first and second terminal of a magnetic actuator. The electronic airbag ignition circuit also includes a first switching element, whose contact-break path is connected in an electrically conductive manner to the first output, and a second switching element, whose contact-break path is connected in an electrically conductive manner to the second output. The electronic airbag ignition circuit includes a second control circuit connected in an electrically conductive manner to a control terminal of the second switching element. The second control circuit is configured to close the second switching element in a first triggering mode for a first predetermined duration and in a second triggering mode for a second predetermined duration that differs from the first duration. | 05-05-2016 |
20160129868 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROTECTING OCCUPANTS IN VEHICLE - A system for protecting one or more occupants in a vehicle includes a seat posture sensor configured to detect seat posture data, a collision detector configured to detect collision data of the vehicle, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive the collision data from the collision detector, determine a collision generation direction, and selectively deploy one or more airbags provided around the one or more occupants according to the collision generation direction and the seat posture data detected by the seat posture sensor. | 05-12-2016 |
20160137151 | OBJECT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF OPERATION THEREOF - Embodiments include object restraint systems and methods of their operation. The system is contained in a vehicle with a passenger compartment, and includes sensor and processing subsystems, a vessel, a restraint mechanism, and an actuator. The sensor subsystem produces a sensor signal indicating a magnitude of a sensed condition, and the processing subsystem asserts an actuator signal when the sensor signal indicates that a triggering condition has occurred. The vessel is configured to hold one or more inanimate objects. For example, the vessel may include a cupholder, a lidded or open compartment, a cargo area, or another storage space that is distinct from the passenger compartment. The actuator receives the actuator signal and activates the restraint mechanism in response to assertion of the actuator signal. The restraint mechanism, when activated, is configured to retain the object(s) within the vessel and to restrict the object(s) from entering the passenger compartment. | 05-19-2016 |
20160144820 | AIR BAG APPARATUS FOR VEHICLE - An air bag apparatus for a vehicle includes an inflator and a main tube configured to be unfolded toward an occupant of the vehicle by a gas pressure when the inflator explodes. A support tube is coupled to one side of the main tube and configured to be unfolded by being supplied with gas from the main tube. An active vent is configured to be installed in a path which connects the main tube to the support tube and to open and close the path. A controller is configured to control an opening and closing operation of the active vent | 05-26-2016 |
20160152202 | MEMS SENSOR AND A SEMICONDUCTOR PACKAGE | 06-02-2016 |
20170232925 | VEHICLE HOOD ASSEMBLY WITH DEPLOYABLE PEDESTRIAN PROTECTION | 08-17-2017 |
20180022357 | DRIVING RECORDER SYSTEM | 01-25-2018 |
20190143846 | COLLISION IMPACT FORCE REDUCTION METHOD AND SYSTEM | 05-16-2019 |