Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20080201042 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRE-DEPLOYING RESTRAINTS COUNTERMEASURES USING PRE-CRASH SENSING AND POST-CRASH SENSING - A system and method for deploying a restraint system in a vehicle that is in a pre-collision state with an object is provided. The system includes a pre-crash sensing system and a controller. The pre-crash sensing system is adapted to transmit pre-crash signals. The controller is configured to determine a closing velocity between the vehicle and the object. The controller is further configured to determine a predicted collision time based on the closing velocity and deploy the restraint system at a predetermined deployment time prior to the predicted collision time in response to the pre-crash signals. | 08-21-2008 |
20080208413 | Safety System For Vehicle Occupants - The present invention relates to a safety system for occupants of a vehicle | 08-28-2008 |
20080215211 | Arrangement For Triggering a Vehicle Safety Device - An arrangement is provided for triggering a vehicle safety device. A proximity sensor ( | 09-04-2008 |
20080221758 | Method and Device for Actuating a Vehicle Occupant Protection Means - A method and apparatus for preventatively actuating a vehicle occupant protection system in a vehicle having a sensor system which acquires driving state data, and a reversible vehicle occupant protection means which can be triggered before the collision time and thus moved into an operative position. A control signal for triggering the vehicle occupant protection means is activated if at least one critical driving state is present, and is deactivated if the respective critical driving state ends and as a function of at least one further condition which represents at least one sensed controllable driving behavior. As a result, the vehicle occupant protection system is reset to its initial state. | 09-11-2008 |
20080221759 | DRIVE ARRANGEMENT FOR ACTIVATING A CAR SAFETY DEVICE ACTIVATION ELEMENT - A drive arrangement for activating a car safety device activation element, such as an air bag, comprises a drive circuit, which is coupled to the car safety device activation element. The drive circuit generates an activation signal which activates the car safety device. The arrangement includes a power supply transistor which is coupled in series with a power supply input of the drive circuit and an energy reservoir such as a capacitor. The arrangement further comprises control means which controls the supply voltage to the drive circuit by controlling the power supply transistor to operate in an active region to provide a voltage drop during activation of the car safety device activation element. Hence, a significant voltage drop and thus energy dissipation may be moved from the drive circuit to the power supply transistor. The drive circuit may therefore be reduced in size and the power supply transistor may be implemented in a cheap technology suitable for energy dissipation. | 09-11-2008 |
20080228355 | VEHICLE GOVERNANCE SYSTEM - Disclosed are a method and system for preventing the unauthorized use of a vehicle. A set of vehicle operating parameters is entered onto a person's driver's license, and that person registers as an authorized user of a specified vehicle. When that person enters the vehicle, the person inserts the driver's license into a card reader, and the card reader reads the operating parameters and enters those parameters onto a computing platform. The computing platform receives these operating parameters and checks to determine if the person is an authorized user of the vehicle. If the computing platform determines that the person is an authorized user, the computing platform sends the operating parameters to a control module within the vehicle. If the person then operates the vehicle, the control module controls the vehicle to maintain that operation within the operating parameters. | 09-18-2008 |
20080228356 | SAFETY DEVICE FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE - A safety device for a motor vehicle includes a deformation element which is arranged between a bumper beam and a side rail and moves into the side rail in the event of an impact. The deformation element is configured in the form of an evertable tubular member having a side-rail-proximal rear end provided with an abutment ring. Operatively connected to the deformation element is an actuator which is provided to release a displacement of the deformation element into the side rail in a predefined speed range by liberating the abutment ring in relation to the side rail in a release position, and to block the displacement of the deformation element into the side rail, when the speed range is exceeded or a vehicle speed is below the speed range, by locking the abutment ring in relation to the side rail in an engagement position. | 09-18-2008 |
20080234898 | System and method for sensing loads - An optical sensing system detects pressure through attenuation of light in an optical fiber. This is particularly useful for measuring the weight and position of a load on a mat including multiple such optical fibers, which may be positioned in an automobile seat to determine theses parameters for a passenger in that seat. This information can be presented to an airbag deployment system in a form that will easily enable the airbag to be deployed (when needed) in a manner sensitive to the weight and position of the occupant. It provides based on this detection system a technique to suppress airbag deployment based on passenger profile. Further, the system and method use an optical fabric methodology such that loads, load movement, load position can be detected in vehicles. In applications for vehicles such as aircraft or boats, sensing weight, position and movement of cargo can warn an operator or pilot in sufficient time to correct dangerous shifts in weight within the cargo portion of the vehicle or to modify the operation of the vehicle to compensate for such shifts. | 09-25-2008 |
20080243342 | Side Curtain Airbag With Inflator At End - Airbag inflator system includes an inflatable airbag, e.g., a side curtain airbag, a housing, a gas generating system arranged apart from the housing for generating gas, and a conduit leading from the gas generating system to the housing to provide gas to the housing, e.g., to a lateral end of the housing. A filter may be arranged between the gas generating system and the housing, possibly in the conduit. A 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 housing may be movably arranged relative to a fixed base and mounted to vary its relation to the base as a function of temperature, e.g., via elastic or deformable supports which support the housing on the base. | 10-02-2008 |
20080249687 | Vehicle side impact crash detection for deployment of curtain and side airbags - A restraint control system ( | 10-09-2008 |
20080255730 | Safety arrangement for a discharging signalling system - A method and system for allowing unsafe action signals in a dispensing system of a vehicle. A discharging signalling system of at least one dispenser of a vehicle includes an activation circuit arranged to discharge the dispenser. An indicator is arranged to indicate that dispensing is allowed. The activation circuit includes a first safety arrangement arranged to be activated when an indication from the indicator indicates that dispensing is allowed. The activation circuit also includes a second safety arrangement arranged to be activated when a discharge of the dispenser is indicated. | 10-16-2008 |
20080255731 | Occupant detection apparatus - An occupant detection apparatus including a photographing section that is disposed to face to a vehicle rear seat for taking three-dimensional images of the vehicle rear seat area. The apparatus includes an information extraction processing section that extracts only first image information about an upper area of a seat back of the vehicle rear seat area from the three-dimensional images including the first image information and second image information about areas other than the upper area of the seat back. The apparatus also includes a segmentation processing section that segments the first image information extracted by the information extraction processing section into areas relating to respective sitting areas of a plurality of rear-seat occupants. The apparatus further includes a derivation processing section that derives, with regard to each image information segmented by the segmentation processing section, information about the rear-seat occupant sitting in the vehicle rear seat. | 10-16-2008 |
20080262679 | Safety Device for a Motor Vehicle - A safety device for a motor vehicle, includes an active headrest which is provided on a backrest of a vehicle seat and a control unit which actuates a headrest-deployment device as a function of the evaluation of the signals from a crash sensor when an accident event occurs such that the active headrest is deployed into a headrest position which is optimum in terms of occupant safety. The control unit actuates at least one component of the vehicle seat as a function of the evaluation of data which is relevant in terms of driving safety before the expected accident event occurs such that the vehicle seat is moved to an optimum starting position for deploying the active headrest when the accident event occurs. | 10-23-2008 |
20080262680 | Apparatus and method for detecting vehicle rollover using an enhanced algorithm having lane departure sensor inputs - A method is provided including the steps of monitoring a lane departure event, monitoring a rollover event, and controlling actuation of an occupant restraining device in response to the monitored lane departure event and the monitored rollover even. | 10-23-2008 |
20080269990 | Electro-mechanical protector for vehicle latches during crash conditions and method for operating the same - The present invention relates to an electronic mechanical protector system for vehicle door latches during crash conditions, vehicle door equipped with such a system, and methods for operating the system. | 10-30-2008 |
20080269991 | Activation-Control Device for Occupant Crash-Protection Apparatus - A colliding-initial detecting section detects colliding-initial timing at which an impact level detected by an acceleration sensor in the inside of a vehicle reaches a predetermined threshold, and when the colliding-initial timing is detected, a one-shot timer is set. Meanwhile, an impact-judging section detects strong-impact occurrence timing at which the impact level detected by an acceleration sensor on the front reaches a predetermined threshold. When the strong-impact occurrence timing is within a time set by the one-shot timer from the colliding-initial timing, an And circuit outputs an activating signal activating an air bag to a driving section. | 10-30-2008 |
20080269992 | Collision prediction apparatus - A collision prediction ECU of a collision prediction apparatus estimates a state of presence of a detected front obstacle. At this time, the collision prediction ECU estimates the state of presence on the basis of road shape data supplied from a navigation ECU of a navigation apparatus. Further, the collision prediction ECU checks and corrects the calculated road gradient value. At this time, the collision prediction ECU corrects the gradient value on the basis of road gradient data supplied from the navigation ECU. Further, the collision prediction ECU changes a collision avoidance time on the basis of travel environment data supplied from the navigation ECU. Moreover, the collision prediction ECU obtains an ETC gate pass-through signal from the navigation ECU and determines whether the vehicle is passing through the gate. The collision prediction apparatus performs collation prediction on the basis of the corrected values. | 10-30-2008 |
20080269993 | Vehicular collision sensing system - A crash sensing system for determining a vehicle impact includes an electronic controller for activating impact mitigation equipment during both a first stage event and a second stage event. One or more sensors are used for determining the magnitude of both frontal and side impact forces during the vehicle impact. The controller operates to adjust the sensitivity of the sensors based upon vehicle speed measurements. | 10-30-2008 |
20080281492 | Method and Device For Estimating at Least One Characteristic - A method and device for estimating at least one characteristic which is derived from at least one base characteristic and which is evaluated for the generation of a triggering signal for a passenger protection device, a contact time is calculated at a first time after an impact has occurred, the curve of the at least one derived characteristic being ascertained in retrospect in a time span between the calculated contact time and the first time. | 11-13-2008 |
20080281493 | VEHICLE OCCUPANT WEIGHT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM - A vehicle occupant classification system categorizes vehicle occupants into various classes such as adult, child, infant, etc. to provide variable control for a vehicle restraint system such as an airbag. The classification system utilizes sensors that are installed in various locations in the vehicle. The sensors are used to generate a three-dimensional profile for the vehicle occupant. Various factors can affect the accuracy of this three-dimensional profile. Fuzzy logic is used to reduce some of the inaccuracies by providing multiple decision levels for various stages of the classification. Inaccuracies are also caused by sensors shifting within the system from their original position. This condition creates offset and the system evaluates this offset and generates a correction factor to provide a more accurate three-dimensional profile. Electrically erasable programmable read-only memory is used to reduce complications and inaccuracies associated with seat occupant weight sensors that have mounting configurations that vary depending upon the vehicle. | 11-13-2008 |
20080288141 | Active Anti-Bunching D-Ring Seat Belt System - A motor vehicle seat belt system having an active system for avoiding bunching of webbing in a D-ring during a rapid deceleration event. The system includes a controlled locking mechanism engageable with a rotatably mounted D-ring to restrict backward rotation of the D-ring. | 11-20-2008 |
20080300753 | Method for Controlling a Belt Pretensioner and Safety Arrangement Comprising a Belt Pretensioner - The present invention relates to a method for controlling a reversible seat belt pretensioner in a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of detecting the speed and the steering angle of the vehicle, calculating an expected turning rate of the vehicle about its vertical axis from the speed and the steering angle and calculating an upper and a lower turning rate limiting value using the expected turning rate, detecting the actual turning rate of the vehicle about its vertical axis and activating the seat belt pretensioner of the vehicle if the actual turning rate of the vehicle is greater than the upper turning rate limiting value or is less than the lower turning rate limiting value. The present invention also relates to a safety arrangement for implementing the method according to the invention. | 12-04-2008 |
20080306656 | Process for Adjusting an Occupant Protection and/or Comfort Enhancing System, and Occupant Protection and/or Comfort Enhancing System. - The invention relates to a vehicle occupant protection and/or comfort system ( | 12-11-2008 |
20080312795 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CLASSIFYING VEHICLE OCCUPANT - A system and method for classifying a vehicle occupant is disclosed. A base is installed in each of leg frames of a seat of a vehicle. A cover is installed above the base to be spaced apart from the base. Two weight sensors are installed between the base and the cover to support the cover, and configured to measure a load transmitted to the cover by the weight of a vehicle occupant sitting in the seat. A control unit receives load values measured by the weight sensors, and determines whether the vehicle occupant sitting in the seat is an adult or a child based on the received load values. A shock absorption member is interposed between the weight sensors and the base. A stopper is interposed between the base and the cover in order to limit a downward movement range of the cover in a case of overload. | 12-18-2008 |
20080319614 | Motor Vehicle Having an Occupant Protection System - A motor vehicle includes at least one first crash sensor for measuring a motion variable of the motor vehicle, arranged in a safety zone of the motor vehicle, and at least one second crash sensor for measuring a motion variable, arranged in a crash zone of the motor vehicle, the motor vehicle including an ignition protection device controllable via an ignition signal and a control unit for ascertaining the ignition signal as a function of the measured motion variables or, in each instance, as a function of a time average of the measured motion variables over at least one first time interval. | 12-25-2008 |
20080319615 | Motor Vehicle Having a Preventatively Acting Safety System - The invention relates to a motor vehicle, in particular a passenger car, having a preventatively acting safety system which comprises safety devices which are actuated as a function of information which is recorded by a driving situation detection device by means of a driving state sensor system and is evaluated in a data evaluation device, with the recorded information being compared with at least one triggering threshold value and the safety devices being actuated when the triggering threshold value is exceeded. According to the invention, the triggering threshold value is adapted as a function of a total vehicle acceleration and a vehicle speed. | 12-25-2008 |
20080319616 | Seat Sensor System - A seat sensor system comprises at least one seat sensor associated to a seat for sensing a status related to a seat occupancy and for generating an output signal indicative of said status and a control unit for communicating with said at least one seat sensor. According to the invention at least one transmitter is associated with said seat, said transmitter being coupled to said at least one seat sensor, said transmitter for transmitting a data signal indicative of said output signal; and at least one receiver is coupled to said control unit, said receiver for wirelessly receiving said data signal) from said transmitter. | 12-25-2008 |
20080319617 | VEHICLE SEAT BELT APPARATUS - Vehicle seat belt apparatus includes: a motor for driving a belt reel having a belt wound thereon; a trigger section for detecting a change in a traveling state of a vehicle to output an activation signal that instructs or triggers activation of the motor; a lateral acceleration detection section for detecting lateral acceleration acting on the vehicle; a slip state detection section for detecting a slip state quantity of the vehicle; and a control section for, in response to receipt of the activation signal from the trigger section, controlling the amount of current supply for activating the motor on the basis of a signal of the lateral acceleration output by the lateral acceleration detection section and/or a signal of the slip state quantity output by the slip state detection section. | 12-25-2008 |
20090005935 | FORCE LIMITER - An energy-absorbing force limiter for a safety device comprises a first component ( | 01-01-2009 |
20090005936 | Systems for Detecting Animate Objects in a Vehicle Compartment - A sensor assembly includes a sensor configured to detect a predetermined condition, a transmitter operatively connected to the sensor and configured to selectively transmit a wireless signal when the sensor detects the predetermined condition, and at least one energy harvester configured to capture energy from the environment. The sensor assembly is configured to transmit energy captured by the energy harvester to the transmitter. | 01-01-2009 |
20090012678 | SYSTEM FOR CLASSIFYING VEHICLE OCCUPANTS - The present invention relates to a system for classifying vehicle occupants, which enables an airbag to be deployed only for an occupant corresponding to a specific type or a specific condition. The system includes a detector installed in a vehicle seal and adapted to sense variation in current occurring when an occupant is seated in the seat and a controller for determining whether the occupant is seated and which type of occupant is sitting, using a current value measured by the detector, and transmitting a result of determination to an airbag control unit. The system reduces the likelihood of erroneous occupant classifications. | 01-08-2009 |
20090024282 | Method for a Preventive-Action Protection System In a Motor Vehicle Having an Inter-Vehicle Distance Sensor System - A method is provided for a preventive-action protection system in a motor vehicle having an inter-vehicle distance sensor system and having safety devices for lessening the consequences of accidents, wherein driving state data is acquired by means of a driving state sensor system and is monitored, in evaluation stages, with respect to critical states of vehicle movement dynamics (emergency braking, understeering, oversteering, rolling over). As a further triggering condition, a speed threshold has to be exceeded by the vehicle's own speed or preferably by the relative speed measured by the inter-vehicle distance sensor system. | 01-22-2009 |
20090024283 | SEATBELT DEVICE FOR VEHICLE - A seatbelt device for a vehicle including: a belt reel having webbing wound thereon; a position detection device that detects a winding position of the belt reel; a motor that drives the belt reel to rotate to thereby perform winding of the webbing; and a control section that performs control of electric current conduction to the motor, wherein: the control section performs electric current conduction to the motor at a predetermined amount at the time of a rear vehicular collision or when a rear vehicular collision is predicted; and the electric current conduction amount is controlled, so that during electric current conduction at the predetermined electric current conduction amount, when a winding position detected by the position detection device reaches a predetermined position, variation in the winding position is suppressed. | 01-22-2009 |
20090024284 | ACCELERATION SENSOR ARRANGEMENT, SAFING ARRANGEMENT FOR AN ACTIVATION SYSTEM, ACTIVATION SYSTEM - An acceleration sensor arrangement comprises, in one package, an acceleration threshold detector for detecting acceleration and for providing an output signal and a processor circuit for receiving the output signal. The acceleration threshold detector provides an output signal having a first value when the acceleration is less than a predetermined threshold and is arranged to switch the output signal from the first value to a second value when the acceleration reaches the predetermined threshold. The processor circuit generates an event signal to trigger an event, such as the closing of a safing transistor switch in an airbag system, in response to the output signal from the acceleration threshold detector switching to the second value. | 01-22-2009 |
20090030576 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DETECTING THE POSITION OF AN OCCUPANT OF A VEHICLE SEAT - The method includes the following steps:
| 01-29-2009 |
20090037055 | Method and Apparatus for Avoiding or Mitigating Vehicle Collisions - In a method and apparatus for collision avoidance or collision mitigation for a vehicle, an existing driving space between the vehicle and a potential collision object is detected. A first warning function and/or an information function is activated when a first threshold value is reached. A system intervention with autonomous partial braking combined with at least one further safety measure is activated when a second threshold value is reached. | 02-05-2009 |
20090043454 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PREVENTING MIXING OF MATERIALS IN TWO-SHOT MOLDING FOR PRODUCTION OF CRASH PAD - Disclosed is a method and system for preventing mixing of materials upon two-shot molding for the production of a crash pad, in which, in the course of the production of a crash pad through the simultaneous injection of two types of resins, the penetration of one type of resin into the region of the crash pad, which is filled with another type of resin, is effectively prevented. | 02-12-2009 |
20090043455 | Vehicle seatbelt usage technology - An apparatus for indicating or signaling persons or entities outside of a vehicle, for example law enforcement personnel, that one or more occupants of the vehicle are not utilizing their seatbelts. A method of indicating or signaling persons or entities outside of a vehicle that one or more occupants of the vehicle are not utilizing their seatbelts is also disclosed. Methods of use of the apparatus and making the apparatus are also disclosed. | 02-12-2009 |
20090048739 | Seat belt device - A seat belt device includes a detecting unit and a controller which controls a motor to rotate in a winding direction of a webbing when the detecting unit detects that an adjust-through which adjusts a position of a D-ring through which the webbing is inserted is moved down. | 02-19-2009 |
20090048740 | Vehicle safety system including accelerometers - A system is provided for determining the motion of a vehicle. The system includes a rigid vehicle body having a plurality of accelerometers positioned throughout the vehicle body. The accelerometers are operably connected to a controller for obtaining the accelerometer measurements and estimating the angular velocity, acceleration and angular acceleration at positions throughout the vehicle. Based on theses estimations, the controller determines whether a safety device is activated. | 02-19-2009 |
20090048741 | Safety System - The invention relates to a safety system for motor vehicles having sensor devices for detecting an accident and an apparatus for reinforcing a carrying construction ( | 02-19-2009 |
20090055051 | METHOD OF DETERMINING WHETHER TO DEPLOY AIRBAGS - A method of determining whether to deploy airbags includes measuring the distance between a vehicle and a forward obstacle; selecting a deceleration threshold value depending on the distance; and if the deceleration of the vehicle is greater than the deceleration threshold value, determining that the airbags should be deployed. The distance may be measured using a radar sensor of an adaptive cruise control system. The deceleration threshold value may be a small value if the distance is small, and a larger value if the distance is larger. Selecting the deceleration threshold value may include comparing the distance with at least one preset distance, selecting a small deceleration threshold value if the distance is smaller than the preset distance, and selecting a large deceleration threshold value if the distance is greater than or equal to the preset distance. | 02-26-2009 |
20090055052 | CALIBRATION APPARATUS FOR AIRBAG INFLATOR RESISTANCE - Disclosed is a calibration apparatus for an airbag inflator resistance. The calibration apparatus for an airbag inflator resistance includes: an airbag inflator unit for applying a deployment signal for deployment of an airbag; a resistance detection unit for detecting a change in the resistance of the airbag inflator connector; and a control unit for self-cleaning the airbag inflator connector in accordance with the resultant resistance detected by the resistance detection unit. The calibration apparatus is effective in preventing malfunction of an airbag warning light and ensuring reliability by preventing an increase in resistance due to the contamination of the airbag inflator by the self-diagnosing and self-cleaning effect using an electric current. | 02-26-2009 |
20090055053 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROTECTING A MOTORCYCLE RIDER - A system and method for deploying an airbag in an airbag equipped garment worn by a rider of a vehicle. The system and method comprise a controller for determining when to inflate the airbag within the garment. A first sensor provides a signal to the controller representing the riding angle of the vehicle relative to a vertical orientation. A second sensor provides a signal to the controller representing a current condition of the vehicle. The controller compares the riding angle to a first predetermined threshold indicative of the maximum desired riding angle associated with the current condition of the vehicle and transmits a signal to inflate the airbag when the riding angle exceeds the first predetermined threshold. | 02-26-2009 |
20090062988 | Safety Device for a Motor Vehicle Having at Least One Closable Opening to the Interior - A safety device is provided for a motor vehicle having at least one closable opening to the interior, with a closing element that is driven by an electric adjusting drive. A control unit evaluates data which are relevant for driving safety for an imminent accident and actuates the electric adjusting drive to initiate a rapid closing process for the closing element in an overcurrent mode thereof, before the accident actually occurs. | 03-05-2009 |
20090062989 | Seat device for vehicle - A headrest | 03-05-2009 |
20090069983 | OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS FOR USE IN MILITARY LAND VEHICLES AND OTHER VEHICLES - Occupant restraint systems for use in land vehicles and other vehicles are disclosed herein. A restraint system configured in accordance with an embodiment of the invention includes an elongate belt or web configured to extend across an occupant seated in a vehicle, such as a military land vehicle. A proximal end portion of the elongate web is operably coupled to a web retractor. The web retractor carries an electrically actuated web locking device operably coupled to an acceleration sensor. The acceleration sensor sends an electrical signal to the web locking device in response to vehicle acceleration in, for example, a vertical direction above a preset magnitude. The web locking device responds to the electrical signal by at least temporarily preventing the retractor from paying out web. | 03-12-2009 |
20090076685 | Restraining Device for an Occupant of a Vehicle - In a restraining device for an occupant of a vehicle, having a belt that can be drawn out or retracted by a lockable retractor, and a reversible seat-belt tightener, in the case of an impending but still avoidable first event the reversible seat-belt tightener automatically exerts and maintains a first tightening force on the belt and/or reduces the first tightening force if the first event is no longer impending. In the case of an impending, no longer avoidable second event, automatically exerts a second tightening force on the belt which is greater than the first tightening force. The first tightening force and the second tightening force acting constantly in the retracting direction. | 03-19-2009 |
20090076686 | VEHICLE INTERFACE TO COMMUNICATE A SAFETY ALERT MODE COMMAND - One of the embodiments of the invention includes an interface for communicating a vehicle command from a user to a vehicle. The interface preferably includes an engagement system to engage the torso and an appendage of a user, a sensor system to sense forces imparted by the user, a processor to interpret the vehicle “safety alert mode” command based on a forceful shift of the user, to confirm that the user wishes to invoke the vehicle “safety alert mode” command, and to communicate the vehicle “safety alert mode” command to the vehicle. The vehicle, armed with this vehicle “safety alert mode” command, may initiate a defensive action, such as tightening the suspension. | 03-19-2009 |
20090082926 | Safety system for seat belt securement - A automotive vehicle safety system for seat belt securement that prevents the transmission from being engaged until all seated occupants have buckled their seat belts includes a weight sensing pad for each seat cushion interconnected in circuit to a buckle switch in each seat belt buckle with the buckle switches electrically interconnected to a solenoid that allows or disallows transmission engagement such that if each weight sensing pad detects no weight upon the seat the corresponding buckle switch stays open but when any weight sensing pad detects a predetermined weight (the weight of the occupant upon the seat) that weight sensing pad opens the circuit thereby causing the corresponding buckle switch to close only after that seat belt is buckled thus causing the solenoid interconnected to the transmission to close and enabling access to the transmission so that the vehicle can be shifted out of the parking gear. | 03-26-2009 |
20090088928 | OCCUPANT BASED NAVIGATION AID LOCK-OUT FUNCTION - A vehicle navigation aid (nav-aid) system and method are provided to un-lock nav-aid functions in a moving vehicle. Sensors within the vehicle provide vehicle speed S and whether a person other the driver is present. For S greater than predetermined threshold speed S | 04-02-2009 |
20090093932 | Vehicular Seatbelt Monitoring System and Process - A seatbelt monitoring system is provided for use onboard a vehicle having a seat assembly including at least one seat and corresponding seatbelt. The seatbelt monitoring system includes a wireless seatbelt status detector and a vehicle seatbelt status indicator. The wireless seatbelt status detector includes a seatbelt latch sensor, a first wireless transceiver, and a controller coupled to the seatbelt latch sensor and to the wireless sensor. The controller is configured to send a seatbelt latch signal via the first wireless transceiver when the seatbelt latch sensor indicates a change in seatbelt latch status. The vehicle seatbelt status indicator includes a second wireless transceiver and a processor coupled to the second wireless transceiver. The processor is configured to send a receipt signal to the wireless seatbelt status detector after receiving the seatbelt status signal via the second wireless transceiver. | 04-09-2009 |
20090099732 | Automatic Crash Notification Using WiMAX - An automatic crash notification system may include a crash detection system configured to detect a crash of a vehicle, a wireless communication system configured to wirelessly transmit a message to and wirelessly receive a message from a remote location in conformance with the IEEE 802.16 standard, and a processing system configured to transmit notice of a crash over the wireless communication system to the remote location in conformance with the IEEE 802.16 standard in response to detection of the crash by the crash detection system. The wireless communication may be configured to wirelessly transmit a message to and wireless receive a message from the remote location using WiMAX. The automatic crash notification system may include a memory system containing a first prerecorded message that includes one or more words that mean that the remote location has received notice of a crash and a user communication system configured to deliver words to an occupant of the vehicle. The processing system may be configured to cause the first prerecorded message to be communicated over the user communication system in response to receipt by the wireless communication system of an acknowledgement from the remote location that the remote location has received notice of the crash, but which does not include the first prerecorded message. | 04-16-2009 |
20090112407 | System and Method for Communication by Architecture - A system for communicating with passengers onboard a mobile platform (such as a train, marine vessel, aircraft or automobile) using at least one structure onboard the mobile platform is provided. The system includes at least one seat for receipt of the at least one passenger. The seat includes a seatbelt that is operable to be fastened to retain the at least one passenger in the seat. The system also includes at least one source of data regarding a status of the mobile platform, and a structure control module that generates communication data for at least the seatbelt based on the status of the mobile platform. The communication data may be operable to communicate to the at least one passenger by the seatbelt that the seatbelt is to be fastened. | 04-30-2009 |
20090112408 | INTELLIGENT ARRANGEMENT BUCKLE SWITCH FOR SEAT BELTS - A buckle switch arrangement for a multi-point seat belt system. A restraints control module is provided to receive signals from sensors operatively associated with the vehicle seat which determine and identify seat occupancy and also to receive signals from other sensors operatively associated with the vehicle seat which sense seat belt webbing payout. The signals obtained by the restraints control module are interpreted and, based on the interpretation, a telltale device may be activated to warn the vehicle operator that a seat occupant is not in compliance with seat belt usage. | 04-30-2009 |
20090118908 | Vehicle Safety Zone System - A remote tire measurement system ( | 05-07-2009 |
20090125192 | METHOD FOR TRANSMITTING AN ACTIVATION DECISION FOR AN ACTUATOR SYSTEM FROM A FIRST TO AT LEAST ONE SECOND CONTROL UNIT; FIRST CONTROL UNIT FOR A VEHICLE; SECOND CONTROL UNIT FOR A VEHICLE; DEVICE FOR TRANSMITTING AN ACTIVATION DECISION FOR AN ACTUATOR SYSTEM FROM A FIRST TO A SECOND CONTROL UNIT - A device and a method for transmitting an activation decision for an actuator system from a first to at least one second control unit is provided, the second control unit activating the actuator system as a function of at least two messages from the first control unit. | 05-14-2009 |
20090132127 | CONTROL MODULE FOR SEAT BELT RETRACTOR AND SEAT BELT RETRACTOR - A control module for seat belt retractor capable of controlling a winding torque of a seat belt within a predetermined range, and such a seat belt retractor are provided. The seat belt retractor includes a spool | 05-21-2009 |
20090132128 | Occupant monitoring and restraint status system - An occupant monitoring and restraint status system is provided. The system includes an occupant boarding and de-boarding system. The occupant boarding and de-boarding system detects boarding and de-boarding of occupants. The system also includes a bench type seat that has a plurality of seat locations. Each of these seat locations includes a seat belt system which has a status sensor to detect a state of the seat belt system. Each seat location also includes an occupant sensing system. The occupant sensing system detects the presence and identity of an occupant at the seat location. The system further includes a display which includes a seat status indicator for each of the plurality of seat locations. The seat status indicators include information regarding a presence of an occupant, an occupant identity, and a state of a seat belt system. | 05-21-2009 |
20090132129 | Side Impact Sensor Systems - Vehicle including an occupant protection apparatus for protecting an occupant in the event of an impact into a side of the vehicle and an electronic side impact crash sensor for detecting the side impact and which includes a sensor housing positioned to cause lateral movement of the sensor housing responsive to the side impact, a movable sensing mass within the sensor housing and move laterally relative to the sensor housing in response to the side impact, and a control unit connected to the crash sensor for activating the occupant protection apparatus. The crash sensor generates a signal representative of the movement of the sensing mass. The control unit includes a micro-processor and an algorithm processed by the micro-processor and configured to analyze the signal representative of the movement of the sensing mass and generate a deployment signal based thereon to initiate deployment of the occupant protection apparatus. | 05-21-2009 |
20090138159 | Safety System for a Vehicle - A safety system for a vehicle having at least one safety device, which records and/or ascertains and evaluates one or a plurality of variable(s) regarding driving dynamics to activate at least one protection device. In response to user-dependent inputs, a parameterization device specifies settings and/or applications and/or parameters for the safety device in order to influence the trigger behavior of the at least one protection device. | 05-28-2009 |
20090138160 | PASSENGER PROTECTION DEVICE - In a passenger protection device, an object detection unit detects a relative position of an object in a circumference of a vehicle to the vehicle. A side collision prediction unit predicts that the object is about to collide with a side face of the vehicle, based on the relative position detected by the object detection unit. An impact detection unit detects an impact of the object on the vehicle side face. A side collision judgment unit determines whether the object has collided with the vehicle side face, based on the impact detected by the impact detection unit. A passenger protection unit protects a passenger in the vehicle. When the side collision prediction unit predicts that the object is about to collide with the vehicle side face and the side collision judgment unit determines that the object has collided with the vehicle side face, the passenger protection unit is initiated. | 05-28-2009 |
20090143943 | VEHICLE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM - A vehicle seat pressure sensor includes a light source, a non-fiber optical polymer sheet, a boundary layer and a detection unit. The non-fiber optical polymer sheet is composed of non-woven flexible optical polymer material and has a first surface with a peripheral edge surrounding the first surface. The peripheral edge of the optical polymer sheet is aligned with the light source such that light emitted from the light source projects into the optical polymer sheet through the peripheral edge. The boundary layer is disposed along the first surface of the optical polymer sheet. The detection unit is disposed relative to the optical polymer sheet to detect changes in attenuation of light emitted from the peripheral edge of the optical polymer sheet in response to elastic deformation of the boundary layer and the optical polymer sheet. | 06-04-2009 |
20090143944 | FAST SENSING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SOIL- AND CURB-TRIPPED VEHICLE ROLLOVERS - A method and a system of controlling a restraint device in a vehicle during a crash. The method includes sensing a lateral acceleration without using other vehicle dynamic information. The method also includes integrating the sensed lateral acceleration to determine a change in (or delta of) lateral velocity, low-pass filtering the sensed lateral acceleration, and extrapolating the delta lateral velocity and the filtered acceleration to estimate a vehicle lateral velocity. The method also includes sensing a vertical acceleration, integrating the sensed vertical acceleration, combining the integrated vertical acceleration and the predicted vehicle lateral velocity to give an indication of how severely the vehicle laterally hits an obstacle, and generating a deployment signal to activate the restraint device. | 06-04-2009 |
20090150028 | Motor vehicle with a safety system with a preventive action - In a motor vehicle, such as a passenger car, a preventive-action protection system is provided which includes safety devices that are actuated as a function of information detected by a driving-state sensor system and evaluated in a data evaluation and control device, which compares the detected information with at least one threshold value. When a critical condition of the driving state is detected, the data evaluation and control device actuates at least one safety device assigned to this driving state. Here, a theoretical, lateral-dynamics critical condition is detected and triggering of at least one assigned safety device occurs if a threshold value is exceeded when a current steering angle speed is logically combined with a parameter which represents the current driving-dynamics situation. | 06-11-2009 |
20090150029 | CAPACITIVE INTEGRATED MEMS MULTI-SENSOR - Apparatus, methods, and systems for incorporating and reading a plurality of bridge sensors is disclosed. The bridge sensors may be capacitive bridge sensors located on the same substrate with a digital processor and signal processing circuits to read the outputs of the sensors. The bridge sensors are accessed by a switch network coupled to the plurality of bridge sensors to selectively provide an output from at least one of the plurality of bridge sensors. The switch network may be a multiplexer, which provides a periodically oscillating voltage to the sensors, to energize the sensors. The multiplexer may also provide output from the energized sensor to the digital processor. | 06-11-2009 |
20090150030 | Vehicular passenger detection system - A vehicular passenger detection system includes a load detection device configured to detect a load that acts upon a seat that is installed upon a vehicle, a passenger seating detection device configured to determine whether or not a passenger is seated upon the seat, in accordance with a result of a detection of the load detection device, and a fault recording device configured to record an information of a fault that has occurred upon either the load detection device or the passenger seating detection device. The fault recording device includes a fault determination device configured to determine whether or not the information of the fault is information of a fault whereupon a repair is required. | 06-11-2009 |
20090157264 | SECURITY SYSTEM AND A METHOD TO DERIVE A SECURITY SIGNAL - This invention relates to a security system for vehicles that have a side-looking pre-crash sensor for anticipating impact by a closing object, such as another motor vehicle, from a direction that is non-parallel to the direction of travel of the host vehicle. Such a system employs optical recognition for acquiring closing objects and for easing classification of the objects. The invention relates further to a method to derive a signal used for example to activate a side air back or to be used and further security systems of a vehicle. | 06-18-2009 |
20090171535 | Method and Device for Activating A Personal Protection Means in the Event of a Rollover - A method and a device for activating a personal protection arrangement in the event of a rollover are provided, according to which, initially, at least one first driving dynamic variable is ascertained and then, based on this first driving dynamic variable, a second driving dynamic variable is determined, in order to activate the personal protection arrangement as a function of these two driving dynamic variables. | 07-02-2009 |
20090177356 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR VITAL BUS ARCHITECTURE - Methods and systems for a vital bus system for communicating data in a control system are provided. The system includes a plurality of data communication buses configured in a multiple redundant orientation and at least one safety supervisor module including a database including a plurality of logic rules. The logic rules are programmed to receive data from the plurality of data communication buses and to determine the validity of the received data from each bus using one or more of the plurality of the logic rules. If the received data is invalid, the logic rules are programmed to restore the validity of the data using one or more of the plurality of the logic rules. If the data can not be restored the logic rules are programmed to transmit an alert to the control system. Otherwise, the logic rules are programmed to transmit the validated data to an intended destination. | 07-09-2009 |
20090177357 | FEEDBACK LOOP SYSTEM FOR PASSENGER SAFETY - Methods, systems and apparatus for automatically ensuring passenger safety by identifying article(s) in need of securing in a vehicle and attaching at least one wireless signaling component to each article. Each wireless signaling component includes a wireless signaling device and a mechanical blocking device that controls a wireless signal emitted from the wireless signaling device. The emitted wireless signaling indicates a state of the article. State information relating to a state of each article is generated and received at a data network device, which generates state results based on this state information. The state results are output to an end user, whereby the state results identify those articles that are secured, unsecured, and/or improperly secured, for automatically ensuring passenger safety. | 07-09-2009 |
20090177358 | Method and Device for Generating at Least One Feature for an Occupant Protection System - A method is described for generating at least one feature for an occupant protection system, which is determined from at least one basic feature and analyzed for generating a triggering signal for an occupant protection device, and a corresponding device. During normal operation, at least one short-term window integral is calculated from the at least one basic feature and used as a starting value for calculating a corresponding long-term integral when a starting condition for a crash operation obtains, the at least one long-term integral being made available to a following method as a feature for generating the triggering signal for the occupant protection system. | 07-09-2009 |
20090177359 | Collision damage reduction apparatus - A collision damage reducing apparatus for lessening vehicle collision damage, includes: designated obstacle detecting means detecting an object having a collision possibility to be a obstacle; calculating means obtaining a continuous detecting period, for which the object is detected as the obstacle; monitoring target acknowledging means, according to the continuous detecting period, deciding whether or not the obstacle is regarded as a monitoring target, and deciding whether or not the obstacle is regarded as an activation cause; reliability determining means judging a collision possibility if the continuous detecting period is longer than a threshold value, and defining a reliability level coefficient indicating obstacle's reliability if a result of the judging of the collision possibility is positive; attentiveness determining means defining attentiveness coefficient decreased according to attentiveness deterioration; and detecting period threshold value adjusting means decreasing the threshold value according to decrease in the attentiveness coefficient. | 07-09-2009 |
20090177360 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A VEHICLE - A method for operating a vehicle, in which the method allows feedback about imminent risks. In this context, the vehicle moves on a predefined route at a current traveling velocity. A value characteristic of the vehicle movement along the predefined route is precalculated as a function of the current traveling velocity and the predefined route. A vehicle function is activated as a function of this value. | 07-09-2009 |
20090187313 | VEHICLE DRIVING ASSISTANCE APPARATUS - In a vehicle driving assistance apparatus having an electric motor to impart steering torque to the driver and a driving control unit that conducts collision avoidance assistance control and other steering control including lane departure prevention control, power steering control and parking assistance control for providing assistance during parking of the vehicle, when a warning for alerting the driver is made by imparting torque to the steering wheel via the motor, the control input of the other steering control is suppressed, i.e. is reduced during either the first predetermined time before warning or the second predetermined time after warning. Owing to this configuration, the driver can be enabled to perceive the warning without fail even when another steering control is performed in parallel. | 07-23-2009 |
20090187314 | ELECTRONIC CONTROL APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING ON-VEHICLE DEVICES WHEN VEHICLE IS ABOUT TO BE SUBMERGED IN FLOODED AREA - An electric control apparatus, mounted on a vehicle, has a height direction and comprises an electronic circuit board, a submersion sensor, and a controller. The electric circuit board has a mounting surface and is mounted in the vehicle so that the mounting surface is along the height direction of the vehicle. The submersion sensor, which is mounted on the mounting surface of the circuit board, senses a condition that the vehicle is about to be submerged in a flooded area and outputs an electric signal showing the condition The controller, which is mounted on the mounting surface of the circuit board, performs control for securing safety of an occupant of the vehicle when the controller receives the electric signal from the submersion sensor. The submersion sensor is lower in a mounted position on the mounting surface of the circuit board than the controller along the height direction . | 07-23-2009 |
20090192681 | Vehicle Controller and Controlling Method - An ECU executes a program including the steps of: detecting a distance to an object; changing over a changeover damper from an inside air circulation to an outside air circulation when a collision is predicted; controlling a power window device to move down a door glass; turning an SMR off when the collision is detected; and controlling the power window device to fully open the door glass. | 07-30-2009 |
20090204293 | Seat control structure for occupant classification systems - An occupant classification system is provided based upon the use of an array of electrical switches arranged between a seat trim and a reactive surface. The switches produce selective outputs signals as an engaging surface makes contact with one or more of the switches when an occupant occupies the seat. The output signals are interpreted into a control signal to distinguish between occupants for controlling an inflatable restraint system. The occupant classification system also includes a control structure which defines a distance between the array of switches and the engaging surface that is greater than zero when the seat is unoccupied so that the switches are insensitive to the initial forces applied to the seat through the seat trim. The distance between one or more of the switches and the engaging surface decreases to zero when the occupant occupies the seat to produce the selective output signals. | 08-13-2009 |
20090204294 | Method for Generating a Triggering Signal for a Passenger Protection Device - A method for generating a triggering signal for a passenger protection device in which sensor data are detected and analyzed for accident classification, and to a corresponding device. To determine a relative accident velocity, signals of at least two measuring points offset by a predefined distance in the x direction are analyzed, and the time interval between a crash signal detected by a first sensor at a first measuring point and a crash signal detected by another sensor at another measuring point is determined. | 08-13-2009 |
20090204295 | Electronic airbag control unit having an autonomous event data recorder - Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to an electronic control unit for an airbag, said control unit having a data recorder unit that has a volatile memory, a nonvolatile memory and a copy circuit. The copy circuit is designed to copy data from the volatile memory to the nonvolatile memory during a second operating phase of the control unit. A protocol unit designed to record vehicle and/or accident data in the volatile memory is arranged in the data recorder unit during a first operating phase of the control unit. A first power supply unit is connected to the control unit and supplies the protocol unit and further components of the control unit with power and a second power supply unit is connected to the data recorder unit and supplies the latter with power. | 08-13-2009 |
20090204296 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DEACTIVATING SAFETY FUNCTION - In a method for deactivating a safety function in a motor vehicle after being activated, the safety function may be deactivated by the driver only after a dead time has elapsed. | 08-13-2009 |
20090210114 | Method for a Safety System in a Vehicle - A method for a safety system in a vehicle continuously evaluates data relating to the surroundings from a surroundings sensor system in terms of an imminent collision with an obstacle, and autonomous emergency braking is initiated in the event of an unavoidable collision. The emergency braking is maintained until a predefined event occurs. The predefined event can be the expiration of a time calculated in advance up to the collision or the impact which is actually detected by a sensor. | 08-20-2009 |
20090210115 | Method for the Controlled Paying-Out of a Seatbelt of a Seatbelt System and Corresponding Restraint System - In a method and a restraint system for the controlled paying-out of a seatbelt ( | 08-20-2009 |
20090210116 | Collision safety control device - For achieving a collision safety control device having improved a reliability of airbag deployment at an offset collision or the like without providing a contact part with a cab, a ground wire is connected to a plurality of portions of a vehicle body frame, in which two of the plurality of portions may be mutually separated by more than a width of the frame and the ground wire may comprise a first portion connecting from the collision safety control device to the cab and a second portion connecting from the cab to the frame. | 08-20-2009 |
20090216408 | Occupant protection device for vehicle - An occupant protection device includes: a controller; first and second bus lines; a first collision sensor arranged on a side of the vehicle, and transmitting a first signal to the controller via the first bus line; a second collision sensor arranged on a center of the vehicle, and transmitting a second signal to the controller via the second bus line; and a third collision sensor arranged on a front side from the first collision sensor, and transmitting a third signal to the controller via the second bus line. The controller determines the collision on the side of the vehicle based on the first and second signals. The controller determines the collision on a part of the vehicle based on the third signal, the part disposed on the front side from the first collision sensor. The controller activates an occupant protection element. | 08-27-2009 |
20090222171 | Force Limiting Unit for a Motor Vehicle - In at least one embodiment of the present invention a force limiting device for a motor vehicle is provided. The force limiting device is adopted for adjusting the absorption of a force between two parts moving relative to one another during a dangerous situation in the motor vehicle. The force limiting device comprises a kinematic energy absorption device configured such that for a predefined profile of a speed difference between the two parts moving relative to one another different force limiting levels are produced as a function of mass and momentum of the two moving parts. | 09-03-2009 |
20090222172 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CLASSIFYING A TARGET VEHICLE - A system and method for classifying a target vehicle using a sensor system, including a plurality of target vehicle sensors. The sensor system acquiring target vehicle data points that define at least an upper and lower portion of the target vehicle. The sensor system reconstructing a target vehicle shape using the target vehicle data points to provide a first and second target vehicle classification value. The sensor system determining an overall target vehicle classification based in part upon the first and second target vehicle classification values. | 09-03-2009 |
20090240400 | Vehicle Security Control System - A vehicle security system for controlling the operation of a vehicle. The security system includes a controller and a concealed proximity sensor that provides an input to the controller. The proximity sensor is activated by the presence of a body within a defined detection zone in the interior of the vehicle. The controller receives additional inputs from additional devices and toggles through a plurality of security states in which different levels of activation and immobilization are triggered depending upon user input and upon the specific inputs received. | 09-24-2009 |
20090248253 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTEGRATION OF CRASH SIGNATURE SENSOR IN VEHICLE SIDE IMPACT SENSING - A system and method for performing side impact sensing in a vehicle including at least one side impact zone is provided. The system comprises a controller and at least one crash signature sensor. The controller is configured to deploy one or more safety restraints in response to at least one crash signature signal. The one crash signature sensor is positioned in the side impact zone. The crash signature sensor is configured to detect an impact with an object at the side impact zone. The crash signature sensor is further configured to generate the crash signature signal which corresponds to measured structural impact energy of the vehicle in the side impact zone deformed by the impact at frequencies above 2 kHz. | 10-01-2009 |
20090248254 | DOOR-LOCK CONTROL SYSTEM, DOOR-LOCK CONTROL METHOD - A door-lock control system includes: a door lock device; a current position detection unit; a data recording unit; a public security situation determination processing unit; and a function setting processing unit configured to set, according to the public security situation at the vehicle position, a function limit state that limits unlocking when a door-unlock operation has been performed by an operation unit. | 10-01-2009 |
20090259368 | VISION SYSTEM FOR DEPLOYING SAFETY SYSTEMS - A control system for safety deployment. The control system includes a processor, a first imaging sensor, and a second imaging sensor. The first and second imaging sensor are in electrical communication with the processor. The processor generates a safety system activation decision based on two-dimensional information received from the first imaging sensor and three-dimensional information based on the first and second imaging sensor. | 10-15-2009 |
20090259369 | Intelligent child safety seat - An intelligent child safety seat, or ICSS, having an electronic unit loaded with manufacturer's specifications particular to the ICSS, or ICSS-data, configured for communication of at least one item of datum to vehicle systems via a joint interface. The ICSS-data support provision of seat installation instructions, detection of possible incompatibilities, detection of the presence of a child and disposition of the ICSS in the vehicle seat, detection of misuse and of inappropriate reuse after a crash or after the expiration date, a check to detect if the ICSS is included in product recall announcements, and multiple safety applications carried out by vehicle systems. The electronic unit further includes at least one module consisting of an I/O module, a sensors module, and a devices module. A communication interface of the ICSS and of the vehicle may be implemented in top tether arrangements. | 10-15-2009 |
20090271076 | Occupant Detection System with Environmental Compensation - An occupant detection system includes an electrode in communication with a detector circuit that detects the impedance of the electrode and compensates for environmental conditions, such as humidity or moisture, based on the impedance measurement. Such environmental conditions may interfere with the occupant detection system's ability to detect the presence and/or size of an occupant. Typically, environmental conditions change the impedance of the electrode. The impedance is determined by measuring a frequency response of the electrode. The measured frequency response is compared to predetermined frequency response values that correspond to known environmental conditions. The environmental condition may be detected by matching the peak frequency response or average frequency response to in a lookup table. | 10-29-2009 |
20090292422 | Fail-safe apparatus and method for disposal of automobile pyrotechnic safety devices - A method for disposing of a pyrotechnic safety device includes providing an electronic control unit having a primary control unit and an auxiliary control unit. The auxiliary control unit includes a safing mode and a scrap mode, and operates in the safing mode in an initial state. The auxiliary control unit is switched from the safing mode to the scrap mode when the primary control unit sends a first predetermined signal. The auxiliary control unit is armed only if it receives a second predetermined signal from the primary control unit while the auxiliary control unit is operating in the scrap mode. The primary control unit sends the first and second predetermined signals to the auxiliary control unit based on signals the primary control unit receives from an external source. The primary control unit then disposes of a pyrotechnic safety device (PSD) by sending a deployment signal to the PSD based on another signal received from the external source. | 11-26-2009 |
20090292423 | VEHICLE OCCUPANT PRESENCE AND POSITION SENSING SYSTEM - Sensors in a vehicle seat provide data for classifying occupants. Information from the sensors may be used to determine the position of an occupant relative to the seat and relative to the vehicle, the weight of the occupant, whether the seat belt is latched, and the position of the occupant relative to an airbag before and during a crash. Situations wherein airbag deployment is not desired are identified. A particularly inexpensive system meets the occupant classification needs of a system comprising a low risk deployment passenger airbag. | 11-26-2009 |
20090299576 | Motor vehicle having a preventive protection system - A motor vehicle preventive protection system comprises a plurality of safety devices which are actuated as a function of information from at least one vehicle surroundings detection device. The time remaining prior to a collision is determined when the information from the vehicle surroundings detection device represents an anticipated collision with a collision object. Associated activation times for at least two of the actuators assigned to the safety devices are stored and the time remaining prior to the collision is compared with the activation times. At least one safety device is activated if the time remaining prior to the collision is shorter than or equal to at least one of the activation times of the actuators. | 12-03-2009 |
20090299577 | External Seatbelt Usage Indication System and Method - An external seatbelt usage indication system and method indicates whether or not the driver and passengers of a motor vehicle are wearing a seatbelt. It provides an indication of non-usage on the exterior of the motor vehicle using existing external lights on the vehicle so that it cannot be defeated by removal of the external indicator or bulbs associated with it. Upon activation of the vehicle ignition, occupant sensors and seatbelt usage sensors are used to determine a non-usage condition, upon which external lights of the vehicle are intermittently activated until the non-usage condition ceases. | 12-03-2009 |
20090306857 | AUTOMOTIVE IMPACT SENSING SYSTEM - A motor vehicle impact sensing system for a vehicle that includes a controller that is connected to a pressure sensor that cooperates with a discrete deformable vessel. The pressure sensor is operatively positioned relative to the deformable vessel such that changes in the vessel generate a signal indicative of a pressure change. The signal associated with the pressure change is communicated from the pressure sensor to the controller. If the signal exceeds a threshold, such as where there is a rapid pressure increase in the vessel, the controller initiates one or more safety measures, such as deploying airbags or the like, to reduce the effects of an undesired impact. The deformable vessel and pressure sensor form a sensor assembly that can be located in one or more of various locations throughout the vehicle including its front end, its doors, quarter panels, side panels, and/or its rear end. | 12-10-2009 |
20090306858 | Method and Device for Activating Personal Protection Means - A device and a method for activating a personal protection device are provided, in which a feature vector with at least two features is formed by an evaluation circuit from at least one signal of an accident sensor system. The evaluation circuit classifies the feature vector in the corresponding dimension using at least one class boundary. The activation circuit generates an activation signal which activates the personal protection device. | 12-10-2009 |
20090312914 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING BLIND SPOT MONITORING AND CROSS TRAFFIC ALERT BASED ON DRIVER STATUS - A system for controlling the operation of performing at least one of blind spot monitoring and cross traffic alert in a vehicle based on driver status is provided. The system comprises a controller configured to receive at least one driver status signal indicative of whether the driver of the vehicle is one of the primary driver and the secondary driver. The controller is configured to determine whether the driver of the vehicle is the primary or the secondary driver based on the at least one driver status signal. The controller is configured selectively control the operation of performing the at least one of blind spot monitoring and cross traffic alert based on whether the driver of the vehicle is the primary driver or the secondary driver. | 12-17-2009 |
20090312915 | ELECTRONIC SYSTEM TO INDUCE THE OCCUPANTS OF A VEHICLE TO FASTEN SEAT BELTS - An electronic system to induce the occupants of a vehicle to fasten seat belts is described. The electronic system is configured to determine an alert condition indicating that a seat belt of at least one occupant of the vehicle is not fastened or is not properly fastened. The electronic system is also configured to allow the car radio to operate even when said alert condition is present, and to control the volume of the car radio for as long as said alert condition persists, preventing it from exceeding a low volume level. | 12-17-2009 |
20090326764 | ULTRASONIC SENSOR-BASED SIDE IMPACT SENSING SYSTEM - A side-impact threat assessment system that uses at least one ultrasonic sensor is provided. A method of detecting a potential side-impact collision on a host vehicle is also provided. The method calls for using at least one ultrasonic sensor for presence detection and for providing sensed data used in estimating closing velocity. | 12-31-2009 |
20090326765 | Adaptive seat belt load limiter and method - Method and apparatus for limiting the load on a seat belt buckle, includes providing an adjustable energy absorbing device mounting the seat belt buckle on the vehicle, sensing vehicle and occupant conditions to determine the optimal adjustment of the adjustable energy absorbing device for restraint of the occupant under the sensed conditions, and adjusting the adjustable energy absorbing device in response to the sensed conditions to thereby adapt the restraint of the occupant to the sensed conditions. The adjustable energy absorbing device is an extendable strut having an end connected to the buckle and an end connected to the vehicle, said strut having metal deforming elements therein being deformed upon the load reaching a certain magnitude, and said strut having an adjusting mechanism adjusting the metal deforming elements to adjust the degree of metal deformation and thereby adjust the energy absorbing capacity of the strut. | 12-31-2009 |
20100004826 | CONNECTING DEVICE ARRANGED IN A MOTOR VEHICLE AND A METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - The present invention relates to a connecting device ( | 01-07-2010 |
20100004827 | VEHICLE AIRBAG DEVICE AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - A vehicle airbag device provided in a steering apparatus, wherein the steering apparatus is configured with grips positioned on the right and left sides but are not positioned on an upper side. An airbag, installed at the center of the steering apparatus, is configured to deploy toward the driver when a vehicle collision occurs. An electronic control unit controls an inflation pressure of the airbag to be increased when the steering angle detected by a steering angle sensor is less than or equal to a predetermined reference angle, as compared to when the steering angle detected by the steering angle sensor exceeds the predetermined reference angle. | 01-07-2010 |
20100017065 | CONTROL UNIT FOR PASSENGER PROTECTION AND METHOD FOR TRIGGERING PASSENGER PROTECTION MEANS - In a control unit for passenger protection and a method for triggering passenger protection devices, a Manchester-coded signal is supplied by an interface and the Manchester-coded signal is decoded by a coding unit, so that an analyzer unit performs the triggering of passenger protection devices as a function of the decoded signal. The decoding unit uses a shift register structure for decoding and oversampling for the Manchester-coded signal. | 01-21-2010 |
20100017066 | INTEGRATED VEHICLE CONTROL SYSTEM USING DYNAMICALLY DETERMINED VEHICLE CONDITIONS - A vehicle includes a control system that is used to control a vehicle system. The control system determines a roll condition in response to a yaw rate sensor and a pitch rate sensor without having to use a roll rate sensor. A relative roll angle, relative pitch angle, global roll angle, and global pitch angle may also be determined. A safety system may be controlled in response to the roll condition, roll angle, or the pitch angles individually or in combination. | 01-21-2010 |
20100023224 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR ACTUATING AN ACTIVE AND/OR PASSIVE SAFETY SYSTEM IN A MOTOR VEHICLE - A method and device for actuating an active and/or passive motor vehicle safety system in a driving situation in which the vehicle executes a rotary movement about the vertical axis of the vehicle. A variable describing the rotary motion is measured, and this variable is processed by a mathematical model, which determines information therefrom about the future rotary motion of the vehicle. This information in turn may be used to control the vehicle safety systems as a function of the situation and prepare them for a possibly imminent collision. | 01-28-2010 |
20100023225 | STARTING DEVICE OF OCCUPANT PROTECTIVE SYSTEM - A starting device of an occupant protective system includes an angular velocity or acceleration sensor | 01-28-2010 |
20100030431 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING BATTERY POWER IN EMERGENCY VEHICLES - A method and apparatus for battery power management in an emergency vehicle having its engine off and warning lights on is disclosed. The method may include monitoring a voltage level of a battery of the emergency vehicle, determining if the battery voltage level is below a predetermined threshold, wherein if it is determined that the battery voltage level is below the predetermined threshold, automatically starting the emergency vehicle's engine to charge the battery, determining if the emergency vehicle's battery is charged, wherein if it is determined that the emergency vehicle's battery is charged, automatically turning off the emergency vehicle's engine, wherein the monitoring of the battery voltage level is resumed. | 02-04-2010 |
20100030432 | ACTIVE LOWER EXTREMITY CRASH PROTECTION SYSTEM - Some embodiments of the present invention relate to motor vehicle crash safety systems and related methods. More particularly, according to some embodiments, the lower extremities of a motor vehicle occupant can be positioned in preparation for a crash event. Some embodiments include means for sensing a crash event, and means for positioning the lower extremities of the occupant. | 02-04-2010 |
20100030433 | Collision protection system for vehicle - A collision protection system for a vehicle includes an occupant protection system and a pedestrian protection system. The occupant protection system includes a first front sensor and a second front sensor for detecting a collision of the vehicle and an occupant protection device activated based on detected results of the first front sensor and the second front sensor. The pedestrian protection system includes a main sensor, a first safing sensor, and a second safing sensor for detecting a collision of the vehicle with a pedestrian and a pedestrian protection device (activated based on detected results of the main sensor, the first safing sensor, and the second safing sensor. The first front sensor and the first safing sensor are provided by a first shared acceleration sensor, and the second front sensor and the second safing sensor are provided by a second shared acceleration sensor. | 02-04-2010 |
20100036565 | Method and Device for Actuating a Passenger Protection Means - In a method for actuating a vehicle occupant protection means a sensor system senses driving state data, and a reversible vehicle occupant protection means can be triggered before the collision time and as a result moved into an effective position. A setpoint braking deceleration, which triggers the vehicle occupant protection means when a threshold value is exceeded, is determined by a predictive surroundings sensing unit in advance of an imminent collision. Checking is carried out to determine whether the requested setpoint braking deceleration exceeds a threshold value by referring to a deceleration characteristic curve that is dependent on the vehicle speed. | 02-11-2010 |
20100049404 | Driver's Cab of a Commercial Vehicle Having Cab Components Which are Integrated into the Loadbearing Structure - A driver's cab of a commercial vehicle includes a steering column which has a steering spindle mounted rotatably in a steering column tube, and at least one pedal carrier, on which at least one driving pedal is mounted. At least the steering column tube of the steering column and the pedal carrier form parts of the load-bearing structure of the driver's cab. | 02-25-2010 |
20100049405 | AUXILIARY VIDEO WARNING DEVICE FOR VEHICLES - An auxiliary video warning device for vehicles has multiple video extracting elements for extracting video images around a vehicle. Using a video switch unit, selected video signals are sent to a vehicle display to enlarge the driver's view. A video identifying unit analyzes images outside the vehicle from a certain perspective, determining whether there is any moving object and whether its distance is changing. The result is used to automatically set off an alarm to notify the driver. During the motion of the vehicle, if any vehicle in a neighboring lane changes lanes or crosses lines illegally, an alarm is sent to the driver for better safety. | 02-25-2010 |
20100057302 | METHOD 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 also comprises the step of sensing crash acceleration in a second direction substantially parallel to a side-to-side axis of the vehicle and providing a second crash acceleration signal indicative thereof. The method further comprises the steps of determining a crash metric value functionally related to the sensed crash acceleration based on the second acceleration signal and comparing the determined crash metric value as a function of the sensed first crash acceleration signal against an associated threshold. The method still further comprises the step of determining a crash condition of the vehicle in response to (a) the comparison and (b) the first acceleration signal. | 03-04-2010 |
20100057303 | SEATBELT DEVICE OF VEHICLE AND METHOD CONTROLLING THE SEATBELT DEVICE OF VEHICLE - A seatbelt device of a vehicle, the seatbelt device comprising: a belt reel around which a webbing, used to tie down a passenger seated in the vehicle, is wrapped up; a motor transmitting a driving force to the belt reel; an electric current detection unit detecting an electric current flowing through the motor; a vehicle-condition detection unit detecting a condition of the vehicle; a rotation detection unit detecting a rotational position of the belt reel; and a control unit that sets a target electric current corresponding to a predetermined vehicle condition detected by the vehicle-condition detection unit and controls the motor so that the electric current detected by the electric current detection unit equals the target electric current. | 03-04-2010 |
20100063685 | Motor vechicle having a preventive action protection system - The invention relates to a motor vehicle, in particular a passenger car, having a preventive action protection system which comprises safety devices ( | 03-11-2010 |
20100063686 | Safety System - A safety system for vehicle occupants having a device for determining the position of the vehicle occupant. A status monitor to which the output signals of sensors are conveyed is provided for determining the position of the vehicle occupant, the sensors detecting the acceleration of the vehicle and the weight of the vehicle occupant. A method for controlling a safety system. | 03-11-2010 |
20100070140 | VEHICLE SAFETY SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH AUTOMATIC ACCIDENT REPORTING - A vehicle safety system includes a motion detecting device, a control module, a positioning module, and a wireless transmitting module. The motion detecting device is configured for sensing the motion of a vehicle and recording corresponding motion data. The control module is configured for analyzing the motion data and judging whether an accident has occurred to the vehicle based upon the analysis. The positioning module is configured for obtaining position coordinates of the vehicle. The wireless transmitting module is configured for automatically making contact with and reporting the position coordinates of the vehicle to a remote service station when an accident has occurred to the vehicle. | 03-18-2010 |
20100070141 | Electronic apparatus - An electronic apparatus includes an integrated circuit, a capacitor, and first and second wires. The integrated circuit has a terminal connected to a power supply line or a signal line. The capacitor eliminates noise on the power supply line or the signal line. The first wire connects a first end of the capacitor to the terminal of the integrated circuit. The second wire connects a second end of the capacitor to a reference potential. A length of the first wire is substantially equal to a length of the second wire. | 03-18-2010 |
20100087990 | Image Based Occupant Classification Systems For Determining Occupant Classification And Seat Belt Status And Vehicles Having Same - An image based occupant classification system includes an image sensor and an image processor. The image sensor is configured to capture vehicular occupant information. The image processor is in communication with the image sensor. The image processor is configured to perform first sampling operations upon the vehicular occupant information to determine occupant classification. The image processor is further configured to perform second sampling operations upon the vehicular occupant information to determine a seat belt status. Each of the first sampling operations is conducted at a separate time from each of the second sampling operations. Vehicles are also provided. | 04-08-2010 |
20100094508 | SENSOR SYSTEM INCLUDING A CONFIRMATION SENSOR FOR DETECTING AN IMPENDING COLLISION - In at least one embodiment of the present invention, a sensor system for detecting an impending collision of a vehicle is provided. The sensor system comprises a primary radar arrangement providing the assessment of the severity of an impending impact and the time left before the impact. A separate confirmation detection arrangement including a confirmation sensor is for detecting within a proximity space adjacent to the vehicle to provide a confirmation output. In communication with the primary radar and confirmation detection arrangements is an electronic control module. The module is configured to produce a deployment signal for a safety device which is dependent upon evaluation of the primary radar and confirmation detection outputs. | 04-15-2010 |
20100094509 | System for Reducing The Braking Distance of a Vehicle - Method for reducing the stopping distance of a vehicle, wherein data which are received via a vehicle-to-vehicle communication are analysed, and a surroundings analysis for the driver's own vehicle is carried out, and vehicle-specific data are transmitted and integrated into an existing safety concept. | 04-15-2010 |
20100094510 | SYSTEM FOR DYNAMICALLY DETERMINING VEHICLE REAR/TRUNK LOADING FOR USE IN A VEHICLE CONTROL SYSTEM - A control system ( | 04-15-2010 |
20100100285 | VEHICLE OCCUPANT PROTECTION APPARATUS AND STARTUP METHOD OF SAME - An apparatus for protecting occupants when a vehicle having an openable and closeable roof overturns, which apparatus includes an occupant rollover protection member that supports a vehicle frame when the vehicle overturns, and first buffering members that buffer the occupants. A first buffering member control unit controls the deployment of the first buffering members on the basis of information from a vehicle state detection mechanism that detects the behavior of the vehicle. | 04-22-2010 |
20100106376 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DYNAMICALLY DETERMINING VEHICLE LOADING AND VERTICAL LOADING DISTANCE FOR USE IN A VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL SYSTEM - A control system ( | 04-29-2010 |
20100106377 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DYNAMICALLY DETERMINING VEHICLE LOADING AND VERTICAL LOADING DISTANCE FOR USE IN A VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL SYSTEM - A control system ( | 04-29-2010 |
20100114435 | TILT SENSOR ASSEMBLY AND METHOD - A tilt sensor arrangement and method that allows a tilt angle sensor of a vehicle to be tested without tilting the vehicle. In one embodiment, a tilt angle sensor of a vehicle is tested when the vehicle is positioned in a generally horizontal position. The tilt angle sensor is rotated from an operating position to a test position while the vehicle remains in the generally horizontal position and the tilt angle sensor is tested. | 05-06-2010 |
20100114436 | Operator restraint system - An operator restraint system is provided. The operator restraint system includes a seatbelt payout sensor and a seatbelt buckle assembly. The seatbelt buckle assembly includes a housing and an alarm assembly. The alarm assembly includes at least one of a light source configured to generate a visible signal and an annunciator configured to generate an audible signal. A controller is associated with at least one of the seatbelt payout sensor and the alarm assembly. The controller is configured to receive from the seatbelt payout sensor a signal indicative of a length of a seatbelt that has been withdrawn, determine whether the length of the seatbelt that has been withdrawn is within a predetermined range, and control the alarm assembly to selectively generate at least one of the visible signal and the audible signal to remind an operator regarding employment of the seatbelt based on the determination. | 05-06-2010 |
20100121533 | Seatbelt control apparatus - A seatbelt apparatus including a seatbelt, a spool for retracting the seatbelt, a motor for rotatably driving the spool, and urging mechanism for urging the seatbelt toward a retracting direction. The seat belt apparatus further includes belt attaching/detaching mechanism, a belt releasing detecting mechanism and, and a motor controller. The belt attaching/detaching mechanism fastens or releases the seatbelt. The belt releasing detecting mechanism detects that the seatbelt is released from the belt attaching/detaching mechanism. The motor controller causes the motor to start to take up the seatbelt on the condition that a predetermined amount of time passes since the belt releasing detecting mechanism detects that the seatbelt is released. | 05-13-2010 |
20100121534 | Communications network of passenger protection system - A communications network for a passenger protection system of a vehicle has an electronic control unit and a plurality of sensors, which is bus-connected to the electronic control unit. Each of the sensors includes a current detection circuit for detecting a current of the sensor, and a control circuit including a memory. The control circuit sets a specific address for the sensor in the memory when the detected current attains a predetermined relation to a predetermined threshold current. The control circuit transmits a notification of completion of setting the specific address to the electronic control unit, and controls a mode of the sensor to a specific mode, which consumes current less than the predetermined threshold current. | 05-13-2010 |
20100121535 | PERFORMANCE-BASED CLASSIFICATION METHOD AND ALGORITHM FOR DRIVERS - A system and method for classifying the optimization of safety features on a vehicle for a driver of the vehicle based on the height and mass of the driver. The method includes determining a number of basic driver sizes based on driver height and mass and determining a driver's seat position for each basic driver height. The method also identifies a set of tunable design variables that are used to adjust the safety features of the vehicle and performs design optimization analysis to identify an optimal design for the vehicle safety features for each of the basic driver sizes. The method then identifies the design from the optimal designs that provides the best performance for randomly selected reference drivers and classifies all drivers into a predetermined number of classifications where each classification represents a particular optimal design. | 05-13-2010 |
20100121536 | PERFORMANCE-BASED CLASSIFICATION METHOD AND ALGORITHM FOR PASSENGERS - A system and method for classifying the optimization of safety features on a vehicle for a vehicle passenger based on the passenger seating position and passenger body mass index. The method includes determining a number of basic passenger sizes based on the passenger height and mass and determining a number of passenger seating positions. The method further includes identifying a set of tunable design variables that are used to adjust the vehicle safety features, and performing design optimization analysis for identifying optimal designs, called basic optimal designs, for the vehicle safety features for each of the basic passenger sizes and the predetermined seating positions. The method identifies the design from the basic optimal designs that provides the best performance for randomly selected reference passengers in randomly selected seating positions, and classifies all passengers in their actual seating positions into one of the predetermined number of classifications where each classification represents a particular basic optimal design. | 05-13-2010 |
20100125392 | Seatbelt control apparatus - A seatbelt control apparatus including seatbelt control means that controls a motor for retracting a seatbelt; and motor current detecting means that detects a current of the motor. The seatbelt control apparatus further includes jamming determination means, indicator detecting means, and threshold value setting means. The jamming determination means determines whether or not the seatbelt is jammed during take-up operation on the basis of whether or not the motor current detected by the motor current detecting means exceeds a threshold value for jamming determination. The indicator detecting means detects an indicator of a current versus load characteristic of the motor. The threshold value setting means sets the threshold value for jamming determination on the basis of the indicator detected by the indicator detecting means. | 05-20-2010 |
20100131155 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DETECTING AN OBSTACLE IN A REGION SURROUNDING A MOTOR VEHICLE, AND MOTOR VEHICLE - An apparatus for sensing an obstacle in a region surrounding a motor vehicle analyzes an image of the surrounding region, which region is divided into a plurality of fields. For each of the fields, the apparatus compares the relevant probability of the presence of an obstacle with a first threshold value and with a second threshold value that is greater than the first threshold value; determines a first classification of the fields as containing the obstacle if the probability of the relevant field is greater than the first threshold value, and determines a second classification of the fields as containing the obstacle if the probability of the relevant field is greater than the second threshold value. | 05-27-2010 |
20100138113 | CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROTECTING INFANT AND CHILD OCCUPANTS IN VEHICLE - Provided are a control system and method for protecting a child occupant of a vehicle. The control system includes a detecting unit, a monitoring unit, and a control unit. The detecting unit detects occupant data including weights of occupants and deployed lengths of seat belts. The monitoring unit determines whether the occupant is a child, whether the occupant has a seat belt on, and an occupant position based on the detected occupant data to generate occupant status data according to the determined results. The control unit controls a vehicle peripheral device according to the occupant status data when the occupant status data is received. | 06-03-2010 |
20100145580 | CAPACITIVE OBJECT RECOGNITION USING ADJUSTABLE ELECTRODE - A system for capacitive object recognition including a pair of electrodes, one of the electrodes having an adjustable parameter, and a controller modeling current pathways formed by interaction of an object with an electric field between the pair electrodes as a network of capacitors. The controller is configured to set the adjustable parameter to a first setting and to apply a set of alternating current voltages to the pair electrodes and measure a resulting first set of current values at each of the electrodes, configured to set the adjustable parameter to a second setting and apply the set of alternating current voltages to the pair of electrodes and measure a resulting second set of current values at each of the electrodes, and configured to determine values for up to all capacitors of the network of capacitors based on the first and second sets of current values. | 06-10-2010 |
20100152975 | Occupant detection system and method of controlling the system - A capacitance sensor outputs a signal indicating one of an occupant-seated state, a CRS-mounted state and a vacancy state. A load sensor is ON when a predetermined load applied to the load sensor through the seat, and is OFF when the predetermined load is not applied. A controller turns off both of an on-light indicating airbag inflation allowance and an off-light indicating airbag inflation prohibition, when the signal indicates the vacancy state, and when the load sensor is OFF. The controller turns on the off-light, when the signal indicates the vacancy state, and when the load sensor is ON. | 06-17-2010 |
20100168965 | METHOD AND CONTROL DEVICE FOR TRIGGERING PASSENGER PROTECTION MEANS - In a method for triggering a passenger protection arrangement for a vehicle, a feature vector including at least two features is determined, the two features being derived from at least one signal of an accident sensor system. The feature vector is classified as a function of a comparison with at least one class boundary. The passenger protection arrangement is triggered as a function of the classification. A confidence measure is determined as a function of a position of the at least one feature vector in relation to the at least one class boundary. The triggering of passenger protection arrangement takes place as a function of this confidence measure. | 07-01-2010 |
20100179728 | FOLDING HEAD RESTRAINT ASSEMBLY FOR CONVERTIBLE VEHICLE - A vehicle head restraint assembly is provided with a folding head restraint mechanism for pivoting a head restraint between use and folded positions. A head restraint is mounted to the folding head restraint mechanism. A controller for a convertible roof may be provided in electrical communication with the folding head restraint mechanism and configured for electrical communication with the convertible roof. The controller has computer executable instructions for producing a first output to actuate the convertible roof and for producing a second output to actuate the folding head restraint mechanism. An actuator may be provided and connected to the folding head restraint mechanism and to the convertible roof. The actuator has a first output to actuate the folding head restraint mechanism and a second output to actuate the convertible roof of the vehicle. A method for actuating a convertible roof and a folding head restraint assembly is provided. | 07-15-2010 |
20100179729 | DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING PASSENGER PROTECTION DEVICES - A device for controlling passenger protection devices in which two hardware paths independent from one another are provided for activation. One interface IC is provided for each hardware path which has at least one circuit breaker and one power supply. | 07-15-2010 |
20100179730 | Adaptive energy absorption system for a vehicle seat - An adaptive energy absorption system for a vehicle seat that functions in dual-modes, including a primary mode during severe (shock event) operation and a secondary mode during normal (non-shock event) operation. When operating in primary mode, the present system automatically adjusts a VPEA in real-time to keep loads transmitted to the occupant's body below acceptable injury threshold levels, and can recover to perform said function for multiple shock events. When operating in secondary mode the system reduces vehicle vibration transmitted to the occupant, thereby reducing fatigue and increasing situational awareness. | 07-15-2010 |
20100185365 | Method And Device For Regulation Or Control Of A Retraint System In A Vehicle - The invention relates to a method and a device for control or regulation of a restraint system ( | 07-22-2010 |
20100191424 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR TRIGGERING PASSENGER PROTECTION MEANS - A device and a method for triggering passenger protection means as a function of signals of a sensor module is provided. For example, the sensor module includes at least two sensors which are accommodated in one housing. The signal conditioning for the at least two sensors takes place on separate hardware paths. | 07-29-2010 |
20100191425 | MOBILE BODY - This invention is related to a mobile body ( | 07-29-2010 |
20100198463 | DRIVER OBSERVATION AND SECURITY SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREFOR - A driver observation and security system has a plurality of sensors located on a vehicle. Te sensors will indicate unauthorized entry into the vehicle. A plurality of interior camera modules is mounted in an interior of a vehicle. The interior camera modules provide real time images of the interior of the vehicle when at least one of the plurality of sensors indicates unauthorized entry into the vehicle. A control mechanism is coupled to the plurality of interior camera modules to control operation of each of the plurality of interior camera modules. A recording device is coupled to the control mechanism for storing the real time video images. A transmitter is coupled to the control mechanism for transmitting the real time video images for viewing at a remote location. | 08-05-2010 |
20100198464 | DIAGNOSABLE MAGNETIC SWITCH ASSEMBLY - A diagnosable magnetic switch assembly and method for determining a seat occupant. A network in the assembly includes a resistor in series with a magnetic switch, and a resistor in parallel with the series combination. Such an arrangement provides distinct assembly resistance values when the magnetic switch is open or closed, and thereby provides a means for diagnosing the operational state of the diagnosable magnetic switch assembly. The diagnosable magnetic switch assembly may be included in a seat occupant indicator system that embeds the seat occupant indicator system and a magnet in a cushion of a seat assembly. When the seat assembly is occupied, the magnet is separated from the seat occupant indicator system by a sufficient distance so the seat occupant indicator system is in an open state. When an occupant sits in the seat assembly, the magnet and the seat occupant indicator system are brought closer together so that the magnetic field operate the seat occupant indicator system to a closed state. A controller measures the assembly resistance values to determine if the seat assembly is empty, occupied, or if an assembly fault state is occurring. | 08-05-2010 |
20100228445 | Activation device for occupant protection apparatus and method for activating the occupant protection apparatus - An activation device is configured to activate a protection apparatus for protecting an occupant. The activation device includes a front collision detection unit and a rear collision detection unit. The front collision detection unit outputs a front-collision-state activation signal to a front-collision protection apparatus so as to activate the front-collision protection apparatus when detecting front collision of the vehicle. The rear collision detection unit outputs a rear-collision-state activation signal to a rear-collision protection apparatus so as to activate the rear-collision protection apparatus when detecting rear collision of the vehicle. The rear collision detection unit prohibits output of the rear-collision-state activation signal to the rear-collision protection apparatus for a first period when the front collision detection unit detects front collision of the vehicle. | 09-09-2010 |
20100235056 | CONTROL UNIT AND METHOD FOR ACTIVATING OCCUPANT PROTECTION MEANS - A control unit for activating an occupant protection unit includes, at least one analyzer circuit and at least one other component causing the activation. The at least one analyzer circuit transmits a signal to the at least one component as a function of an error event. The at least one other component performs a setting and at least one reset as a function of the signal. | 09-16-2010 |
20100241316 | Passenger protection system - A passenger protection system includes: a sensor outputting a detection digital data corresponding to collision; a passenger protection device; and an ECU. The sensor outputs a bit sequence providing an important bit group. A memory stores the data and the sequence doubly for storing first and second detection digital data and first and second bit sequences. The ECU determines based on the first or second data whether it is necessary to protect the passenger when the first data is equal to the second data. When the first data is different from the second data, and the first sequence is equal to the second sequence, the ECU replaces the important bit group in the first or second data with the first or second sequence, and determines based on the first or second data after replacement. | 09-23-2010 |
20100250070 | Time-Controlled Opening Device for Vehicle Seat Belt Buckles - The invention relates to a time-controlled opening device for vehicle seat belt buckles. In the event of an accident and once the airbags ( | 09-30-2010 |
20100262339 | Automatic time adjusting device for GPS of car safety control system - An automatic time adjusting device of a GPS of car safety control systems is disclosed. The car safety control system includes at least a car DVR, a GPS receiver and some other components such as a plurality of image sensors, a speaker and a car display monitor so as to achieve monitoring for vehicular safety. The GPS receiver receives the location information, clock signals of the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and standard second signal from a GPS satellite. By means of a time zone setting unit, the value of the time difference between the GMT and each of 24 the time zones on earth is provided according to the GPS location information. Then a microprocessor calculates the value of the time difference and determines the current time data such as the values of year/month/day/hour/minute/second in accordance with the car location. Due to connections between the car DVR, the GPS receiver, the time zone setting unit and the microprocessor, the current time data and/or location information such as the latitude and longitude of vehicles are/is recorded and displayed synchronously in the digital image data of the car DVR or displayed on a display unit of the car DVR. Therefore, performance of the car safety control system is improved. | 10-14-2010 |
20100262340 | CONTROL DEVICE AND METHOD FOR TRIGGERING PERSONAL PROTECTION MEANS FOR A VEHICLE - A control device and a method for triggering personal protection arrangement for a vehicle are provided, an energy reserve supplying electrical energy for the triggering. A control circuit is provided, which, as a function of the personal protection arrangement to be triggered, forms from the electrical energy at least one individual firing pulse for triggering the individual personal protection arrangement, with respect to a first firing pulse amplitude and a first firing pulse duration. | 10-14-2010 |
20100268423 | Occupant Protection Systems Control Techniques - Control system for controlling at least one occupant protection system of a vehicle includes a plurality of preferably electronic sensor systems mounted at different locations on the vehicle, each sensor system providing a measurement related to a state thereof system or a measurement related to a state of the mounting location. A processor is coupled to the sensor systems and diagnoses the state of the vehicle based on the measurements of the sensor systems. The processor controls each occupant protection system based at least in part on the diagnosed state of the vehicle. The occupant protection system may be a deployable airbag whose deployment is controlled by the processor based on the diagnosed state of the vehicle. The diagnosis of the state of the vehicle may be a diagnosis of the overall condition of the vehicle with respect to its stability or a diagnosis of the vehicle itself. | 10-21-2010 |
20100268424 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DOOR SELECTABLE AUTOMATIC UNLOCKING SENSOR - A vehicle door lock system may include a control unit for selectively unlocking a door, the control unit having an input for receiving a signal from an occupant detection system, a logic unit for determining whether to send an unlock signal to the door based upon the input, and an output for selectively sending the unlock signal to the door when the automatic door unlock conditions are met. | 10-21-2010 |
20100268425 | PREVENTIVE AND PERSUASIVE ACTIONS AGAINST DRUNK DRIVING - A vehicle safety system is provided that includes an alcohol concentration determining arrangement. A control unit is adapted to receive and analyze data from the alcohol concentration determining arrangement and output a blocking signal or a dissuasion signal under certain conditions. A blocking arrangement is adapted to prevent driving of the vehicle by the vehicle occupant upon receipt of a blocking signal. A output device is adapted to receive the dissuasion signal and to present a warning to the vehicle occupant to dissuade the occupant from driving the vehicle. The control unit is operable to categorize the concentration of alcohol in the occupant's blood into one of three categories: a low concentration category, in which the blocking signal will not be generated, a high concentration category, in which the blocking signal will be generated, and an intermediate category, in which the dissuasion signal will be generated. | 10-21-2010 |
20100274449 | OCCUPANT DETECTION AND IMAGING SYSTEM - An active safety system for a machine and a process for operating the active safety system are disclosed. The active safety system an active ultrasonic array having a plurality of ultrasonic transducers. The plurality of ultrasonic transducers can propagate a plurality of sound waves, receive a plurality of echo waves and transform the plurality of echo waves into a plurality of electrical pulses. The plurality of electrical pulses can be transmitted to and received by a three-dimensional imaging circuit. The three-dimensional imaging circuit can generate a 3D image from the plurality of electrical pulses and an electrical control unit can determine a location, size and geometric orientation of the 3D image. The electronic control unit can also provide an occupant safety parameter as a function of the location, size and geometric orientation of the 3D image and transmit the occupant safety parameter or an instruction related to the occupant safety parameter to an occupant safety system and/or an occupant warning system. | 10-28-2010 |
20100274450 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PREDICTING VEHICLE ROLLOVER DURING A TRIP-OVER EVENT - A vehicle includes wheels, force sensors adapted for a vertical force and lateral force of each wheel, an onboard device, and a controller. The controller calculates vehicle values using the vertical force and lateral force, compares the values to a corresponding threshold, and automatically deploys the device when each element value does not exceed a corresponding threshold. A method for determining when to deploy an airbag includes measuring a vertical and lateral force at each wheel, and measuring a yaw rate and roll angle. A lateral velocity is calculated using the lateral force, and a lift of each wheel is calculated using the vertical force. The roll angle, roll rate, and stopping time are processed to generate a point on a 3D rollover plane. A rollover energy rate is calculated, and the airbag deploys when the point, rollover energy rate, and lift do not exceed a threshold. | 10-28-2010 |
20100280717 | SENSING SYSTEM FOR MONITORING A PREDETERMINED SPACE - A sensing system ( | 11-04-2010 |
20100280718 | OCCUPANT PROTECTION DEVICE - An occupant protection device which causes less discomfort to an occupant after danger is avoided. When danger is detected (estimated collision time t is less than t | 11-04-2010 |
20100286873 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ELECTRONICALLY OPERATING A VEHICLE OCCUPANT SEAT SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM - An electrically activated, electronically controlled web grabber in conjunction with a pre-impact braking system that holds the vehicle safety belt from the moment of activation, restricting forward movement of the occupant and can be activated prior to the impact to ensure occupant containment and deactivated upon command in order to release after an accident is avoided, or once the impact has started to allow other safety devices to take over control of the belts, for example, by load limiters. | 11-11-2010 |
20100286874 | COLLISION WARNING DEVICE HAVING GUARDRAIL DETECTION - A collision warning device for motor vehicles includes: a locating system for locating objects in the area in front of the vehicle; a control device for evaluating the data of the locating system and for outputting a warning signal in the event of an imminent risk of a collision; and a detection module for detecting the course of guardrails with the aid of the data of the locating system. In the control device an additional warning function is implemented, which calculates, with the aid of the dynamic state of the vehicle and with the aid of the detected guardrail course, a parameter for the transverse dynamics of the vehicle, which is required to avert a collision with the guardrail, and which outputs a warning signal when this parameter is larger than a predefined value. | 11-11-2010 |
20100305816 | OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM FOR AN AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE - An automotive vehicle includes an occupant detection system ( | 12-02-2010 |
20100305817 | Occupant detection apparatus - An occupant detection apparatus for a vehicle is disclosed. The occupant detection apparatus includes a buckle switch, a seat position sensor and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit includes a first active element and a second active element that respectively control energization of the buckle switch and the seat position sensor. The electric control unit performs on-off control on the first active element in such manner that: the first active element is held on for a predetermined period; and at a time of an end of the predetermined period, the first active element is switched off and the second active element is switched on. The occupant detection apparatus can reduce radio noise generated due to the energization of the buckle switch and the seat position sensor, and can minimize an influence of the radio noise on another electronic apparatus mounted in the vehicle. | 12-02-2010 |
20100318265 | OCCUPANT PROTECTION DEVICE - The occupant protection device (air bag ECU | 12-16-2010 |
20100324786 | CONTROL UNIT AND METHOD FOR TRIGGERING A PASSENGER PROTECTION SYSTEM - A control unit and a method for triggering a passenger protection system. A sensor signal is supplied, the passenger protection system is triggered as a function of the sensor signal. The sensor signal is processed by a first and a second signal processor for generating a first and a second comparison signal. The first and the second comparison signals are compared with one another to generate an input signal for a decoder, and the decoder supplies the decoded input signal for triggering the passenger protection system. | 12-23-2010 |
20100324787 | METHOD AND CONTROL UNIT FOR TRIGGERING PASSENGER PROTECTION MEANS FOR A VEHICLE - A method and a control unit for triggering a passenger protection arrangement for a vehicle are described. A crash type is determined as a function of a first signal of a centrally disposed first acceleration sensor system and of a second signal of a second acceleration sensor system disposed in the side region of the vehicle. The triggering of the passenger protection arrangement takes place as a function of the crash type. | 12-23-2010 |
20100332084 | AUXILIARY CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD TO A MOTOR VEHICLE'S BUILT-IN ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM - The auxiliary control system contains at least a first interaction device and a second interaction device that are capable of mutually detecting the presence of each other by a wireless means. The first interaction device is carried by a driver of a motor vehicle having a built-in anti-theft system, and the second interaction device is tapped into a Main Body ECU in parallel with the original control interface of the built-in anti-theft system. As such, when the driver carrying the first interaction device enters into or moves out of an effective sensing range from the motor vehicle, the second interaction device would detect the presence or absence of the first interaction device. The second interaction device then issues appropriate deactivating or activating signals to the Main Body ECU which in turn disarms or arms the various anti-theft means of the motor vehicle. | 12-30-2010 |
20110004377 | ACTIVATION APPARATUS FOR OCCUPANT PROTECTION SYSTEM - An activation apparatus for an occupant protection system includes acceleration sensors which are disposed on the respective right and left sides of a vehicle with respect to the center of the vehicle on the vehicle and each of which is provided for detecting the acceleration from the side opposite to the side where the sensor is disposed, and includes a determiner that determines whether or not an occupant protection system is to be activated by comparing the physical quantity computed based on the value detected and outputted by the acceleration sensor with a threshold for activating the occupant protection system. | 01-06-2011 |
20110010056 | SEAT LOAD DETERMINING APPARATUS - A seat load determining apparatus, which includes a load sensor provided at least one rear support portion which support a seat and detecting a load applied to the rear support portion, a load detection portion detecting a part of a weight of a load applying body provided at the seat and outputting a detected load value, a vehicle start detection sensor detecting that a vehicle starts moving, and a determining portion determining that the load applying body corresponds to an adult when the load detection portion detects the detected load value to be greater than a first determination value within a predetermined time, the determining portion determining that the load applying body corresponds to a child when the load detection portion detects the detected load value that is smaller than the first determination value and greater than a second determination value which is smaller than the first determination value. | 01-13-2011 |
20110022274 | VEHICLE SEAT POWER TRACK ENHANCEMENTS - A vehicle seat power track for an automobile vehicle seat which includes a sensor arrangement to detect the seat position along the track relative to a front airbag apparatus and generate a signal to control the apparatus of the airbag. The vehicle seat power track also includes brackets configured to reduce horizontal movement of the track components. | 01-27-2011 |
20110022275 | OCCUPANT PROTECTION CONTROL DEVICE, OCCUPANT PROTECTION SYSTEM, AND OCCUPANT PROTECTION CONTROL METHOD - An occupant protection control device that performs operation control of a plurality of occupant protection devices provided in a vehicle, the occupant protection control device including a determination section that determines whether or not said vehicle has had a collision, based on acceleration data acquired from a plurality of acceleration sensors installed in predetermined locations of said vehicle, wherein when a side impact collision of said vehicle occurs, a seat belt pretensioner among said plurality of occupant protection devices is inhibited to be operated, and when a frontal oblique impact collision of said vehicle occurs, said seat belt pretensioner is operated after a curtain airbag, among said plurality of occupant protection devices, is operated. | 01-27-2011 |
20110029203 | Occupant classification system - A system for classifying an occupant located on a seating surface of a vehicle seat. The system includes a movable element and an electrode located in the vehicle seat. A sensing circuit is provided to supply a signal to the conductor. The sensing circuit also includes measurement electronics configured to measure the signal to the conductor and the vibration of the moveable element. A controller is configured to discriminate between different types of objects located on the seating surface based on changes in the signal being supplied to the conductor and the vibration of the moveable element. | 02-03-2011 |
20110029204 | VEHICLE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM - A vehicle seat pressure sensor includes a light source, a non-fiber optical polymer sheet, a boundary layer and a detection unit. The non-fiber optical polymer sheet is composed of non-woven flexible optical polymer material and has a first surface with a peripheral edge surrounding the first surface. The peripheral edge of the optical polymer sheet is aligned with the light source such that light emitted from the light source projects into the optical polymer sheet through the peripheral edge. The boundary layer is disposed along the first surface of the optical polymer sheet. The detection unit is disposed relative to the optical polymer sheet to detect changes in attenuation of light emitted from the peripheral edge of the optical polymer sheet in response to elastic deformation of the boundary layer and the optical polymer sheet. | 02-03-2011 |
20110035115 | CONTROL UNIT AND METHOD FOR ACTIVATING PASSENGER PROTECTION MEANS AND SENSOR FOR OUTPUTTING A CRASH-RELEVANT SIGNAL - A control unit and a method for activating passenger protection arrangement, as well as a sensor for outputting a crash-relevant signal, are proposed. A digital signal, which is relevant for activating the passenger protection arrangement, is output with the aid of an interface. The interface has a plurality of power sources for influencing the signal edges of the digital signal. | 02-10-2011 |
20110035116 | OCCUPANT PROTECTION SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE - An occupant protection system for vehicle, includes an own-vehicle information acquisition unit acquiring an own-vehicle information including a route information on a course of an own vehicle to a destination, an other-vehicle information acquisition unit acquiring other-vehicle information that is received through vehicle-to-vehicle communication and that includes position information of another vehicle, a crash condition calculation unit calculating a crash condition between the own vehicle and said another vehicle on the basis of the own-vehicle information and other-vehicle information, and an operation preparation unit preparing a system which corresponds to a crash damage decreasing system decreasing a level of a crash damage of an occupant of the own vehicle, and which is adapted to decrease the level of the crash damage that corresponds to the crash condition calculated by the crash condition calculation unit to operate. | 02-10-2011 |
20110035117 | SEATBELT CONTROL DEVICE - In the case of a severe collision, the severity of the collision exceeds a first threshold value at which a pretensioner mechanism starts to activate, and then exceeds a second threshold value within a collision-discriminating time range T following the start of the activation; therefore, the force limiter mechanism unit is set at a high load. In the case of a gentle collision, the severity of the collision exceeds the first threshold value, at which the pretensioner mechanism starts to activate, but does not exceed the second threshold value within the collision-discriminating time range T following the start of the activation; therefore the force limiter mechanism unit is set at a low load. Therefore, without a determination delay, the switching of the force limiter mechanism can be appropriately selected. | 02-10-2011 |
20110035118 | METHOD OF DETERMINING IMPACT SEVERITY AND ADAPTIVE IMPACT ATTENUATION - An adaptive energy absorption system for a vehicle seat is disclosed, utilizing an adaptive energy absorber or variable profile energy absorber (VPEA) for mitigating occupant injury due to extreme vehicle movement (e.g., during a vehicle shock event), and/or for mitigating vibration experienced by an occupant of the vehicle seat during normal vehicle operating conditions. The adaptive energy absorption system achieves the aforementioned objectives for a wide range of occupant weights and load levels. An alternate configuration of a dual-goal energy absorption system is also disclosed that enables both shock mitigation and vibration isolation. | 02-10-2011 |
20110040451 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CLASSIFYING A VEHICLE OCCUPANT - A system for classifying an occupant using a reduced quantity of force sensors. The system includes one or more force sensors, an electronic control unit (“ECU”), and a vehicle safety system. The force sensors are, for example, i-Bolt™ sensors, or other suitable force sensors or force sensing systems. The ECU includes, among other things, an occupant classification module and a safety monitoring module. The occupant classification module receives signals from the force sensors, determines one or more moments about a fixed point of a vehicle occupant control volume, and determines an occupant classification metric based on a mass of the control volume and a center of gravity of the control volume. The occupant classification module uses the occupant classification metric to classify an occupant into one of a plurality of occupant classifications. Based on the occupant classification, the safety monitoring module controls one or more vehicle safety systems. | 02-17-2011 |
20110040452 | VEHICLE OCCUPANT PROTECTION APPARATUS - A vehicle occupant protection apparatus includes a first collision detection mechanism provided for a vehicle and that detects a collision of the vehicle; a second collision detection mechanism provided closer to a middle of the vehicle than the first collision detection mechanism and that detects a collision of the vehicle; a first protection mechanism that protects an occupant from a collision of the vehicle; a controller that activates the first protection mechanism at the time when the first and second collision detection mechanisms detect a collision of the vehicle; and a collision prediction mechanism that predicts a collision of the vehicle. Every time the collision prediction mechanism predicts a collision of the vehicle in a direction from the first collision detection mechanism toward the middle of the vehicle, the controller activates the first protection mechanism at the time when the first collision detection mechanism detects the collision of the vehicle. | 02-17-2011 |
20110040453 | METHOD AND CONTROL DEVICE FOR TRIGGERING PASSENGER PROTECTION MEANS FOR A VEHICLE - A method and a control device for triggering passenger protection devices for a vehicle are provided, a rollover event causing the triggering of the passenger protection devices. The rollover event is detected as a function of kinematic and rotation variables, an adhesion, and a static stability factor. A state of rotation is ascertained via a rotation rate and a rotation angle. A state of adhesion is ascertained from a vehicle transverse acceleration and a vehicle vertical acceleration. The rollover event is detected via the state of adhesion and the state of rotation, the adhesion being much greater than the static stability factor. | 02-17-2011 |
20110046853 | METHOD AND CONTROL DEVICE FOR TRIGGERING PASSENGER PROTECTION MEANS FOR A VEHICLE - A method and a control device for triggering passenger protection means for a vehicle, wherein the triggering takes place as a function of an analysis of at least one accident signal via a constant fraction discrimination method. | 02-24-2011 |
20110066333 | Sensor Arrangement, Particularly for a Passenger Protection System of a Motor Vehicle - A sensor arrangement, particularly for a passenger protection system of a motor vehicle, comprising a first group of sensors ( | 03-17-2011 |
20110077826 | Method of protecting vehicle occupants in a vehicle seat of a vehicle - In a method of protecting the occupant in a vehicle seat, particularly in a passenger car (the vehicle seat comprising at least a seat surface, a backrest and a headrest), upon detection of a present or imminent rear impact, by means of an active movement of the backrest and/or of the headrest, a force is applied to the vehicle occupant in the direction of the effect of the impact force occurring as a result of the rear impact. | 03-31-2011 |
20110082625 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING ONE OR MORE VEHICLE FEATURES BASED ON DRIVER STATUS - In at least one embodiment, a device for controlling one or more vehicle features for a primary driver and a secondary driver is provided. The device comprises at least one controller that is configured to receive at least one driver status signal indicative of the driver being one of the primary driver and the secondary driver and to determine whether the driver of the vehicle is the one of the primary driver and the secondary driver based on the at least one driver status signal. The controller is further configured to control one or more vehicle features and to prevent the one or more vehicle features from being disabled in response to determining that the at least one driver status signal indicates that the driver of the vehicle is the secondary driver. | 04-07-2011 |
20110098891 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING SEAT OCCUPANCY - An apparatus for determining seat occupancy includes a seat for a vehicle, which has a seating portion, right and left load detecting portions arranged between a vehicle floor and either one of a front portion and a rear portion of the seating portion, the right load detecting portion detecting a load applied to a right side of the seating portion, the left load detecting portion detecting a load applied to a left side of the seating portion, and a seat occupancy determining portion calculating a seating load of the seat on the basis of the detected loads and determining the seat occupancy of the seat by comparing the seating load with a predetermined threshold value, wherein the seat occupancy determining portion varies the predetermined threshold value depending on of a difference value between the loads applied to the right and left sides, respectively, of the seating portion. | 04-28-2011 |
20110098892 | METHOD OF DETECTING OBJECT IN THE VICINITY OF A VEHICLE - A system for detecting objects in the vicinity of a vehicle, comprising: a sensor for gathering data relating to objects in the vicinity of the vehicle; and a processor operable to: detect objects, from the sensor data, based on one or more detection criteria, the detection being regulated by one or more detection parameters; analyse the detected objects; and in response to the number of detected objects, vary one or more of the detection parameters. | 04-28-2011 |
20110106383 | Vehicle Collision Sensing System, and A Method of Operating Same - A vehicle collision sensing system having sensor modules distributed about the vehicle configured to receive initialization signals for coordinating communication with a control module over a time multiplexed communication network that is part of the control module. The control module has a switch that is open when a first sensor module is initialized and closed when a second sensor module is initialized so that each sensor module can be individually initialized or programmed after installation in the vehicle. By individually initializing each sensor module after the sensor modules are installed in the vehicle, identical sensor modules can be installed at various locations about the vehicle and thereafter initialized to make each sensor module unique. | 05-05-2011 |
20110112725 | METHOD AND CONTROL DEVICE FOR TRIGGERING PASSENGER PROTECTION MEANS FOR A VEHICLE - A control device and a method for triggering passenger protection means for a vehicle are provided, the passenger protection means being triggered as a function of at least one signal from an impact sensor system and at least one precrash signal. The at least one precrash signal is evaluated as a function of a classification of at least one functionality, the functionality being influenced as a function of the least one precrash signal. | 05-12-2011 |
20110118942 | THEFT SECURITY DEVICE FOR A VEHICLE COUPLING - An anti-theft security device for a vehicle coupling, in particular a fifth wheel coupling ( | 05-19-2011 |
20110125372 | Method and apparatus for reducing collision injury/damage of vehicles - An on-vehicle apparatus is provided to reduce damage from collisions. In the apparatus, an object located in a field in a travel direction of a vehicle is detected and a time to collision (TTC) is detected. A controller performs automatic intervention braking in the vehicle when it determined that the time to collision is equal to or shorter than a first threshold time. Further, when it determined that the time to collision is equal to or shorter than a second threshold time shorter than the first threshold time and meets a preset actuation condition, a protection controller makes a protection device active for vehicle protection. A collision speed is also estimated based on an deceleration of the vehicle caused by the automatic intervention braking. The preset actuation condition is a condition that the estimated collision speed is equal to or higher than a preset threshold speeds. | 05-26-2011 |
20110137527 | Device for classifying at least one object in the surrounding field of a vehicle - A device for classifying at least one object in the surrounding field of a vehicle with the aid of an environmental sensor system, the device classifying the at least one object on the basis of its shape and its dimensions, and the environmental sensor system ascertaining the dimensions. | 06-09-2011 |
20110137528 | Side Impact Safety System with Blind-Spot Detection Radar Data Fusion - A motor vehicle blind-spot detection system has a remote sensor covering a rear-quadrant blind spot sensing zone and a forward-quadrant side impact sensing zone. A control module receives signals from a side impact sensor and the blind-spot detection sensor, calculates an approach vector of an object in the side impact sensing zone and/or the blind spot sensing zone, determines that the object will impact the vehicle, initializes a side impact algorithm controlling activation of an occupant safety device, detects an impact on the side of the vehicle and determines a magnitude of the impact, compares the magnitude of the impact with a threshold value established at least in part based upon the magnitude of the approach vector, and activates the occupant safety device if the magnitude of the impact exceeds the threshold value. | 06-09-2011 |
20110144866 | CONTROL UNIT AND METHOD FOR TRIGGERING PASSENGER PROTECTION MEANS FOR A VEHICLE - In a control unit and a method for triggering passenger protection arrangement for a vehicle, both a test signal from outside an evaluation circuit and a sensor signal from inside the evaluation circuit are made available. The first trigger decision is formed on the basis of the sensor signal. Furthermore, a linking module links the test signal with the sensor signal to form a check signal. The second trigger decision is formed as a function of the check signal. The triggering of the passenger protection arrangement then takes place as a function of the first and the second trigger decisions. | 06-16-2011 |
20110153164 | Method and control unit for activating at least one safety device - A method for activating at least one safety device that has a first step of acquiring at least two features from at least one signal of a crash sensor system in order to form a feature vector from the features acquired. In a second method step, the formed feature vector is subsequently classified with the aid of a classifier based on the statistical learning theory in order to classify the feature vector in one of at least three possible feature classes. As a third method step, the safety devices are activated in accordance with an activation instruction for the feature class in which the feature vector was classified. | 06-23-2011 |
20110153165 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SEAT BELT CONTROL - A system is provided for utilizing belt movement information in a motorized seat belt (MSB) control system algorithm to achieve better levels of comfort and safety. The MSB control system algorithm controls execution of multiple modes including a no friction mode, a stowage mode, a slack reduction mode, an out of position warning mode, a medium pull-back mode, and a high pull-back mode. The MSB control system algorithm also controls execution of a low power mode initiated after the other vehicle modules are put to sleep to provide the ability to stow the seat belt after the vehicle has been turned off for some period of time. The MSB control system algorithm also controls belt monitoring functions defined based on a buckle switch state that indicates the buckled or unbuckled state of the seat belt. Belt monitoring consists of belt movement being converted to counts based on a resolution provided by a belt movement sensor. | 06-23-2011 |
20110153166 | Method of Intersection Estimation for a Vehicle Safety System - A method of estimating an intersection location for a vehicle safety system is disclosed. The method includes steps of calculating a stopping distance according to operating parameters of the motor vehicle. The method also includes a step of determining a location for an intersection using the stopping distance and the location of the vehicle. The method further includes steps of determining a distance between a remote vehicle and the intersection. A vehicle safety system is controlled according to the distance between the motor vehicle and the intersection and the distance between the remote vehicle and the intersection. | 06-23-2011 |
20110160966 | SECURITY SYSTEM - The invention relates to a security system ( | 06-30-2011 |
20110160967 | VELOCITY DETERMINATION APPARATUS - The invention relates to a velocity determination apparatus for determining a relative velocity between a first object ( | 06-30-2011 |
20110178682 | METHOD FOR SELECTING SAFETY MEASURES TO BE TAKEN TO INCREASE THE SAFETY OF VEHICLE OCCUPANTS - In a method for selecting safety measures to be taken to increase the safety of occupants of a vehicle, which safety measures relate to a hazard due to environmental influences, a relevance of the hazard is inferred from received position data and warning message data, and at least one safety measure, which includes activation of an actuator in a vehicle, is selected and taken as a function of the relevance. | 07-21-2011 |
20110178683 | METHOD AND CONTROL DEVICE FOR DETECTING A LATERAL AND/OR A ROOF POSITION OF A VEHICLE - A method for detecting a lateral position and/or a roof position of a vehicle, the method including a first step of receiving a lateral value and/or a vertical value via an interface, the lateral value representing a lateral acceleration and/or the vertical value representing a vertical acceleration. Furthermore, the method has a second step of detecting the roof position of the vehicle when a position value derived from the vertical value is greater in absolute terms, at least in one component, than a predefined vertical threshold value, and/or the method has a step of detecting the lateral position of the vehicle when a position value derived from the vertical value and the lateral value is located in a lateral position region of a state space, the state space being plotted by axes with regard to a lateral and a vertical acceleration. | 07-21-2011 |
20110190987 | OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD - An occupant detection system, a controller for an occupant detection system and a method of detecting an occupant. The presence or absence of the occupant varies the dielectric properties of an area proximate to influence the electrical impedance of the electrode. The electrode impedance is determined based on based on the excitation signal frequency, the excitation signal magnitude, and the electrode signal magnitude, and thereby determine an occupant presence based on the electrode impedance. The excitation signal magnitude is adjusted to optimize the electrode signal magnitude. The electrode signal magnitude is optimized to be large enough to be accurately measured, but not so large as to cause excessive radiated emissions. The excitation signal magnitude may be adjusted for each excitation signal frequency so the electrode signal magnitude is optimized regardless of frequency. | 08-04-2011 |
20110196577 | Converter for Signals between a safety Device and a Safety Control Device for a Vehicle - Disclosed is a converter ( | 08-11-2011 |
20110218709 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A DOOR OF A VEHICLE - In a method for controlling at least one door of a vehicle, a movement of a mobile identification signal generator, assigned to the vehicle, relative to the vehicle is sensed as a function of time. A future position of the mobile identification signal generator is estimated at a future time based on the position, the speed of movement and the direction of movement of the mobile identification signal generator at the current time, and furthermore an unlocking condition is detected if the future position of the mobile identification signal generator is within a predetermined range. Finally, the at least one door is unlocked and/or opened based on the unlocking condition. As a result of the estimation of the position of an identification signal generator with respect to a next position measuring point, the reaction time and the susceptibility to faults of an access arrangement can be improved. | 09-08-2011 |
20110246028 | STEERING WHEEL WITH HAND PRESSURE SENSING - The invention relates to a vehicle safety system includes a steering wheel, a plurality of pressure sensitive sensors located in the steering wheel, and a control unit. The pressure sensitive sensors can be located in different regions of the steering wheel. The pressure sensitive sensors can determine if a driver's hand is pressing upon a respective region of the steering wheel associated with one or more of the plurality of pressure sensitive sensors. The control unit can be configured or programmed to determine if at least one of the driver's hands is pressing upon a region of the steering wheel for a predetermined amount of time. | 10-06-2011 |
20110246029 | METHOD OF TUNING ACTIVE SAFETY SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES, SYSTEM OBTAINED BY SAID METHOD AND VEHICLE COMPRISING A SYSTEM OBTAINED BY SAID METHOD - The present invention relates to a method of tuning an active safety system of a motor vehicle, notably an antilock braking system (ABS), an anti-skid system (ARS or TSC), a path control device (ESP), an overall motor vehicle chassis control system (VDM) or similar, and an active safety system obtained by said method and/or the motor vehicles equipped with such an active safety system. | 10-06-2011 |
20110251760 | VEHICULAR COLLISION DETECTION APPARATUS, OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM, AND VEHICLE - A vehicular collision detection apparatus mounted to a vehicle comprises: a door beam that is arranged in a partitioned region partitioned between a door outer panel of a vehicle door, and a door inner panel of the vehicle door, and is displaced in accordance with a deformation of the door outer panel at the time of a vehicular collision; a cylindrical member that is arranged in the partitioned region and is compressed by the door beam at the time of the displacement of the door beam; a sealed cavity provided to the cylindrical member; a pressure sensor configured to detect a pressure fluctuation of the cavity; a deriving portion configured to derive a displacement amount and displacement velocity of the door beam, based on the pressure fluctuation detected by the pressure sensor; and a determining portion configured to determine collision particulars of the vehicle based on the displacement amount and displacement velocity of the door beam derived by the deriving portion. | 10-13-2011 |
20110257846 | WHEEL WATCHER - A vehicle driver safety device that encourages drivers to drive attentively and with both hands on the steering wheel is disclosed. | 10-20-2011 |
20110270491 | Noise Reduction for Occupant Detection System and Method - An occupant detection system with noise reduction, a controller having noise reduction for an occupant detection system and a method for reducing noise in an occupant detection system. A high order digital filter is used to filter harmonics of a noise signal from an electrode signal used to determine an occupant presence or absence of the occupant. A way of sampling the electrode signal and the implementation of the high order digital filter cooperate such that the signal processing can be performed by a lower cost general purpose microprocessor as opposed to using a higher cost digital signal processor. | 11-03-2011 |
20110270492 | VEHICLE AND METHOD OF IDENTIFYING PASSENGER OF THE SAME - A vehicle according to the present invention includes: a weight sensor disposed in a seat to sense the weight of a passenger sitting in the seat; a weight-keeping-exerted time measurer measuring how long the weight of the passenger sensed by the weight sensor is exerted; a vehicle speed sensor sensing the traveling speed; and a passenger identification unit setting the class of the seat by using the passenger's weight sensed by the weight sensor and the weight-keeping-exerted time measured by the weight-keeping-exerted time measurer and finally fixing the set class, when the traveling speed sensed by the vehicle speed sensor is a fixed reference speed or more. | 11-03-2011 |
20110270493 | SEAT-BELT-RETRACTOR CONTROL DEVICE AND SEAT BELT DEVICE HAVING THE SAME - To produce a compact torque limiter mechanism at low cost while improving the durability of the torque limiter mechanism. An ECU | 11-03-2011 |
20110276232 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING A BUOYANCY SYSTEM FOR AN AIRCRAFT, AND A CONTROL SYSTEM IMPLEMENTING SAID METHOD - The present invention relates to a method of controlling a buoyancy system for an aircraft, wherein the buoyancy system including automatic trigger means and the method consists in:
| 11-10-2011 |
20110295466 | Seating Status Detection Apparatus and Occupant Monitoring System for a Moving Body - There is provided a seating status detection apparatus that includes: an antenna element that receives thermal noise radiated from an occupant seated on a seat in a moving body; and a recognition device that recognizes the occupant seated on the seat based on a reception level of the thermal noise received by the antenna element. | 12-01-2011 |
20110301816 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IMPROVING CURTAIN AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT USING AN ACTUATOR ATTACHED TO A HEADLINER - The present invention is a method and system for improving curtain air bag deployment using an actuator attached to a headliner. The present invention can include an automobile having a roof, a headliner, an actuator, a curtain air bag, a door, a sensor, and/or a processor. The roof can also include a roof rail. The roof rail and the headliner enclose the curtain air bag. The actuator is attached to the headliner. The sensor is located within the door and detects collision data. The processor analyzes the collision data to determine when to deploy the curtain airbag. In deploying the curtain airbag, the processor activates the actuator, which reduces the overlap between the headliner and the roof rail. The curtain airbags deploys by either pushing through the reduced overlap between the headliner and the roof rail or by easily forming through a gap between the headliner and the roof rail. | 12-08-2011 |
20110307148 | OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD HAVING HEATER ELEMENT ELECTRICAL ISOLATION - A system for determining an occupant proximate to a vehicle seat, a controller for use in the system, and a method for electrically isolating a heater element from an occupant detection electrode. When a heater element in a seat is coupled to a heater voltage source to generate heat, the heater element may influence an electric field generated by an occupant detection electrode in such a way as to interfere with determining an occupant proximate to the seat. Depending on the arrangement of the electrode and the heater element, such interference may be present at all times when the electrode is connected to the heater voltage source, or may only be problematic when the seat is wet with liquid moisture. By electrically isolating the heater element, the influence on the electric field may be reduced so the process of determining if an occupant is present in the seat is not interfered with. | 12-15-2011 |
20110313622 | OCCUPANT POSTURE SENSING APPARATUS AND OCCUPANT POSTURE SENSING METHOD - To be configured inexpensively to enable cost reduction and sense sitting posture of an occupant highly accurately, occupant posture sensing apparatus | 12-22-2011 |
20120004810 | Vehicle-use safety control apparatus - The vehicle-use safety control apparatus is configured to operate on electric power supplied from a vehicle battery mounted on a vehicle through at least one of a first electric power supply path interposed with an ignition switch of the vehicle, and a second electric power supply path interposed with a changeover switch. The vehicle-use safety control apparatus includes a running state information acquiring means to acquire running state information on whether the vehicle is running or stopped, and a switch control means to change an on/off state of the changeover switch in accordance with the running state information received from the running state acquiring means. | 01-05-2012 |
20120004811 | METHOD AND CONTROL DEVICE FOR TRIGGERING PASSENGER PROTECTION MEANS FOR A VEHICLE - A method and a control device for triggering passenger protection means for a vehicle are provided, at least one sensor signal from an accident sensor system being provided by an interface. Furthermore, at least two characteristics are generated from the sensor signal, which are mapped onto one single value range. The triggering of the passenger protection means occurs as a function of the at least two mapped characteristics. | 01-05-2012 |
20120010784 | OCCUPANT RESTRAINT DEVICE CONTROL DEVICE - An occupant restraint device controller, including an electronic circuit substrate incorporating therein a control circuit that determines whether or not a vehicle has collided based on a detection output of a sensor detecting acceleration/deceleration of the vehicle and outputs a control signal for activating an occupant restraint tool. The electronic circuit substrate is accommodated inside a resin case provided with a structure for leading out a ground electrode from the inside to the outside of the resin case. The structure for leading out a ground electrode is configured such that a fixing leg, for fixing the electronic circuit substrate, is provided inside the case. This fixing leg is connected to a mounting portion, to be mounted to the vehicle, via a ground lead-out member that includes a first spring structure held between the fixing leg and the electronic circuit substrate, a ground terminal held between the case and part of the vehicle, and a second spring structure connecting the first spring structure to the ground terminal | 01-12-2012 |
20120041646 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR GENERATING A CONTROL SIGNAL - A device is described for generating a control signal for controlling a passenger protection arrangement of a motor vehicle, having a first acceleration sensor for generating a first acceleration signal, having a second acceleration sensor for generating a second acceleration signal, having a first structure-borne noise sensor for generating a first structure-borne noise signal, having a second structure-borne noise sensor for generating a second structure-borne noise signal, and having an evaluation circuit, the evaluation circuit (being configured for generating a combination signal from the first structure-borne noise signal and the second structure-borne noise signal, the evaluation circuit being configured for generating the control signal as a function of the first acceleration signal, the second acceleration signal and the combination signal. | 02-16-2012 |
20120065843 | AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT - A method of deploying a side impact airbag is provided. The method includes selectively determining a delay time based on an impact type, where the delay time associated with an impact on a first side is different than the delay time associated with an impact on a second side; and selectively generating a control signal to at least one of deploy and not deploy the side impact airbag based on the delay time. | 03-15-2012 |
20120065844 | Intelligent Arming Module for a Vehicle Security System and Vehicle Security System Incorporating Intelligent Arming - An operational status module | 03-15-2012 |
20120078472 | Individualizable Post-Crash Assist System - A method for predicting potential injury assessment for at least one occupant of a vehicle involved in a crash event and for broadcasting assessment of the occupant to a medical response unit. An occupant seated in each seat of a vehicle is detected. Occupant data is obtained relating to physical characteristics of each occupant seated in the vehicle. A crash event involving the vehicle is detected. Vehicle dynamic data and safety restraint data during the crash event is recorded. The potential injury assessment of each occupant is predicted by an injury assessment processing module based on the vehicle dynamic data and safety restraint data obtained during the crash event and the occupant data of each occupant in the vehicle. The corresponding injury assessment of each occupant of the vehicle is broadcast to a medical response unit. | 03-29-2012 |
20120078473 | Apparatus and Method for Controlling Operation of Vehicles or Machinery by Intoxicated or Impaired Individuals - The present invention discloses apparatuses and methods for non-invasive determination of attributes of human tissue by quantitative infrared spectroscopy. The embodiments of the present invention include subsystems optimized to contend with the complexities of the tissue measurements. The subsystems can include an illumination/modulation subsystem, a tissue sampling subsystem, a calibration maintenance subsystem, a data acquisition subsystem, and a computing subsystem. Embodiments of the present invention provide analyte property determination and identity determination or verification from the same spectroscopic information, making unauthorized use or misleading results less likely that in systems that include separate analyte and identity determinations. The invention can be used to prevent operation of automobiles or other equipment unless the operator has an acceptable alcohol concentration, and to limit operation of automobiles or other equipment to authorized individuals who are not intoxicated or drug-impaired. | 03-29-2012 |
20120083974 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR COMBINING SENSOR DATA - A method is provided for combining sensor data collected by at least two sensors coupled to at least one application, wherein at least one of the sensors provides driver-related sensor data of a driver-related behaviour and at least one external sensor provides sensor date not related to driver-related behaviour. The sensor data of the at least two sensors are combined as the respective measurement errors of the data are uncorrelated in time with respect to the at least one application. | 04-05-2012 |
20120089302 | ILLUMINATED SEAT BELT RECEPTACLE - A seat belt system for a vehicle may include a plurality of seat belt assemblies each including a seat belt receptacle, a light source for selectively illuminating the receptacle, and a latch mechanism for releasably latching a seat belt buckle to the receptacle. A controller may be operatively associated with the light source, the latch mechanism sensor, a transmission gear position sensor, and at least one of a door position sensor, engine sensor and air bag sensor. The controller may operably process signals received from the sensors and direct the light source to selectively illuminate the seat belt receptacle in various operational conditions of the vehicle. | 04-12-2012 |
20120089303 | Holding device and method for holding a vehicle occupant in a vehicle seat - A holding device ( | 04-12-2012 |
20120101688 | OCCUPANT PROTECTION APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR - A vehicular occupant protection apparatus ( | 04-26-2012 |
20120101689 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE AND MOTOR VEHICLE - A method is provided for operating a motor vehicle. The method includes, but is not limited to determining whether at least one control is activated by a driver of the motor vehicle while driving the motor vehicle. The at least one control is here part of an onboard system, selected from the group comprised of an information and entertainment system, an air conditioner, a mirror adjuster, a seat adjuster, a navigation system, a first driver assistance system and/or a telephone system. In addition, at least one parameter of a second driver assistance system of the motor vehicle is adjusted if the at least one control is activated by the driver of the motor vehicle while driving the motor vehicle. | 04-26-2012 |
20120101690 | SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE SECURITY, PERSONALIZATION AND CARDIAC ACTIVITY MONITORING OF A DRIVER - The present invention provides a system for vehicle security, personalization, and cardiac activity monitoring of a driver wherein electrocardiography of a driver is monitored and registered which is used for identification of a person entering in the vehicle and personalization of vehicle based on user preferences thereby act as intruder detection towards vehicle security. In addition to registration the present invention also monitors cardiac activity of driver in a continuous and real time fashion without any intrusion to driver with the facility of generation of alert and making emergency call. | 04-26-2012 |
20120109467 | CONTROL UNIT AND METHOD FOR TRIGGERING PASSENGER PROTECTION MEANS FOR A VEHICLE - A control unit and a method for triggering passenger protection device for a vehicle are described, a computer having an integrated circuit transmitting a signal and, as a function of this signal, a current source in the integrated circuit outputting a current for charging the capacitors connected to the integrated circuit and situated in the ignition circuit. The charge of these capacitors is output via a third interface using a characterizing measuring signal. | 05-03-2012 |
20120109468 | Method for Protecting a Vehicle Occupant in a Vehicle Seat of a Vehicle - A method for protecting a vehicle occupant in a vehicle seat of a vehicle is provided. At least one protection element mounted on the vehicle seat and capable of being triggered to protect the vehicle occupant sitting on the vehicle seat is triggered when a collision is imminent or occurs. A reversible belt tensioner assigned to the vehicle seat is triggered at a time before a triggering of the protection element, and while or as the protection element is triggered, a resulting belt tensioning is released again. | 05-03-2012 |
20120123644 | Driver Assistance System in a Motor Vehicle - A driver assistance system in a motor vehicle includes an electronically controllable braking system and a control unit assigned to this braking system and connected with an operating element also assigned to the braking system. The operating element, when correspondingly actuated, can initiate an automatic braking function in the form of a normal braking by use of the electronically controllable braking system independently of the actuation of the brake pedal. The control unit is operatively configured such that, when the operating element is continuously actuated beyond a predefined minimum duration, an emergency braking function can be initiated. | 05-17-2012 |
20120130596 | FUEL VAPOR TREATMENT APPARATUS - A fuel vapor treatment apparatus includes a fuel tank, a canister, a passage forming member, a pressure-regulating valve, an acceleration detector, and a controller. The fuel tank is for a storage of fuel to be supplied to an internal combustion engine for a vehicle. The canister recovers fuel evaporated from the fuel tank. The passage forming member defines a passage through which the fuel tank and the canister communicate with each other. The pressure-regulating valve is provided in the passage forming member to connect or disconnect the fuel tank and the canister. The acceleration detector detects an acceleration value of the vehicle, and the controller controls the pressure-regulating valve based on the acceleration value detected by the acceleration detector. | 05-24-2012 |
20120136541 | COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR A PASSENGER PROTECTION SYSTEM - In each sensor unit, when a sensor control unit cannot detect current flowing to an output side, its address is set to the same address as a sensor unit of the last stage. In an ECU, if the set address and characteristic information of each sensor unit are not stored in a memory unit when the set addresses and the characteristic information of all the sensor units are received by an ECU control unit, the received set addresses and the characteristic information are stored. A failure check unit checks received characteristic information received by the ECU control unit with characteristic information stored in the memory unit. If one characteristic information is in disagreement, a sensor unit having such characteristic information is determined to be failing. If plural characteristic information are in disagreement, a sensor unit having characteristic information and closest to the ECU is determined to be failing. | 05-31-2012 |
20120143444 | PASSENGER DETECTION SYSTEM - A passenger detection system includes a passenger detecting part including a load detecting section that detects a load caused by a passenger seated on a seat of a vehicle, and a passenger detection controller including a passenger recognizing section, a movement detecting section and an activation determining section. The passenger recognizing section executes a passenger recognition based on a load detection signal outputted from the load detecting section. The movement detecting section detects whether the vehicle is moving based on the load detection signal. The activation determining section determines whether or not to activate an airbag apparatus based on a passenger recognition signal when a movement detection signal outputted from the movement detecting section indicates that the vehicle is stopped, and forgoes executing the determination and holds a determination result from a previous control cycle when the movement detection signal indicates that the vehicle is moving. | 06-07-2012 |
20120150391 | IN-VEHICLE PROTECTION SYSTEM USING MULTIPLE PROCESSING UNITS AND/OR USING MOBILE PHONE MODULE TO SEND POSITIONING INFORMATION - An in-vehicle protection system includes a signal input interface and a vehicle protection circuit. The signal input interface is arranged to receive at least an indication signal indicative of a status of a vehicle. The vehicle protection circuit includes a first processing unit, a second processing unit, and a controller. Each of the first processing unit and the second processing unit is capable of performing vehicle protection upon the vehicle, where computing power of the first processing unit is different from computing power of the second processing unit. The controller is used for receiving the indication signal, outputting the received indication signal to the first processing unit for further processing when the in-vehicle protection system operates under a first operational state, and outputting the received indication signal to the second processing unit for further processing when the in-vehicle protection system operates under a second operational state. | 06-14-2012 |
20120150392 | VEHICLE UNIT - The invention relates to a vehicle unit in a vehicle, including at least one multimedia control unit and at least one safety control unit for controlling multimedia and safety functions, wherein the vehicle unit is provided as a switching unit between the multimedia control unit and the safety control unit, and wherein the switching unit processes the data received from the multimedia control unit and makes the data available to the safety control unit. The switching unit also transmits data received from the safety control unit to the multimedia control unit. Furthermore, the switching unit has a safety level which is higher than that of the multimedia control unit and lower than that the safety control unit. | 06-14-2012 |
20120150393 | VEHICLE BATTERY SAFETY SYSTEM - A safety arrangement ( | 06-14-2012 |
20120158248 | VEHICLE SAFETY SENSOR CONTROL DEVICE - A vehicle safety sensor control device is provided. The vehicle safety sensor control device may include a slope sensor portion sensing a slope of vehicle; a safety sensor portion sensing running safety information for a vehicle safety running; a sensing control angle generation portion sensing a sensing control angle from the sensed slope; and a safety sensor control portion controlling up and down direction angles of the safety sensor on the basis of a horizontal plane of vehicle depending on the sensing control angle. | 06-21-2012 |
20120158249 | VEHICLE SAFETY ENHANCEMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A system for vehicle safety enhancement is disclosed. The system comprises a sudden slowdown detection subsystem, a slight bump detection subsystem, an airbag activation and brake malfunction detection subsystem, and a rollover detection subsystem. A controlling unit is connected to each subsystem for determining a severity level of a collision involving a vehicle, and the controlling unit is in turn connected to a communication unit for sending an alert signal based on the severity level. A method for vehicle safety enhancement is also disclosed. | 06-21-2012 |
20120158250 | METHOD FOR IMAGING THE SURROUNDING OF A VEHICLE - A method for imaging the surrounding of a vehicle is provided. The method includes the steps of (i) taking a series of two dimensional images of the vehicle surrounding, (ii) taking a series of three dimensional images of the vehicle surrounding that including depth information, (iii) determining at least one object in an area of interest in one of the series of images and tracking the object in the area of interest, (iv) processing the others of the series of images to retrieve object information from said other series of images, (v) adjusting the objects to be tracked in the one series of images in accordance with the object information received from processing the other series of images. | 06-21-2012 |
20120158251 | ENHANCED SEAT BELT/ACCELERATOR BEHAVIORAL SYSTEM - A method of controlling the behavior of an occupant of a vehicle ( | 06-21-2012 |
20120166045 | COMBINED ABS/AIRBAG CONTROL UNIT - A control unit has an ABS control algorithm. For use on motorcycles, it is advantageous if the control unit also includes an airbag algorithm for actuating an airbag, a maximum of two but preferably only a single acceleration sensor for detecting a collision, and a maximum of two but preferably only a single ignition stage which generates a signal for igniting an airbag when a collision is detected. | 06-28-2012 |
20120166046 | SENSOR PAD FOR CONTROLLING AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND ASSOCIATED SUPPORT - A weight sensing pad for controlling activation of an automobile airbag, the weight sensing pad comprising a bladder member having an interior volume defined by first and second sheets perimetrically bonded together, wherein the interior volume of the bladder member is subdivided into a plurality of cells by a plurality of small, substantially circular welds between the first and second sheets, the plurality of cells being in fluid communication with each other; and a fluid contained within the interior volume of the bladder member, whereby the automobile airbag is activated upon a change in pressure caused by displacement of a volume of the fluid in the interior volume of the bladder. | 06-28-2012 |
20120173083 | VEHICLE ROLL OVER PREVENTION SAFETY DRIVING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A vehicle rollover prevention safety driving system, comprising: at least an image sensor, used to fetch road images in front of said vehicle; an image processor, connected to said image sensor, and is used to identify a drive lane in road images, and calculate a drive lane curvature, an inclination angle of said road, and relative positions of said vehicle and a lane marking; a vehicle conditions sensing module, used to sense dynamic information of a vehicle turning angle, a vehicle inclination angle, and a vehicle speed; a microprocessor, connected to said image processor and said vehicle conditions sensing module, and it calculates a rollover prediction point and a rollover threshold speed, and it issues a corresponding warning signal or a control signal; and an accelerator and brake controller, connected to said microprocessor, and it controls deceleration of said vehicle according to said control signal. | 07-05-2012 |
20120173084 | METHOD FOR ROLLOVER DETECTION - A method is presented for rollover detection, taking into account the transverse vehicle acceleration and transverse vehicle velocity and at least one rotational state quantity about the driving direction axis, wherein a correction parameter for the transverse vehicle velocity and/or transverse vehicle acceleration is determined by determining a translational energy value from the transverse vehicle velocity and a rotational energy value from the rotational state quantity and the correction parameter from the energy values. | 07-05-2012 |
20120179335 | OCCUPANT PROTECTION DEVICE FOR VEHICLE - An occupant protection device includes: a controller; first and second bus lines; a first collision sensor arranged on a side of the vehicle, and transmitting a first signal to the controller via the first bus line; a second collision sensor arranged on a center of the vehicle, and transmitting a second signal to the controller via the second bus line; and a third collision sensor arranged on a front side from the first collision sensor, and transmitting a third signal to the controller via the second bus line. The controller determines the collision on the side of the vehicle based on the first and second signals. The controller determines the collision on a part of the vehicle based on the third signal, the part disposed on the front side from the first collision sensor. The controller activates an occupant protection element. | 07-12-2012 |
20120185134 | VEHICLE SAFETY SYSTEM - A vehicle safety system made up of multiple processors connected together into a multiprocessor system where the system is configured to operate the vehicle. Multiple sensors are connected to the processors and configured to gather information from vehicle and a lidar sensor attached to the windshield and oriented to gather data from the road in front of the vehicle. A processor is connected and collocated with the lidar sensor for controlling the lidar and a second processor is configured to operate an application configured to receive data from the multiprocessor system, merge the data from multiprocessor system into a message, prioritize the message against other messages, add a priority label to the message, send and process the message according to the priority label attached. | 07-19-2012 |
20120209476 | METHOD OF DETERMINING THE LATERAL VELOCITY OF A VEHICLE DURING ABNORMAL DRIVING SITUATIONS - Disclosed is a method to determine a vehicle's lateral velocity during abnormal driving situations of a vehicle during controlled side-impact or rollover crash tests that involve the pulling of a vehicle sideways into an object. A high-resolution, low-range, lateral accelerometer is integrated to determine the lateral velocity. Furthermore, is a method to initiate the integration of the acceleration signal and a method to stop and reset the integration. The method recognizes special conditions associated with abnormal driving situations like controlled crash tests, and therefore will not be active during normal operating conditions. The method also includes a means to handle offset tolerances associated with accelerometers by finding the sensor's zero-g point while the vehicle is at rest. | 08-16-2012 |
20120221210 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SEAT BELT RETRACTION SPEED CONTROL - A seat belt is wound around a spool and a spring biases the spool to rotate in a belt retraction direction. A sensor detects a retraction speed of the belt when the spool rotates in the belt retraction direction and generating a belt speed signal. An electrical drive unit receives the belt speed signal and applies a torque to the spool in a belt extension direction (opposite to the belt retraction direction) if the retraction speed exceeds a threshold value. The torque is of a magnitude sufficient to maintain the retraction speed below the threshold value. The electric motor and/or electrical control unit may be part of or otherwise integrated with a safety belt pre-tensioning system. | 08-30-2012 |
20120239256 | System and Method for Bit Error Rate Monitoring - In an embodiment, a method of determining whether to trigger an event based on data blocks having status data includes electronically receiving the data blocks over a channel, performing a data integrity check on the data blocks to determine whether a particular data block has a transmission fault, calculating a received error metric based on performing the data integrity check, and disabling an event trigger if the received error metric crosses a first error threshold. | 09-20-2012 |
20120253605 | Data mining in a digital map database to identify intersections located at hill bottoms and enabling precautionary actions in a vehicle - Disclosed is a feature for a vehicle that enables taking precautionary actions in response to conditions on the road network around or ahead of the vehicle, in particular, an intersection located at the bottom of a hill. A database that represents the road network is used to determine locations where an intersection of roads is located at the bottom of a hill and then, precautionary action data is added to the database to indicate such locations. A precautionary action system installed in a vehicle uses this database, or a database derived therefrom, in combination with a positioning system to take a precautionary action as the vehicle approaches such a location. | 10-04-2012 |
20120265405 | VEHICULAR ELECTRONIC CONTROL APPARATUS - A vehicular electronic control apparatus includes a mother unit having a microcomputer, a plurality of ECU modules connected to the mother unit detachably and configured to execute respective vehicle controls, an operation data communication section for communicating with the microcomputer operation data used by the plurality of ECU modules in executing respective control operation processing, and alternative operation execution section for causing at least one of the other ECU modules and the microcomputer to execute, as an alternative operation, at least a part of the arithmetic operation processing, which is to be executed by at least one of the plurality of the ECU modules. | 10-18-2012 |
20120265406 | METHOD AND CONTROL UNIT FOR DETECTING A SAFETY-CRITICAL IMPACT OF AN OBJECT ON A VEHICLE - A method for detecting a safety-critical impact of an object on a vehicle is described. The method has a first step of obtaining a starting signal for starting a time measurement, to establish the start of a subsequent predetermined time span. In addition, the method has a step of receiving a signal representing a yaw acceleration of the vehicle, the signal being received during the predetermined time span. Finally, the method has a step of detecting the safety-critical impact of the object on the vehicle detecting the safety-critical impact of an object on the vehicle when the signal within the predetermined time span has a value that is outside a threshold value range or when the signal after the predetermined time span has a value derived from the signal that is outside of a threshold value range. | 10-18-2012 |
20120265407 | Method and Device for Lessening the Consequences of an Accident on a Vehicle Occupant - A method and device are provided for lessening the consequences of an accident affecting a vehicle occupant in the event of a collision of the vehicle with an obstruction. Before the collision, the absolute speed of the vehicle occupant relative to the obstruction is reduced independently of the traveling speed of the vehicle by way of a reduction of the vehicle occupant's speed relative to the vehicle, without the vehicle occupant experiencing a first displacement movement against the vehicle movement direction beyond his initial destination-related traveling position. | 10-18-2012 |
20120283916 | OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM - An occupant restraint system including a harness coupled to the occupant by surrounding a portion of the occupant, a winding mechanism fixed to the vehicle and configured to operate in a first mode and a second mode, and a flexible linking member having a first end coupled to the harness and a second end coupled to the winding mechanism. The linking member is configured to selectively wind and unwind from the winding mechanism. When the winding mechanism is in the first mode of operation, the linking member may be unwound from the winding mechanism to allow the occupant to move freely about the vehicle. When the winding mechanism is in the second mode of operation, the winding mechanism winds the linking member to pull the harness toward the winding mechanism. | 11-08-2012 |
20120296526 | CONTROL UNIT FOR SETTING A DEVICE FOR THE ADAPTIVE REDUCTION OF CRASH ENERGY FOR A VEHICLE, DEVICE FOR THE ADAPTIVE REDUCTION OF CRASH ENERGY FOR A VEHICLE AND METHOD FOR SETTING A DEVICE FOR THE ADAPTIVE REDUCTION OF CRASH ENERGY FOR A VEHICLE - A control unit for setting a device for the adaptive reduction of crash energy for a vehicle includes a first interface which provides a first signal characterizing an imminent or a beginning crash process, a computing element which, as a function of the first signal, generates a first control signal for setting the deformation behavior of at least one deformation element of the device for the adaptive reduction in the crash energy, and a second interface which provides a second signal characterizing at least one passenger parameter that changes as a function of the crash process. The computing element generates at least one second control signal as a function of the second signal for setting the deformation behavior during the crash process. | 11-22-2012 |
20120303219 | SEAT BELT RETRACTOR AND SEAT BELT DEVICE USING THE SAME - A seat belt retractor that functions to cancel both a function of a vehicle sensor and a function of a webbing sensor on a predetermined condition with a simple structure and a small number of components. When a seat belt is fully retracted, a cam follower of a first lever comes into contact with a second cam portion of a cam plate. An actuator pressing portion of the first lever presses an actuator of a vehicle sensor to a non-operation position. The function of the vehicle sensor is thereby cancelled. Further, when an engaging claw of a second lever separates from a ratchet tooth of a ring gear, the ring gear is allowed to rotate in a seat belt withdrawing direction. Therefore, the function of the webbing sensor is cancelled. | 11-29-2012 |
20120303220 | Electronic Control System for a Safety Device of a Motor Vehicle - An electronic control system for a safety device of a motor vehicle includes a first sensor for a motion quantity, a computer for converting the motion quantity to a triggering signal for the safety device, and a second sensor for checking the plausibility of the sensor signal supplied by the first sensor. The two sensors are arranged with an identical construction and/or effect and at an at least approximately identical location on a printed circuit board such that, in a proper operating mode, their output signals have different preceding signs and are identical with respect to their amount over their entire operating range. | 11-29-2012 |
20120303221 | VEHICLE SENSOR NODE - The invention relates to a sensor system including a plurality of sensor elements which are designed so that the elements detect at least partially different primary measured values and utilize at least partially different measurement principles, further including a signal processing apparatus, an interface apparatus and a plurality of functional apparatuses. The sensor elements are connected to the signal processing apparatus, which is designed so that it includes at least one of the following signal processing functions each for at least one of the sensor elements and/or the output signals thereof, an error handling, a filtering, a calculation and/or provision of a derived measured value. At least one measured value is derived from at least one primary measured value of one or more sensor elements, and all functional apparatuses are connected to the signal processing apparatus via the interface apparatus and the signal processing apparatus provides the signal processing functions. | 11-29-2012 |
20120310483 | BELT LOCK WITH A STATE SENSOR FOR DETECTION OF THE LOCKING STATE OF A SAFETY BELT SYSTEM - A belt lock is provided with a state sensor for detection of the locking state of a safety belt system, for example in an motor vehicle. The belt lock includes a locking mechanism which is located in a belt lock housing, which is formed from an upper shell and a lower shell, for an inserted belt tongue which has a component which changes its location from a first end position into a second end position when the locking mechanism is actuated. By means of the state sensor, actuation of the locking mechanism can be monitored. The state sensor is made as an electronic sensor element which is located in the lower shell. | 12-06-2012 |
20120316734 | ALERT SOUND OUTPUT CONTROL APPARATUS, ALERT SOUND OUTPUT CONTROL METHOD AND COMPUTER PRODUCT - An alert sound output control apparatus provides audio data to a speaker unit that outputs an alert sound directed outside a vehicle. The alert sound output control apparatus includes a road information acquiring unit that acquires lane count information for a road being traveled by the vehicle; a position information acquiring unit that acquires traveling position information for the vehicle; and an output unit that based on the lane count information and the traveling position information, controls output of the alert sound directed outside the vehicle. | 12-13-2012 |
20120323447 | BUMPER ARRANGEMENT FOR AN AUTOMOBILE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A BUMPER ARRANGEMENT IN A CRASH - A bumper arrangement for an automobile includes a crossbeam with crash boxes and a pedestrian protection element arranged on the crossbeam. The material of the pedestrian protection element has a lower firmness compared to the material of the crossbeam. A deformation element is arranged in the pedestrian protection element. The deformation element can be retracted into the crossbeam in an impact with a pedestrian, so that only the pedestrian protection element produces a damping effect. In a high-intensity crash, the deformation element can be rigidly connected with the crossbeam and thus lengthen the available deformation path of the crash box along the deformation element. | 12-20-2012 |
20120330512 | METHOD FOR TRIGGERING AT LEAST ONE IRREVERSIBLE RETAINING DEVICE OF A MOTOR VEHICLE - A method for triggering at least one irreversible retaining device of a motor vehicle before the beginning of an actual collision includes acquiring items of information regarding an object which is present in the vicinity of the motor vehicle by means of at least two acquisition devices of a motor vehicle which operate independent of one another and which continuously measure the vicinity of the vehicle, and separately analyzing the items of information with regard to whether triggering conditions for triggering the at least one irreversible retaining device are established, wherein the triggering only occurs when both analysis results indicate that the triggering conditions are established. | 12-27-2012 |
20130006477 | CONTROL DEVICE FOR VEHICLE - There is provided a control device for vehicle. A sideslip speed which is the moving speed of a vehicle in the width direction is calculated on the basis of an estimated running position of the vehicle after a predetermined time interval has elapsed from a time at a starting running position of the vehicle on the estimated running path, and the actual running position of the vehicle after the predetermined time interval has elapsed from the time at the starting running position of the vehicle on the estimated running path. | 01-03-2013 |
20130013156 | VEHICLE INTERIOR-EXTERIOR STRUCTURE - A vehicle interior-exterior structure of the present invention is equipped with a main body formed from a resin foam material, a covering formed from a resilient material to cover the main body, and a void formed between the main body and the covering. The vehicle interior-exterior structure is also equipped with a front bumper cover supported by a vehicle body and a pressure sensor that outputs a signal corresponding to the internal pressure of the void. A reaction force is obtained from the main body when a colliding body collides with the location where the void is positioned in the front bumper and the void undergoes compression deformation. The degrees of freedom for the placement position of the void, namely for the placement position of an impact detection region, can accordingly be raised. | 01-10-2013 |
20130024073 | COLLISION DAMAGE MITIGATION SYSTEM OF VEHICLE AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - Disclosed are a collision damage mitigation system of a vehicle and a control method thereof. The collision damage mitigation system includes a forward sensor to detect a distance and relative speed between an owner's vehicle and a vehicle in front thereof, an electronic control unit to judge a degree of collision risk based on a Time-To-Collision (TTC) value upon receiving sensor information transmitted from the forward sensor, the TTC value being obtained by dividing the distance between the owner's vehicle and the vehicle in front thereof by the relative speed therebetewen, and to control implementation of at least one of collision warning, vehicle control, and inflation of an air bag based on the judged degree of collision risk, and an air bag drive unit to inflate the air bag, immediately before vehicle collision, in response to an air bag inflation signal from the electronic control unit. | 01-24-2013 |
20130024074 | VEHICLE HAVING A SEAT BELT SYSTEM - A vehicle is provided that includes at least one vehicle seat, which has a backrest, the inclination of which can be adjusted, and a control device, by means of which the backrest can be controlled to a lying position having a greater angle of inclination at the request of a seat user. The control device has a signal connection to a monitoring device, which detects at least one belt parameter, by means of which it can be determined whether a flawless belt course of a safety belt being worn by a seat user is ensured in the lying position. | 01-24-2013 |
20130035827 | TECHNIQUE FOR ENSURING SAFE TRAVEL OF A VEHICLE OR SAFETY OF AN OCCUPANT THEREIN - Vehicle with an occupant safety system includes an occupant safety system designed to reduce injury to an occupant during an accident involving the vehicle and a processor coupled to the safety system and that receives at least one inertial property of the vehicle and information about a portion of a road ahead of the vehicle in its travel direction. If the processor determines, based on the at least one inertial property and the information, that the vehicle is unlikely to safely travel that portion of the road, the processor initiates action to ensure safe travel of the vehicle or safety of the occupant. The inertial property of the vehicle may be provided by an inertial measurement unit (IMU) that measures acceleration in three orthogonal directions and angular velocity about three orthogonal axes, all at a substantially common location. The occupant safety system may include one or more inflatable airbags. | 02-07-2013 |
20130041558 | Method and Apparatus for Vehicle Hardware Theft Prevention - A computer-implemented method includes determining that an infotainment system has been activated. The method further includes accessing a vehicle network containing at least a unique vehicle identifier. The method additionally includes comparing the unique vehicle identifier to a stored vehicle identifier. The method further includes permitting access to the infotainment system only if the unique vehicle identifier matches the stored vehicle identifier. | 02-14-2013 |
20130041559 | SEATBELT DEVICE - In this seatbelt device, when a lock release determining device determines that a lock has been released, and a command for driving a motor is output while a wind-up operation is performed by the motor to release the lock, and a priority of the command is equal to or higher than a predetermined level, a control device controls the motor so as to apply tension to a webbing. | 02-14-2013 |
20130054093 | MOTOR VEHICLE - A motor vehicle includes a restraint system controlled by a control device, a storage device storing control information for controlling the restraint system, and a computing device. The computing device determines before a collision of the vehicle with a collision object first collision information relating to an impending collision, and determines during an actual collision of the vehicle second collision information relating to the actual collision. The motor vehicle further includes a comparison device producing a comparison result by comparing the first collision information with the second collision information. The control information stored in the storage device is selected when the comparison result indicates that the first collision information is validated in relation to the second collision information, and standard control information is selected in the absence of validation. The restraint system is then controlled with the stored control information or the standard control information, respectively. | 02-28-2013 |
20130054094 | REGULATION METHOD FOR A CONTROLLABLE ENERGY ABSORBER - The invention relates to a method for regulating the current flow of a coil that controls the viscosity of a magnetorheological fluid of a controllable energy absorber in a steering system for a motor vehicle, wherein during an accident the energy absorber acts as a hydraulic damper between two parts movable with respect to one another, whose damping force is determined by the current flow through the magnetic coil, wherein the following steps are provided:
| 02-28-2013 |
20130060428 | CLOSED-LOOP CONTROL METHOD FOR AN ENERGY ABSORBER - Closed-loop control of an energy absorber acting as a damper between two parts that are movable relative to one another. A damping force of the energy absorber, or damper, can be adjusted by way of the change in the viscosity of a magnetorheological fluid (MRF), which change can be influenced by a magnetic field of a coil. According to the method it is possible to decelerate an impact or a movement with the lowest possible forces in order to minimize possible consequential damage/loading by way of setting as constant a deceleration as possible, as small a deceleration as possible, by way of using the entire available deceleration travel, and low or zero residual speed at the end of the deceleration travel independently of the moving mass or speed. | 03-07-2013 |
20130066525 | VEHICLE SHUT-DOWN FUNCTIONALITY FOR PEPS-EQUIPPED VEHICLES - A vehicle comprises a plurality of control module structures. A first control module structure is configured for determining a current motive mode of the vehicle. A second control module structure is configured for determining information indicating that a driver of the vehicle has left the vehicle unattended while the vehicle is in a motive-enabled mode. A third control module structure is configured for causing a secure idle mode to be implemented as a function of determining the information indicating that the driver of the vehicle has left the vehicle unattended while the vehicle is in the motive-enabled mode. Implementing the secure idle mode can include inhibiting the vehicle from being driveable until a driver access code is successfully received and authenticated by the vehicle. | 03-14-2013 |
20130073148 | METHOD OF OPTIMIZING THRESHOLD FOR AN AIRBAG SUPPRESSION SYSTEM IN A VEHICLE - A method is presented of optimizing an airbag suppression threshold for an airbag suppression system in a vehicle. The method includes defining a first value as the airbag suppression threshold such that deployment of an airbag is suppressed above the first value. Next, one or more factors indicative of a presence of a child restraint seat in the vehicle seat are determined. The airbag suppression threshold is set to a predefined second value when each of the factors are met. The factors include determining whether a locking feature in a set belt webbing retractor is in a first state configured to prevent withdrawal of the seat belt webbing. Other factors may include determining whether a speed of the vehicle is within a predetermined speed range and whether a load applied to the vehicle seat is within a predetermined seatload range. | 03-21-2013 |
20130073149 | Methods and Devices for Controlling a Precrash Safety System in a Motor Vehicle - In a method for controlling at least one reversible occupant protection measure of a precrash safety system, in particular a reversible belt tensioner, a plurality of input signals are received, wherein the input signals indicate a potential risk of an accident. The input signals are mapped onto a plurality of different precrash severity indicators. Each precrash severity indicator indicates an expected probability and/or severity of the accident. The precrash severity indicators are additionally filtered such that upon occurrence of a precrash severity indicator, a subsequent precrash severity indicator is suppressed for a period of time. Then, the at least one reversible occupant protection measure, for example, the belt tensioning, is triggered as a function of the filtered precrash severity indicators. | 03-21-2013 |
20130079994 | ACTUATION OF AN ACTIVE DEVICE OF A VEHICLE UNDER BRAKING - Early actuation of an active device of a vehicle (e.g., a seat belt tensioner) is provided by applying rate of change of brake pressure to monitored brake pressure, so as to produce a modified brake pressure characteristic which is advanced in time. The active device is actuated at a brake pressure threshold. | 03-28-2013 |
20130079995 | DUAL-CHAMBER IMPACT DETECTOR - An impact detection system has two chambers disposed adjacent to one another. The two chambers have opposing tapered shapes, so that an impact anywhere along them will create a different pressure wave or pulse in each chamber. A pressure sensor module incorporating two pressure sensors is disposed at one end of the dual-channel unit, and comparison of the signals from the sensors can be used to discriminate both the location and severity of a pedestrian impact. | 03-28-2013 |
20130096779 | MOTOR VEHICLE WITH DRIVING SAFETY FEATURE - A motor vehicle including at least one driving safety system which provides a safety feature during travel, and a control device, wherein the control device is configured to determine a first information commensurate with the proper functioning of the at least one driving safety system and to actuate at least a driver side device for adjusting the seat position and/or at least a driver side belt tensioner when the at least one driving safety system malfunctions. | 04-18-2013 |
20130096780 | METHOD OF ACTUATING EXTERNAL ACTIVE SAFETY SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE - A method of actuating an external active safety system for a vehicle is used for cushioning the impact on the vehicle generated in an accident to effectively reduce injury and death as well as vehicle damage rates after an accident. The present invention mainly installs multiple sets of shock absorption devices (for example, airbags) outside the vehicle, for example, on front and rear bumpers, respectively, and the sets of shock absorption devices is able to function in advance in a segmental manner, so that the shock absorption devices installed outside the vehicle function before and during a collision in a segmental manner, so as to cushion an impact on the vehicle body when impacting or being impacted, and the shock absorption devices have an automatic release function, which, when activated, automatically releases an inflated condition of airbags in a very short time. | 04-18-2013 |
20130110354 | DATA RECORDING APPARATUS FOR VEHICLE | 05-02-2013 |
20130116892 | APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR SECURITY OF VEHICLES - A vehicle has a security and anti-theft system that senses movement of the vehicle in a forward or backward direction when the vehicle is in a locked state, such as by detecting wheel rotation. Upon this detection, the security system signals the motor to counteract the wheel movement by rotating one or more wheels in the opposite direction of the direction of wheel rotation detected until the wheel rotation is no longer detected. The security and anti-theft system may determine whether the vehicle is in a locked state by detecting whether a key is present and/or by one or more communications received by an external wireless device. | 05-09-2013 |
20130124050 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR OPERATING PRE-CRASH DEVICE FOR VEHICLE - A pre-crash operating device for a vehicle includes a scanning sensor unit for scanning objects around the vehicle by using laser, a sensor unit of the vehicle for sensing driving information including a velocity, an acceleration, an steering angle, yaw rate and a brake pressure, a safety device unit to be actuated prior to a collision and to protect occupant, and a control unit for computing an offset value and a relative velocity between the vehicle and the object by using the driving information from the scanning unit and the sensor unit of the vehicle, thereby selecting an object as an imminent collision object and actuating the safety device when a predicted collision time induced from the relative velocity of the imminent collision object is within a predetermined time. | 05-16-2013 |
20130124051 | CONTROL UNIT FOR OPERATING A SAFETY SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE, AND METHOD FOR OPERATING SUCH A SAFETY SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE - A control unit and a method for operating a safety system for a vehicle are proposed. A step-up converter configured as a switching converter is provided. The step-up converter converts an input voltage, which is derived from a vehicle battery voltage, into a higher charging voltage at its output. In addition, at least one energy reserve storage is provided which is charged via the charging voltage for operating the safety system in the case of autonomous operation. At least one step-down converter is operated inversely with respect to the step-up converter, the at least one step-down converter converting down the charging voltage or a voltage which is output by the at least one energy reserve storage. | 05-16-2013 |
20130131928 | Rear End Advanced Collision Technology - A method of controlling stability of a vehicle comprises monitoring vehicle information with an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit determines if a rear collision from a second vehicle approaching from a rear direction is likely. A first response signal is sent to at least one vehicle system from the electronic control unit prior to the rear collision. The at least one vehicle system changes state based upon the first response signal to prepare the vehicle for the rear collision. | 05-23-2013 |
20130131929 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING WHEN TO DEPLOY A VEHICLE SAFETY SYSTEM - A system and method for determining when to deploy a vehicle safety system includes a processor and inertial sensor. The inertial sensor has a filtered output and an unfiltered or lightly filtered output. The unfiltered or lightly filtered output is in communication with the processor and provides inertial information relating to the vehicle. The filtered output of the inertial sensor is in communication with a vehicle stability control system. The processor is further configured to monitor the unfiltered or lightly filtered output of the inertial sensor and determine if the inertial information indicates that the vehicle has been involved in a collision. If the vehicle has been involved in a collision, the processor is configured to deploy a vehicle safety system. | 05-23-2013 |
20130131930 | STROLLERS FOR PREVENTING HARM TO AN INFANT WHEN AN ACCIDENTAL EVENT OCCURS TO THE STROLLER - Strollers are provided for preventing harm to an infant when an accidental event occurs to the strollers. In one embodiment, a stroller is provided to include a wheelbase containing a set of wheels; a detachable seat attached onto the wheelbase, wherein an infant sits on the seat; an accelerometer attached to the wheelbase, wherein the accelerometer detects any flip over of the stroller; a bag filled with helium that is being attached to the seat; a GPS associated with the seat, and an antenna configured to transmit communication signals. | 05-23-2013 |
20130151082 | Method and Apparatus for a Priority Based Processing System - A method for processing messages sent between multiple software applications in a vehicle comprises generating an outgoing message based on a received message. The received message includes an application generated message, a user generated message, or a sensor generated message in the vehicle. The method associates communication managers with software applications in the vehicle, and the communication managers include priority managers that assign a high priority value to messages that relate to vehicle safety, crash mitigation, collision threat, collision avoidance, or crash indication. The priority managers compare priority values of the outgoing messages and rank the importance of the outgoing messages. The method uses the communication managers to attach a message label to high priority messages labeling them as “new”. The new messages are immediately transmitted before the lower priority messages through the communication managers. | 06-13-2013 |
20130151083 | WASTE COLLECTION VEHICLE AND METHOD FOR MONITORING SAFETY OF VEHICLE - A method for monitoring safety of a waste collection vehicle, a digital image is captured by an image capturing device positioned on the waste collection vehicle. The method detects a person in the digital image, and controls a safety device to cut of power being supplied to the waste collection vehicle if the person has been detected. The method further outputs alarm messages by lighting one or more signal lamps of the waste collection vehicle. | 06-13-2013 |
20130158809 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ESTIMATING REAL-TIME VEHICLE CRASH PARAMETERS - The disclosure relates to vehicle safety systems, more particularly relates to method to determined real-time crash parameters of the vehicle. A method of estimating real-time vehicle crash parameters, the method determining internal vehicle crash parameters, including determining vehicle-related inputs related to crash parameters; calculating real-time vehicle-related crash parameters by comparing the vehicle-related inputs to predetermined crash parameters; and determining occupant-related crash parameters; determining external crash parameters, including obtaining information related to nearby vehicles; obtaining information related to nearby infrastructure; and calculating likelihood of collision with the nearby vehicles or the infrastructure; and identifying appropriate measures for mitigating occupant injury and vehicle damage, based on feasibility of crash countermeasures application. | 06-20-2013 |
20130166152 | Geographic Reference Detection and Performance Modification - Location information may be received and a location of a machine may be determined based on the location information. Once the location of the machine is determined, a performance characteristic of the machine may be modified based on the location of the machine. | 06-27-2013 |
20130166153 | VEHICLE TRAVEL CONTROL DEVICE - To more reliably realize both improvement in fuel economy at the time of travelling of a vehicle and maintenance operation, a vehicle travel control for performing control at the time of travelling of the vehicle starts an engine when activation of an actuator of a pre-crash safety system is predicted when an engine is stopped causing a vehicle, which travels by power generated by the engine, to travel through inertia in an aim of reducing fuel consumption amount. Power is thus generated in an alternator arranged in the engine, so that supply amount of electricity can be increased. | 06-27-2013 |
20130179041 | CRASH STRUCTURE FOR THE ABSORPTION OF CRASH ENERGY AND METHOD FOR ADJUSTING THE RIGIDITY OF A CRASH STRUCTURE - A crash structure for absorbing crash energy is provided for installation in a vehicle front, in which an actuating system is provided which sets a rigidity of the crash structure as a function of a signal characterizing a crash. Furthermore, the crash structure has a sensor system which outputs this signal. Moreover, the crash structure has two modules that are connected to each other, the connection breaking as of a predetermined force, so that then the at least two modules move with respect to each other, until at least one stop has been reached. The signal indicates the breaking and the reaching of the stop. | 07-11-2013 |
20130184939 | COLLISION SAFETY CONTROL APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR VEHICLE - A vehicular collision safety control apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes an image acquirer for acquiring an image of a face of an occupant of the vehicle, a face position acquirer for acquiring a position of the face in a three-dimensional space based on the image, a distance calculator for calculating a distance between the acquired position of the face and a reference position located in front of the face, an airbag activator for increasing airbag pressure to a predetermined pressure in response to impact detection, and a setting device for setting a waiting time from the impact detection to start of airbag inflation, so that as the calculated distance is smaller, a pressure-reach time for the airbag pressure to reach the predetermined pressure is smaller. | 07-18-2013 |
20130184940 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A PEDESTRIAN PROTECTION SYSTEM AND A MOTOR VEHICLE - A method for operating a pedestrian protection system in a motor vehicle for reducing the severity of an accident in a frontal collision with pedestrians includes evaluating the measurement data from at least one detection device depending on at least one trigger condition, wherein the trigger condition includes a height criterion evaluating whether a height of a collision object determined from measurement data from an optical detection device exceeds a height threshold value. | 07-18-2013 |
20130184941 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PROTECTING A VEHICLE OCCUPANT IN THE EVENT OF AN IMPACT - A method and a device for protecting a vehicle occupant. In the event of an impact in which the vehicle occupant is moved in an impact direction prior to the impact. During a first phase, the vehicle occupant is stabilized by a first actuator as a function of a pre-crash signal. During a second phase, which follows the first phase, the vehicle occupant is moved by a second actuator in the impact direction as a function of a signal characterizing a starting or an inevitable crash. | 07-18-2013 |
20130190990 | SAFETY INTEGRATED SEATING SYSTEMS - A safety integrated seating system (SISS) is disclosed and includes a lap belt pretensioner component that simultaneously cinches two portions of a lap belt upon detection of an event and a shoulder belt pretensioner component that simultaneously cinches two shoulder belts upon detection of the event. | 07-25-2013 |
20130197764 | METHOD FOR CONTROL OF SEAT MOUNTED AIRBAG IN A SEAT WITH ARMREST - An airbag is mounted in a vehicle seating system having both the airbag and a pivoting armrest on the same side of the occupant seating position. The armrest pivots between a vertical stored position and a horizontal armrest position. The deployment of the airbag is controlled by deployment logic including: sensing the position of the pivoting armrest to determine the vertical position or the horizontal position; sensing vehicle conditions indicative of a need to deploy the airbag mounted on the seat back; and not deploying the airbag mounted on the seat back if the armrest is in the vertical stored position. | 08-01-2013 |
20130204495 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING AND REGULATING A VEHICLE - A system and method for monitoring and regulating a vehicle includes a communications device to provide remote communication with the vehicle, and a vehicle restriction control module for monitoring and regulating at least one vehicle operation parameter. The vehicle restriction control module is in communication with the communications device and is programmable by an authorized user when accessed by an embedded security code to receive restriction instructions in accordance with a driving restriction imposed on a driver by the authorized user. The system provides information about the at least one vehicle operation parameter to the authorized user. | 08-08-2013 |
20130204496 | VEHICLE STABILIZATION IN THE EVENT OF LARGE DETONATION - A vehicle, apparatus, method and computer program are provided. The vehicle comprises: vehicle stabilizing means for ejecting at least one non-gaseous mass; means for detecting an explosion local to the vehicle; and control means for controlling, in response to detection of an explosion local to the vehicle, the vehicle stabilizing means to eject at least one non-gaseous mass in order to apply a force to the vehicle and stabilize the vehicle in response to the explosion. | 08-08-2013 |
20130218419 | METHOD, COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT AND SYSTEM FOR UTILIZING VEHICLE SAFETY EQUIPMENT - A method is disclosed for determining whether it is necessary to utilize safety equipment of a vehicle. The method includes detecting an impending impact of an object with a vehicle's windscreen by obtaining data concerning the object from a vehicle-mounted vision sensor, analysing the data to determine whether the object will impact the windscreen, and activating the safety equipment only if the windscreen impact is imminent. | 08-22-2013 |
20130226413 | Vehicle Safety System Optimization Using RFID Occupant Identification - A non-contact RFID reader reads a code contained on an RFID tag carried by a driver of a vehicle. The code is assigned to a specific individual expected to operate the vehicle. An electronic module in the vehicle contains a data file uniquely associated with the code, and the data file contains physical characteristics of the driver that may be pertinent to proper functioning of safety systems of the vehicle, such as weight, height, age, and sex. Performance parameters of restraints and/or other safety systems, such as an airbag associated with the driver's seating position are adapted in accordance with the physical characteristics in the data file. The RFID reader may read multiple tags on board the vehicle, so that restraints for multiple seating positions in addition to the driver's seat may be adapted to the individual occupying those positions. | 08-29-2013 |
20130238197 | SUB-FRAME DETACHMENT THROUGH EXPLODING BOLTS - A sub-frame in a vehicle includes a sensor, which is configured to sense an occurrence of a vehicular crash. By being connected to the sensor, a controller is adapted to receive a signal from the sensor. The controller further functions to process the signal and provide an output to at least one fastener, the fastener configured to fasten the sub-frame to the vehicle's underbody. The fastener includes at least one chamber filled with an explosive charge, where the explosive charge is configured to explode and detach the sub-frame from the vehicle's underbody, upon receiving the output. | 09-12-2013 |
20130245894 | DRIVER ASSISTANCE SYSTEM - A driver assistance system for a motor vehicle encompasses at least one foot sensor for monitoring the foot of a driver, a control unit for deciding on a safety measure based on a detection result of the foot sensor, and an environmental sensor to detect an approach toward an outside obstacle, and is set up to only implement the safety measure if a detection result of the environmental sensor indicates a danger that contact will be made with the obstacle. | 09-19-2013 |
20130253774 | SENSOR INTERFACE TRANSCEIVER - Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a sensor interface module that selectively varies the resistance of an RLC network based upon one or more properties of exchanges data signals between one or more sensors and a controller (e.g., an ECU). The disclosed sensor interface module has a closed control loop that receives modulated sensor current signals from one or more sensors and that regulates a modulated output voltage that is provided to the one or more sensors. A protocol processor detects one or more properties of the exchanged voltage and current signals. The protocol processor provides the detected properties to an impedance controller, which selectively varies the value of an impedance element within an RLC network, located between the sensor interface module and the one or more sensor, to adjust the one or more properties in a manner that improves performance of the sensor interface module. | 09-26-2013 |
20130253775 | COLLISION DETERMINATION APPARATUS - A collision determination apparatus receives sensor data, which includes a sensor identifier, from multiple sensors that are of at least two different sensor types. Based on the sensor data from each of the sensors, a main determination unit determines whether to operate a protection apparatus. In parallel, a redundant determination unit determines whether to operate the protection apparatus based on at least one sensor data and by switching sub-determination units that have different determination logics according to a sensor type. In particular, the sensor identifier includes a sensor type information that allows the redundant determination unit to determine the sensor type of the sensor that transmitted the sensor data, and select the appropriate sub-determination unit. Therefore, based on the sensor type information in the sensor data, the same collision determination apparatus can be used in different vehicles that have respectively different number of sensors and different sensor types. | 09-26-2013 |
20130253776 | LOAD MONITORING SYSTEM - A load monitoring system for a mobile work platform including a load cell having at least one strain gauge and a sensing circuit connected to receive a strain signal from the strain gauge. The sensing circuit includes a first sensing device for sensing the strain in the strain gauge, and a second sensing device for sensing a negative shift in the strain signal. | 09-26-2013 |
20130253777 | VEHICLE ON-BOARD UNIT - A vehicle on-board unit communicates with vehicles to increase the accuracy of lane centerline determination. The on-board unit includes a communication system and a controller. The controller has a vehicle path history generating component, a lane centerline determining component, and a message processing component. The vehicle path history generating section generates a host vehicle path history data. The lane centerline determining section receives a preceding vehicle message including at least a preceding vehicle centerline data from the communication system and determines a host vehicle lane centerline data indicative of a centerline of the lane based on the host vehicle path history data and the preceding vehicle centerline data. The message processing component produces a host vehicle message including the host vehicle lane centerline data, the communication system being configured to broadcast the host vehicle message. | 09-26-2013 |
20130253778 | IMPACT SENSING AND IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM FOR PEDESTRIAN PROTECTION DEVICE - A system for identifying an object impacting a vehicle bumper during a collision. The system receives acceleration values from each of a plurality of sensors and calculates a center strength value based on the acceleration values. The center strength value is indicative of the amount of force that is applied to the center of the vehicle bumper. The system then determines a preliminary impact location on the vehicle bumper based at least in part on the acceleration values. A normalized intrusion value is calculated based on the center strength value, the impact location, and a bumper stiffness factor. The bumper stiffness factor is indicative of the stiffness of the bumper at the impact location. The system then identifies the object impacting the vehicle bumper based at least in part on the normalized intrusion value. | 09-26-2013 |
20130261900 | OCCUPANT PROTECTION SYSTEM - An occupant protection system is used to protect an occupant from vertical acceleration of a vehicle. The system includes a sensor that detects when a vehicle is subjected to vertical acceleration and a lowering means for a vehicle seat. The seat lowering means actively lowers, or forces the seat in a generally downward direction based on a signal from the sensor. Also, a seat for a vehicle includes a support that may withstand a vertical acceleration of the vehicle, a sensor that may detect the vertical acceleration, and a seat lowering means. The seat is connected to the support, and the seat may slide in a downward direction relative to the support. The seat is lowered by the seat lowering means at least partly in response to a signal from the sensor. | 10-03-2013 |
20130275004 | ADAPTIVE HUMAN-MACHINE SYSTEM AND METHOD - An adaptive, human-machine-interaction, system and method for executing system-actions at times in accordance with performance times of past user-actions to either accommodate user habits or to modify user behavior. | 10-17-2013 |
20130289828 | OCCUPANT PROTECTION SYSTEM - In an occupant protection system, a controller includes first and second comparison portions, and an activation control portion. The first comparison portion compares a first detection result from a first acceleration detection portion with a first positive threshold value and a first negative threshold value and outputs a first comparison signal when the first detection result is larger than the first positive threshold value or smaller than the first negative threshold value. The second comparison portion compares a second detection result from a second acceleration detection portion with a second positive threshold value and a second negative threshold value and outputs a second comparison signal when the second detection result is larger than the second positive threshold value or smaller than the second negative threshold value. The activation control portion activates one of side occupant protection devices based on positive or negative of the first and second detection results. | 10-31-2013 |
20130304328 | TTG for Body Cooling and Driver Alertness - A system for keeping a driver alert by employing a thermal grill that includes warm and cool regions. The disclosed system includes an alert module that configures the thermal grill to a heat sink configuration and a heat source configuration. The thermal grill in the heat sink configuration extracts heat from the driver's body, lowers the driver's temperature, and keeps the driver alert. The thermal grill in the heat source configuration raises the driver's temperature and avoids vasoconstriction. The alert module also monitors at least one of the driver's biomarkers like blood flow in the driver's fingers. The alert module monitors the driver's biomarkers to determine when to reconfigure the thermal grill to a configuration other than the heat sink configuration. For example, if the monitored biomarkers indicate that the driver is in a vasoconstricted state, the alert module can reconfigure the thermal grill. | 11-14-2013 |
20130311046 | MOTOR VEHICLE HAVING A CENTRALIZED DOOR LOCKING SYSTEM - A motor vehicle has a plurality of doors, each secured by a lock, peripheral control units, each connected to one of said locks, for sending a command signal to an actuator of the lock, a central control unit for sending command signals to the actuators of the locks, and an accident detector. If the accident detector has detected an accident, at least one of the actuators is switchable from a central operating mode in which it executes command signals of the central control unit and its associated peripheral control unit into a peripheral operating mode in which it executes only command signals from its peripheral control unit. | 11-21-2013 |
20130311047 | Data Mining in a Digital Map Database to Identify Intersections Located at Hill Bottoms and Enabling Precautionary Actions in a Vehicle - Disclosed is a feature for a vehicle that enables taking precautionary actions in response to conditions on the road network around or ahead of the vehicle, in particular, an intersection located at the bottom of a hill. A database that represents the road network is used to determine locations where an intersection of roads is located at the bottom of a hill and then, precautionary action data is added to the database to indicate such locations. A precautionary action system installed in a vehicle uses this database, or a database derived therefrom, in combination with a positioning system to take a precautionary action as the vehicle approaches such a location. | 11-21-2013 |
20130317701 | OCCUPANT PROTECTION DEVICE - An occupant protection device includes (i) an electronic control unit having a control board, (ii) a parallel connection bus having two lines, (iii) multiple satellite sensors connected to the parallel connection bus, (iv) a squib connected to the parallel connection bus, and (v) an accident prevention diode located close to the squib. The control board includes an interface and a processor. Each of the satellite sensors includes a distributed system interface which is located between the two lines. The parallel connection bus is supplied with a sensor drive voltage. The electronic control unit starts to operate at least one of the occupant protection portions based on a result of the collision determination by the control board. | 11-28-2013 |
20130338880 | VEHICLE INTERLOCK WITH LOCATION DETECTION - A system for use with a motor vehicle, the system including a gas sampler device including a wireless communication subsystem and an input element configured to receive a gas sample. The system further includes an interlock device including a second wireless communication subsystem and a computing device configured to: determine a location of the gas sampler device within the motor vehicle based on proximity of the wireless communication subsystem, and activate an alarm event in dependence of the location of the gas sampler device within the motor vehicle. | 12-19-2013 |
20130338881 | APPROACHING VEHICLE DETECTION DEVICE - An approaching vehicle detection device includes an approaching vehicle detection unit | 12-19-2013 |
20140032053 | Collision Warning System Using Line of Sight - A collision warning system for a motor vehicle is disclosed. The collision warning system includes a first mode and a second mode. The system operates in the first mode when there is line of sight with a target vehicle. The system operates in the second mode where there is no line of sight with the target vehicle. | 01-30-2014 |
20140032054 | Integrated Vehicular System for Low Speed Collision Avoidance - A method of providing range measurements for use with a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of: a) visually sensing ( | 01-30-2014 |
20140039764 | CONTROLLER PRE-SHIPMENT INSPECTION METHOD - A pre-inspection method for inspecting an airbag controller prior to shipping the controller as a finished product is provided. The controller has a wiring board, a microcomputer, a memory, and a connector to operate the microcomputer according to a control program that is written into the memory. | 02-06-2014 |
20140052341 | PRESSURE AND ACCELERATION BASED PEDESTRIAN IMPACT SENSOR ASSEMBLY FOR MOTOR VEHICLES - A sensor assembly for a motor vehicle adapted for sensing impacts including pedestrian impacts. The sensor assembly integrates functions of pressure based sensors used in one embodiment with a compressible tube extending laterally across the front surface of the vehicle and the outboard front boundary areas of the front end of the vehicle. Both acceleration and pressure based sensors are mounted into an integrated sensor housing which is mounted in a desired position at the vehicle front fascia front boundary areas. The system optimizes pressure based sensing while providing acceleration based sensing at the lateral boundary areas where supporting structure does not enable pressure based sensing. The invention further including sensor arrangements including discrete pressure and acceleration sensors deployed for detecting pedestrian impacts at the center and front boundary areas of the vehicle front end. | 02-20-2014 |
20140052342 | WARNING SYSTEM FOR DETECTING INFANT SEAT BUCKLE SECUREMENT - A child seat-vehicle safety system for a passenger vehicle, including at least one child seat buckle signaling device, which includes a buckling detector, and a buckling detector for signaling the buckle status, and a portable controller device that attaches to the On-Board Diagnostic II (OBD-II) port of the vehicle, for detecting the status of the vehicle ignition system, receiving the buckle status signal, and generating an alarm signal in response to a predetermined condition of the ignition status and the buckle status signal. The portable controller device also can include an alarm that is responsive to the alarm signal. The invention includes a method of warning a vehicle operator that a child has been left buckled in a vehicle after the vehicle's ignition system has been turned off, including detecting the vehicle ignition status selected from “on” and “off” through the OBD-II port, receiving a buckle status signal transmitted from the child seat buckle signaling device, and generating an alarm signal when the ignition status is “off” and the buckle status signal is ‘buckled’ beyond a predetermined grace or timeout period. | 02-20-2014 |
20140058631 | Method and Apparatus for Vehicle Hardware Theft Prevention - A computer-implemented method includes determining that an infotainment system has been activated. The method further includes accessing a vehicle network containing at least a unique vehicle identifier. The method additionally includes comparing the unique vehicle identifier to a stored vehicle identifier. The method further includes permitting access to the infotainment system only if the unique vehicle identifier matches the stored vehicle identifier. | 02-27-2014 |
20140074359 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ANIMAL CRASH AVOIDANCE - A safety system for a vehicle is utilized as an animal detection system. By using an infrared camera and other sensors and/or cameras the safety system may detect an object in an area around the vehicle. A controller analyzes data from the sensors and/or cameras and determines if the object is an animal. If the object is determined to be an animal the controller initiates a response to avoid or minimize the chance of impacting the animal. A warning signal(s) is provided to the vehicle operator. A deterrent signal(s) is used to deter the animal from approaching the vehicle. Also, the animal detection system may send a signal to at least one other safety system for the vehicle to provide a crash avoidance response and/or to provide a crash preparation response. | 03-13-2014 |
20140081526 | METHOD AND CONTROL UNIT FOR TRIGGERING AT LEAST ONE PASSENGER PROTECTION MEANS - A method for triggering at least one passenger protection means. The method includes a step of reading in a control signal which contains a command for carrying out an activation of the passenger protection means. Furthermore, method includes a step of releasing an activation of the passenger protection means as a response to the read-in control signal. Furthermore, the method includes a step of evaluating the control signal for the identification of the command for carrying out the activation of the passenger protection means and activating the passenger protection means as a response to an identified command for carrying out the activation of the passenger protection means to trigger the passenger protection means. | 03-20-2014 |
20140142812 | AIRBAG CONTORL UNIT - An airbag ECU includes a voltage detection section that detects a voltage in a power supply supplied to other control units (for example, front passenger seat occupancy sensing ECU). In addition, the airbag ECU includes a timer that measures an elapsed time after the voltage detected by the voltage detection section falls in a preset voltage range and a recording section that records the elapsed time measured by the timer on a memory when a failure of the other control units is detected. | 05-22-2014 |
20140156145 | EXTERNAL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT METHOD AND SYSTEM - Disclosed herein is an external airbag deployment system and method of determining whether to deploy an external airbag. The method includes setting, by a controller, a detection area that has a predetermined range and selecting an object that has a shortest Time To External Airbag (EAB) (TTE), from objects detected in the detection area, as a dangerous object, the TTE being a remaining time until the object collides with an airbag cushion when the external airbag is predicted to be deployed. When the dangerous object has a relative velocity greater than a first reference, an overlap greater than a second reference, and a TTE less than a third reference, the dangerous object may be selected as a target object, to cause the external airbag to be deployed. | 06-05-2014 |
20140156146 | EXTERNAL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - Disclosed herein is an external airbag deployment method and system. In the method, a detection area located in front of a vehicle is set. A target object is selected from a plurality of objects detected in the detection area by comparing a relative velocity, an overlap, and a TTE, which is a remaining time until each object collides with an airbag cushion when an external airbag is predicted to be deployed. The method further includes determining whether the vehicle is stable by comparing a predicted yaw rate of the vehicle with a measured yaw rate and determining whether a relative velocity and an overlap, predicted at a time when the target object is predicted to collide with the vehicle, are greater than predetermined levels. The external airbag is deployed when the vehicle is stable, and the predicted relative velocity and overlap are greater than the predetermined levels. | 06-05-2014 |
20140156147 | EXTERNAL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT METHOD AND SYSTEM - Disclosed herein is an external airbag deployment system and method. The method includes determining, by a controller, whether to deploy an external airbag. The controller may be configured to set a detection area having a predetermined range and track physical characteristics of objects entering the detection area to update the physical characteristics at intervals of a measurement period of a front sensor. In addition, the controller may be configured to calculate predicted physical characteristics at intervals of a unit time during each measurement period. Based on the calculated physical characteristics, the controller may be configured to determine whether to deploy the external airbag at intervals of the unit time. | 06-05-2014 |
20140163824 | EXTERNAL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT METHOD AND SYSTEM - Disclosed herein is an external airbag deployment method of determining whether to deploy an external airbag. The method includes setting, by a controller, a detection area that has a predetermined range and tracking physical characteristics of objects entering the detection area. The detection area is a predetermined area located in front of a vehicle and is set by the controller based on a full deployment time of the external airbag and a relative velocity upon colliding with another object. | 06-12-2014 |
20140163825 | EXTERNAL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT METHOD AND SYSTEM - Disclosed herein is an external airbag deployment method. The method includes setting, by a controller, a detection area located in front. In addition, the method includes setting, by the controller, a target object from objects detected in the detection area, when an object has a relative velocity greater than a first reference, an overlap greater than a second reference, and a TTE less than a third reference, wherein TTE is a remaining time until the object collides with an airbag cushion when the external airbag is predicted to be deployed. Furthermore, the method includes determining, by the controller, whether a relative velocity and an overlap, predicted at a time when the target object is predicted to collide with the vehicle, are greater than predetermined levels and deploying the external airbag when the predicted relative velocity and overlap are greater than the predetermined levels. | 06-12-2014 |
20140188347 | Smart supplemental restraint and occupant classification system - A vehicle occupant detection means and weight responsive classification system operable for controlling a resistance of a supplemental restraint device, such that in an accident, an occupant of the vehicle impacts the supplemental restraint device without injury. The supplemental restraint device comprises advanced restraint system for a vehicle in association with a weight-sensing unit mounted to one or more seats positioned between the seat mounting frame and the floor means of the vehicle for sensing the weight of a sitting occupant and for classifying the occupant accordingly, a computerized system is provided for calculating an operating weight value corresponding to classified weight value, and an airbag system is provided, comprising one or more airbags in association with a deployment unit configured to inflate the airbags with a deployment force and acceleration that is proportionate to the operating weight value when a collision force is sensed above a predetermined collision force value by a collision sensor. | 07-03-2014 |
20140200772 | ENERGY ABSORBING SHIELD AND SYSTEM FOR SMALL URBAN VEHICLES - One variation includes a product including actuator system including an actuator connected to a shield; a control module for selectively actuating or deploying the actuator wherein the actuator may be moved from a first position to a second position in which the shield is extended a distance away from the first position. | 07-17-2014 |
20140200773 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR TRIGGERING A VEHICLE OCCUPANT PROTECTION MEANS, TRIGGERING SYSTEM AND VEHICLE - A device for triggering an occupant protection means of a vehicle has an environment sensor for monitoring a surrounding environment of the vehicle, the environment sensor being adapted so as to output an environment signal in response to an impending collision of the vehicle. The device further has a triggering device that is adapted to acquire, within a peripheral area of the vehicle, a physical quantity indicating a collision that has taken place, and to produce a collision signal based on the physical quantity, and that is adapted to make a triggering decision for the occupant protection means as a function of the environment signal and of the collision signal. | 07-17-2014 |
20140207338 | CUSTOMIZATION OF A VEHICLE - Devices, systems, and techniques are provided for customization a vehicle and the interior thereof. The customization can be based at least on customization themes associated with an occupant of the vehicle and/or the vehicle. In addition or in the alternative, the customization can be based at least on vehicular context of the occupants and the vehicle. A specific customization can be effected in response to a change in context of vehicle, and thus the vehicle can be dynamically customized in response to a specific vehicular context as the context is realized. The customization themes can integrate with an in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) system and/or one or more of in-cabin lighting, projection or other rendering features, or data streams. Customization can be accomplished via configuration of one or more customization components comprising sensors, rendering units, lighting fixtures, or control components. | 07-24-2014 |
20140207339 | MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD - Embodiments herein relate to a motor vehicle safety arrangement and method for positioning an occupant properly on a vehicle seat and restraining the occupant thus positioned in preparation of the vehicle potentially being subject to a rear-end collision. A safety belt is associated with the vehicle seat and an electric reversible safety belt retractor is associated with the safety belt. A rearward-looking detection system detects and classifies the collision risk for an approaching object. At least one sensor monitors one or more vehicle parameters. A control unit determines a driving state as critical or non-critical from the monitored vehicle parameters. The control unit controls the electric reversible safety belt retractor to apply a predetermined pullback force on the safety belt in response to the collision risk for an approaching object being classified as high within a predetermined time of an indicated critical driving state. | 07-24-2014 |
20140207340 | ADAPTIVE CRASH STRUCTURE FOR A VEHICLE AND ASSOCIATED VEHICLE - An adaptive crash structure for a vehicle includes a deformation element arranged in a region of a wheel housing of the vehicle, and an interruption system, wherein the deformation element and the interruption system are constructed so as to be able to change from a deactivated state to an activated state, wherein in the deactivated state the deformation element permits movement of a wheel housed in the wheel housing, and wherein in the activated state the deformation element causes the wheel to assume a predetermined position and the interruption system prevents a change of the position of the wheel to be transmitted to a steering wheel. | 07-24-2014 |
20140214279 | SEATBELT LOCKOUT SYSTEM - A seatbelt lockout system for seatbelt use compliance in a vehicle, comprising: an ignition switch, where the ignition switch controls ignition of an engine within the vehicle; a bladder placed in at least one vehicle seat, where the bladder detects pressure from the weight of an occupant; a seatbelt system associated with the at least one vehicle seat; plurality of sensors, including a bladder sensor and a seatbelt sensor, where the bladder sensor confirms the weigh of the occupant and the seatbelt sensor detects the engagement and non-engagement of the seatbelt system; and a computer control system, where the computer control system receives signals from the plurality of sensors. | 07-31-2014 |
20140214280 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PRESERVING SPACING AROUND A VEHICLE - An approach is provided to preserve spacing around a vehicle so as to enable movement of the vehicle from a stationary position, and to accommodate one or more lifestyle accessories that may be associated with the vehicle. The approach involves protecting the vehicle from one or more other vehicles or obstructions positioned, or moved into position, near the vehicle by deploying at least a portion of one or more load bearing members supported by a mounting member attached to the vehicle to a predetermined position within a range that includes a fully refracted position and a fully extended position. The approach also involves deploying the one or more load bearing members to a predetermined position and attaching one or more support members associated with the one or more lifestyle accessories to at least one of the one or more load bearing members. | 07-31-2014 |
20140214281 | ACTIVE BLAST COUNTERMEASURES - An explosion countermeasure system is provided including a first sensor device with a plurality of accelerometers configured to detect vertical acceleration of a vehicle; a countermeasure; a safe and arming device configured to impede activation of the countermeasure; and a processor in communication with the first sensor device and the safe and arming device. The processor may be configured to process acceleration signals received from the first sensor device and to make ready the safe and arming device and initiate the countermeasure based on results of processing the acceleration signals. Making ready the safe and arming device may be based on an initial acceleration exceeding a first threshold, and initiating the countermeasure may be based on the initial acceleration exceeding a second threshold and a velocity change exceeding a third threshold. | 07-31-2014 |
20140214282 | OCCUPANT SAFETY SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH OPTICAL FIBER GRID SHEET - An occupant safety system using an optical fiber grid sheet and a method thereof are provided. The occupant safety system applies light to optical fibers constituting an optical fiber grid which is attached to a moving body and in which the optical fibers are arranged in a grid pattern; receives the applied light through the optical fibers; grasps a location of impact on the moving body based on the received light receiving signals; and controls operations of safety devices provided in the moving body based on the grasped location of the impact. Accordingly, the occupant safety system can sense impacts on the moving body everywhere through the optical fiber grid, and can exactly grasp the location of the impact and can drive an appropriate safety device timely. Therefore, the occupant can be protected safely. | 07-31-2014 |
20140257643 | PARKING PAWL ENGAGEMENT CONTROL WITH FEEDBACK - A system and method for improving the consistency of a hybrid vehicle parking pawl engagement control. A hybrid vehicle includes a motor-generator, a planetary gear, a parking pawl, and a processor. The hybrid vehicle uses feedback to more accurately determine that the parking pawl is fully engaged. The parking pawl is applied to the planetary gear. The processor determines a target movement for the hybrid vehicle and commands a torque from the motor-generator to achieve the target movement. The processor determines that the parking pawl has fully engaged and locked the planetary gear. | 09-11-2014 |
20140277947 | APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING A SEAT OCCUPANCY - A seating determination apparatus includes a transition processing unit | 09-18-2014 |
20140277948 | SEAT BELT WARNING DEVICE - In a seatbelt warning apparatus, a control unit performs a transition process configured to transfer the mode to a baggage recognition mode on the condition that a load detection unit detects a load larger than a first load and smaller than a second load continuously for a preset time in the not-seated recognition mode, and to the not-seated recognition mode on the condition that the load detection unit detects a load smaller than a predetermined load continuously for a preset time in the baggage recognition mode, and a transfer time t | 09-18-2014 |
20140277949 | AIRBAG APPARATUS - An airbag apparatus connected with a battery includes activation circuits each of which has a squib and a high-side switching element, a safing switching element connected between the battery and the activation circuits, a safing switch control circuit controlling the safing switching element to provide a target voltage to the activation circuits, a terminal voltage acquiring circuit that acquires a terminal voltage of each squib, and a target voltage setting circuit that sets the target voltage. When a maximum-terminal voltage is lower than a reference voltage, the target voltage setting circuit sets the target voltage to be equal to the reference voltage. When the maximum-terminal voltage is higher than the reference voltage, the target voltage setting circuit sets the target voltage to correspond to the maximum-terminal voltage so that a reverse current is avoided in the high-side switching element. | 09-18-2014 |
20140277950 | EXTERNAL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT METHOD AND SYSTEM - Disclosed herein is an external airbag deployment method. The method includes setting, by a controller, a detection area located in front. In addition, the method includes setting, by the controller, a target object from objects detected in the detection area, when an object has a relative velocity greater than a first reference, an overlap greater than a second reference, and a TTE less than a third reference, wherein TTE is a remaining time until the object collides with an airbag cushion when the external airbag is predicted to be deployed. Furthermore, the method includes determining, by the controller, whether a relative velocity and an overlap, predicted at a time when the target object is predicted to collide with the vehicle, are greater than predetermined levels and deploying the external airbag when the predicted relative velocity and overlap are greater than the predetermined levels. | 09-18-2014 |
20140288780 | method and device for checking a sensor signal and for actuating a passenger protection means of a vehicle - A method for checking a sensor signal suitable for actuating a passenger protection arrangement of a vehicle. The method includes a step of carrying out a comparison between the sensor signal and at least one reference signal, repeatedly within a predetermined time interval, in order to obtain a plurality of comparison results, and a step of evaluating the sensor signal based on the plurality of comparison results, in order to detect a fault in the sensor signal. | 09-25-2014 |
20140288781 | OCCUPANT PROTECTION APPARATUS FOR VEHICLE - A vehicular occupant protection apparatus is provided, which includes: a controller for activating an occupant protector based on a detection result of a vehicle accident detector; a communication circuit for transmitting an accident data to a emergency call apparatus; and a backup circuit connected to the emergency call apparatus for supplying the controller with electric power from a backup battery. When the vehicle accident occurs, the controller performs power control in which the controller turns on the backup circuit and transmits the accident data to the emergency call apparatus by being supplied with the electric power from the backup battery, and turns off the backup circuit after transmitting the accident data to the emergency call apparatus. | 09-25-2014 |
20140288782 | APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING AN AIRBAG MODULE - An apparatus for controlling an airbag module in a vehicle cabin is provided that includes a control apparatus for triggering the airbag module, a plenoptic camera configured as a camera module that generates image data having depth information within a prespecifiable region in the vehicle cabin with the prespecifiable region comprising at least a first and a second partial region of a trigger region of the airbag module, and an evaluation device which determines on the basis of the image data whether an object, in particular a vehicle occupant, is located in the first or the second partial region and the control apparatus controls the airbag module in dependence on the position of the object. | 09-25-2014 |
20140288783 | BRAKE LIGHT CONTROL DEVICE - A brake light control device that generates a braking force, and is used with a brake device which can control the braking force according to a signal from a brake control unit regardless of the operation of a brake operator includes: a brake light switch that is inserted and arranged into an electrical connection path between a power supply and a brake light, and is opened and closed together with the operation of the brake operator; and a switching switch that is opened and closed in response to braking force control. The brake light control device further includes: a blinking switch that is connected in parallel to the switching switch; and a control unit that, when the brake light is required to be blinked, is configured to keep the switching switch in an OFF state, and blinks the brake light by repeatedly switching on and off the blinking switch. | 09-25-2014 |
20140297132 | OCCUPANT DETERMINATION APPARATUS USING LOAD SENSOR - A load sensor detects a load of an occupant on a seat of a vehicle and provides a load signal. A determination section determines a physical size of the occupant by classifying the load signal into a subject class among a plurality of classes ordered from small to large based on threshold loads and performs an inter-class transition of the subject class from a transition source class into a transition destination class based on change of the received load signal. When (i) both the transition source class and the transition destination class belong to an airbag-inflating class that enables inflating of an airbag, and, simultaneously, (ii) the transition destination class is smaller than the transition source class and immediately adjacent to the transition source class, the determination section makes the determined class remain in the transition source class. | 10-02-2014 |
20140297133 | AUTOMATIC CHILD LOCK DEVICE - An automatic child lock device includes an electrostatic sensor installed in a seat of a vehicle, for detecting electrostatic capacitance; a detection unit that applies AC voltage to the electrostatic sensor and detects a voltage value from a current generated in the electrostatic sensor in response to the application; an occupant judgment unit that judges that an occupant seated in the seat is a child when the detected voltage value is lower than or equal to a threshold, and judges that the occupant is an adult when the detected voltage value exceeds the threshold; a locking judgment unit that judges whether or not a child lock mechanism installed in a door is in a locked state; and a locking control unit that performs a control to lock the child lock mechanism when the occupant is a child and the child lock mechanism is not in the locked state. | 10-02-2014 |
20140303851 | FOUR-POINT SEAT BELT DEVICE - A four-point seat belt device includes: a right hip belt and left hip belt to press against the hip bone of a passenger: a right shoulder belt and a left shoulder belt to press against both shoulders: a drive unit to retract the right and left hip belts, and the right and left shoulder belts: an engagement detection unit to detect that the right and left hip belts and the right and left shoulder belts are engaged via a buckle: and a detection unit to detect that the right hip belt and the left hip belt are not making contact with the passenger. The drive unit retracts the right and left hip belts after the engagement detection unit detects an engagement and the detection unit detects that the right hip belt and left hip belt are not making contact with the passenger. | 10-09-2014 |
20140316659 | AIRBAG CONTROL APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AIRBAG DEVICE OF VEHICLE - In a method for controlling an airbag device of a vehicle, the vehicle includes a steering wheel equipped with a depth-sensing camera, a gyroscope, a drive device, and at least one airbag device. The airbag device includes at least one airbag. The depth-sensing camera captures a 3D scene image of a scene in front of the steering wheel while the vehicle is being driven. The 3D scene image according to a rotation angle of the steering wheel detected by the gyroscope. The 3D scene image is compared with each 3D model of the driver stored in a storage device to determine an actual position of the driver in the 3D scene image to determine whether the driver is in danger. The drive device is driven to unlock the at least one airbag of the airbag device and controls the airbag device to expand the at least one airbag. | 10-23-2014 |
20140324296 | Vehicle Safety System - A safety system for a motor vehicle having at least a front wheel arrangement having one or more wheels and rear wheel arrangement having one or more wheels, the arrangement having: a control unit; and one or more vehicle inertial sensors to detect acceleration experienced by the vehicle, the inertial sensors being connected to the control unit so the control unit receives output signals from the inertial sensors; and one or more vehicle safety systems which may be activated by the control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to process the signals received from the inertial sensors and to determine whether at least one of the wheels of the front and rear wheel arrangements is not in contact with the surface over which the vehicle is driven. | 10-30-2014 |
20140330484 | METHOD FOR ACTIVATING A SAFETY ACTUATOR OF A MOTOR VEHICLE - A method for activating a safety actuator of a motor vehicle includes: ascertaining an endangerment model of the motor vehicle with the aid of an anticipatory sensor system and at least one characteristic value of a pose of a driver of the motor vehicle; ascertaining a controllability of the motor vehicle by a driver of the motor vehicle with the aid of the at least one characteristic value; and activating the safety actuator to an extent which is a function of the endangerment model and the controllability. | 11-06-2014 |
20140330485 | METHOD FOR DETECTING AN IMMINENT ROLLOVER OF A VEHICLE - A method and a device for detecting an imminent rollover of a vehicle. The method comprises taking a series of images of the surroundings of the vehicle, in particular of the road ahead, with a camera; determining and tracking point features in the series of images; eliminating point features which are located on objects that move relative to the stationary surroundings of the vehicle; and computing at least one parameter of the rotational movement of the camera (roll, pitch and/or yaw rate) taking into account the remaining point features. | 11-06-2014 |
20140336879 | ACTIVE SEAT BELT APPARATUS AND METHOD - Provided is an active seat belt apparatus, including: a motor which is driven to fasten or unfasten an active seat belt; a motor driving unit which includes the motor and drives the motor; a current measuring unit which measures a value of a current of the motor driving unit in order to determine whether to perform or stop a belt parking function when the active seat belt is unfastened; and a control unit which sends a signal for performing the belt parking function to the motor when the value of the current measured by the current measuring unit is smaller than a limit current value and sends a signal for stopping the belt parking function to the motor when the value of the current measured by the current measuring unit is larger than the limit current value. | 11-13-2014 |
20140336880 | METHOD FOR ACTIVATING A SAFETY ACTUATOR OF A MOTOR VEHICLE - A method for activating a safety actuator of a motor vehicle, including: ascertaining an endangerment model of the motor vehicle with the aid of an anticipatory sensor system and at least one characteristic value of a driving operation of the motor vehicle; ascertaining a controllability of the motor vehicle by a driver of the motor vehicle with the aid of the at least one characteristic value; and activating the safety actuator to an extent which is a function of the endangerment model and the controllability. | 11-13-2014 |
20140343796 | Detect Driver Persona in a Vehicle - An embodiment of the invention provides a method and system for detecting driver persona in a vehicle wherein an attribute of a user is identified via at least one sensor in the interior of the vehicle. The attribute of the user can include the body weight of the user and/or a sequence of activities performed by the user when entering the vehicle. An electronic storage device is queried with the attribute of the user to determine whether the attribute of the user matches a stored driver attribute. The electronic storage device includes one or more driver profiles that include one or more driver attributes and stored driver settings. Driver settings are set in the vehicle with a processor based on the stored driver settings when the attribute of the user matches a stored driver attribute in the electronic storage device. | 11-20-2014 |
20140343797 | TIRE SENSING SYSTEM - Provided is a tire sensing system that reduces the power consumption, size, weight, and cost, while suppressing an increase in fuel consumption of moving means. The tire sensing system is adapted to monitor state of a tire or a road surface from vibration information to perform safety control of the moving means having the tire. The tire sensing system includes a sensor disposed in a position of an inner surface of the tire where the sensor can sense the vibration, a receiver for receiving the information sent from the sensor, and a control means for controlling the moving means on the basis of the information from the receiver. The state is estimated from first vibration applied to the sensor upon contact with the road surface via the tire, second vibration applied to the sensor upon departure from the road surface, and a contact time from the contact to the departure. | 11-20-2014 |
20140343798 | Thermal Grill for Body Cooling and Driver Alertness - A system for keeping a driver alert by employing a thermal grill that includes warm and cool regions. The system includes an alert module that configures the thermal grill to a heat sink configuration and a heat source configuration. The thermal grill in the heat sink configuration extracts heat from the driver's body, lowers the driver's temperature, and keeps the driver alert. The thermal grill in the heat source configuration raises the driver's temperature and avoids vasoconstriction. The alert module also monitors at least one of the driver's biomarkers like blood flow in the driver's fingers. The alert module monitors the driver's biomarkers to determine when to reconfigure the thermal grill to a configuration other than the heat sink configuration. If the monitored biomarkers indicate that the driver is in a vasoconstricted state, the alert module can reconfigure the thermal grill. | 11-20-2014 |
20140350796 | METHOD AND SYSTEM OF A VEHICLE FOR REVERSIBLE SEAT BELT RETRACTION - A method performed by a retraction control system of a vehicle for controlling refraction of a seat belt of a reversible seat belt refractor arrangement for a vehicle occupant is provided. The control system determines fulfillment of an activation condition based on an initiating input derived from a vehicle situation sensing system, which initiating input indicates that the vehicle, at an initiating time instant, is considered likely to be, or is about to become, involved in a hazardous situation and/or uncomfortable dynamic situation. The control system generates an activation signal utilizable for initiation of retraction of the seat belt. If the control system determines absence of fulfillment of a confirming condition within a predetermined confirming time period, and/or if the control system determines fulfillment of an abort condition within a predetermined abort time period, the control system generates a deactivation signal utilizable for aborting the initiation. | 11-27-2014 |
20140350797 | METHOD AND CONTROL UNIT FOR CONTROLLING AN OCCUPANT PROTECTION MEANS OF A VEHICLE - A method is described for controlling an occupant protection arrangement which has at least two levels of protection for an occupant of a vehicle. The method has a step of selecting one of the at least two levels of protection of the occupant protection means as the level of protection to be used in the event of an impact of the vehicle using a yaw direction of the vehicle. | 11-27-2014 |
20140358377 | SENSOR INTERFACES - Some embodiments of the present disclosure relates to an automotive control unit (ACU) able to communicate with sensors using a plurality of different communication protocols. The ACU comprises a control unit that operates a sensor interface module to selectively generate a plurality of control signals corresponding to a plurality of different communication protocols, wherein respective control signals have characteristics corresponding to one of the plurality of different communication protocols. A modulation unit receives one of the control signals and generates a modulated communication signal having characteristics that correspond to a communication protocol of the one of the control signals. A communication bus provides the communication signal to a sensor network comprising one or more sensors. By operating the modulation unit to operate according to different communication protocols the ACU can be operated to communicate with multiple sensors using different communication protocols (e.g., PSI5 and DSI3 communication protocols). | 12-04-2014 |
20140358378 | Active Suspension of a Motor Vehicle Passenger Seat - A method for controlling the operation of an active suspension system for a motor vehicle passenger seat, where the active suspension system comprises an actuator that is constructed and arranged to place force on the seat in a first degree of freedom and a control system that is responsive to a sensor system that detects motor vehicle accelerations in at least the first degree of freedom, where the sensor system comprises an accident detection system that detects motor vehicle accident conditions, where the control system provides control signals that cause the actuator to exert a force on the seat in the first degree of freedom, wherein in normal active suspension operation mode the actuator is controlled to output forces that reduce acceleration of the seat so as to counteract motions of the seat in the first degree of freedom. In response to the detection of an accident condition, the control system is used to operate the actuator in a crash performance mode where the actuator is controlled to output a force that is proportional to the velocity of the seat in the first degree of freedom. | 12-04-2014 |
20140358379 | PASSENGER PROTECTION SYSTEM - A passenger protection system includes: first and second sensors that detect an impact applied to a vehicle in a width direction; a determination device that determines a collision by comparing a first detection signal from the first sensor with a first determination condition, and by comparing a second detection signal from the second sensor with a second determination condition; and a boarding position detector that detects a boarding position of a passenger. The determination device sets the first determination condition and the second determination condition according to the boarding position in such a manner that the first determination condition is different from the second determination condition. | 12-04-2014 |
20140365079 | COLLISION PROTECTION METHOD AND COLLISION PROTECTION DEVICE FOR A DISPLACEABLE VEHICLE PART AND VEHICLE HAVING THE COLLISION PROTECTION DEVICE - In the case of a collision protection method for a displaceable vehicle part of a vehicle, during the displacement of the vehicle part, a focused light beam is deflected by a light deflection unit along a predefined scanning path and reflected radiation of the same light beam is detected by a light-sensitive sensor to scan a travel path region upstream from the vehicle part. The presence or absence of an obstruction in the upstream travel path region is concluded on the basis of the reflected radiation, wherein the displacement is stopped or reversed if an obstruction is recognized in the upstream travel path region. | 12-11-2014 |
20140371993 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING AT LEAST ONE TRIGGERING ELEMENT FOR PASSENGER PROTECTION MEANS - In a method for controlling a triggering element for passenger protection arrangement, a first connection is established from an energy source to the triggering element via a high-side control circuit, and a second connection is established from the at least one triggering element to ground via a low-side control circuit, and an ignition current is regulated to a predefined nominal value. The ignition current is continuously detected and compared with a predefined first threshold value, first phases being determined in which the ignition current falls below the first threshold value after reaching the nominal value, and second phases being determined in which the ignition current again reaches the nominal value after falling below the first threshold value. The control rate is increased if the number of alternations between the ignition current phases reaches a predefined second threshold value. | 12-18-2014 |
20140379221 | MULTI-AXIS VEHICLE SENSOR MOUNTING - A disclosed safety system for a vehicle is discloses and includes at least one sensor for sensing movement and forces on the vehicle indicative of an impact along a first sensing axis parallel with a longitudinal axis of the vehicle and a second sensing axis angled relative to a lateral axis of the vehicle. An electronic control unit is in communication with the at least one sensor and derives movement and force along the different axes from the information obtained relative to movement and forces along the second sensing axis. The electronic control unit uses the derived information to determine if a safety response is required based upon movement sensed by the at least one sensor and the information derived from information relating to movement along the second sensing axis. | 12-25-2014 |
20140379222 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR ANALYZING A COLLISION OF A VEHICLE - A method for analyzing a collision of a vehicle includes a step of determining a collision area on the vehicle, based on a rotational value which represents a rotation or a rotational state about a vertical axis of the vehicle. | 12-25-2014 |
20140379223 | PEDESTRIAN PROTECTION DEVICE AND METHOD HAVING ADAPTIVE REDUCTION OF COLLISION ENERGY - A passenger protection device for a vehicle includes: an impact absorber for absorbing impact energy, which impact absorber has a cavity for receiving and deforming a deformation element during a movement of the deformation element in an advancing direction which is determined by the impact energy; a blocking element for blocking the movement of the deformation element; and a pedestrian protection device which is coupleable to the deformation element and which is designed to actively move the deformation element by a predetermined distance in the advancing direction based on a deactivation of the blocking element. | 12-25-2014 |
20150012184 | Method for Power Management of Wireless Automotive Modules - A satellite sensor system for a vehicle includes an application motion sensor for sensing vehicle motion for the purpose of activating a vehicle safety system, a low power consumption motion sensor for monitoring vehicle motion when the vehicle is parked or otherwise not in a driving mode, and an RF communications interface to allow the satellite sensor system to communicate with the vehicle's electronics control unit. The system withholds power from the application sensor until the low power consumption motion sensor indicates that the vehicle is about to enter a driving mode. | 01-08-2015 |
20150012185 | VEHICLE SYSTEM FOR CONTROL OF VEHICLE SAFETY PARAMETERS, A VEHICLE AND A METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SAFETY PARAMETERS - A vehicle, a method and a vehicle system for control of vehicle safety parameters is provided. The system is arranged to determine a closing velocity between a host vehicle exterior portion and an external object in a road environment where the host vehicle and the external object approach each other. The system comprises image capturing means, processing means and a sensor arrangement. The processing means are arranged to determine the closing velocity for each time instance by forming a quota of a distance between a first position and the host vehicle exterior portion and the estimated time to collision between the first position and the external object. The vehicle system is arranged to control the one or more vehicle safety parameters as a function of the determined closing velocity. | 01-08-2015 |
20150025748 | MULTI-LEVEL VEHICLE INTEGRITY AND QUALITY CONTROL MECHANISM - The processor-implemented control system for automotive vehicles assigns master control functionality separately to each controlled direction of motion. Within each master control, a multi-layered control architecture is implemented. At control level 0 multiple localized actuators associated with the controlled motion direction are monitored to ensure integrity but are otherwise allowed to operate on their own. At control level 1 the master control plays a supervisory role, coordinating behavior of the multiple actuators. At levels 2 and 3 the master control assesses trustworthiness of the driver and factors that trustworthiness into the control equation. | 01-22-2015 |
20150025749 | Integrated Vehicular System for Low Speed Collision Avoidance - A method of providing range measurements for use with a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of: a) visually sensing ( | 01-22-2015 |
20150046041 | METHOD AND EVALUATION SYSTEM FOR SUPERVISING CORRECT BELT UTILIZATION - A method and an evaluation system supervise correct belt utilization of at least one safety belt in a motor vehicle, the open and/or closed belt lock state being supervised at the respective belt lock of a vehicle seat occupied by a person and a warning signal being given and/or the safety system of the motor vehicle being influenced if an unclosed belt lock is detected. In particular, feigned belt utilization is also detected by evaluating the temporal sequence of belt lock actuations with respect to further operations and/or states determined in the motor vehicle. | 02-12-2015 |
20150057893 | Collision Detection Apparatus and Collision Detection Method - A collision detection apparatus includes: an energy absorption member that possesses conductivity and absorbs impact energy by being crushed in a front-rear direction; two contact members that possess conductivity and are respectively disposed in contact with front and rear end surfaces of the energy absorption member in order to press and crush the energy absorption member in the front-rear direction; a electric resistance detector that is electrically connected to both of the two contact members in order to detect variation in an electric resistance value accompanying crushing of the energy absorption member; and a displacement calculator that calculates a displacement amount of the energy absorption member in the front-rear direction on the basis of the variation in the electric resistance value detected by the electric resistance detector. | 02-26-2015 |
20150066307 | MITIGATION OF VEHICLE SHALLOW IMPACT COLLISIONS - Methods, systems, and vehicles are provided for mitigating shallow offset vehicle events. A sensor onboard a vehicle provides sensor data. A processor onboard the vehicle is coupled to the sensor. The processor is configured to determine, using the sensor data, whether the vehicle is experiencing a shallow offset event using the sensor data, and initiate rotation of one of a plurality of wheels of the vehicle if the vehicle is experiencing a shallow offset event. | 03-05-2015 |
20150066308 | OCCUPANT PROTECTION DEVICE - A controller of an occupant protection device identifies the positions of the lower legs of an occupant seated in a seat based on detection signals of sensor modules, and controls the expansion states of airbag modules for lower legs as to the identified positions of the lower legs to support the lower legs of the occupant in the identified positions of the lower legs using the expanded airbag modules for lower legs. | 03-05-2015 |
20150088384 | Drive Arrangement - A drive arrangement ( | 03-26-2015 |
20150100208 | Method for Activating Safety Systems of a Vehicle - A method for activating safety systems of a motor vehicle, the method including the steps of: monitoring signals from at least one vehicle sensor; analysing the signals from the at least one sensor to determine that the vehicle appears to be involved in a particular one of a plurality of pre-defined “run off the road” events: confirming the determination by analysing signals from at least one different vehicle sensor, performing a different analysis on the signals from the at least one sensor, or analysing signals from the at least one sensor over a predetermined period of time; where a detection is confirmed, estimating the severity of the event; and based on a confirmed determination that the vehicle is involved in a particular event, and the estimated severity of the event, selecting one or more vehicle safety systems to be activated to protect an occupant of the vehicle. | 04-09-2015 |
20150100209 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING A SAFING FUNCTION IN A RESTRAINING SYSTEM - An apparatus ( | 04-09-2015 |
20150105982 | VEHICLE COLLISION DETERMINATION APPARATUS - A vehicle collision determination apparatus includes a first sensor and a second sensor provided in a cabin of a vehicle, and a determining portion that determines severity of a frontal collision of the vehicle based on the difference between an output from the first sensor and an output from the second sensor. The output from the first sensor includes a first acceleration in a backward direction of the vehicle, and the output from the second sensor includes a second acceleration in the backward direction of the vehicle. The first sensor and the second sensor are arranged along the backward direction. | 04-16-2015 |
20150112552 | VEHICLE COLLISION DETERMINATION APPARATUS - A vehicle collision determination apparatus includes: a first sensor provided in a front section of the vehicle; and a determination section which determines, on the basis of output of the first sensor, whether there has occurred front collision of the vehicle. The output of the first sensor has first acceleration in a backward direction of the vehicle and second acceleration in a rightward direction and/or a leftward direction, and the determination section determines severity of the front collision by use of an integrated value of the first acceleration and an integrated value of the second acceleration. | 04-23-2015 |
20150120146 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ADJUSTING MONITORING AREA OF REMOTE MONITOR - An apparatus for adjusting a monitoring area of a remote monitor according to the present disclosure comprises a storage for storing a viewing angle and an irradiation angle of the remote monitor depending on a type of a road. A road determiner determines the type of the road on which a vehicle drives. A controller searches the viewing angle and the irradiation angle corresponding to the type of the road determined by the road determiner in the storage. A viewing angle adjuster sets the viewing angle searched by the controller as a reference viewing angle. An irradiation angle adjuster sets the irradiation angle searched by the controller as a reference irradiation angle. | 04-30-2015 |
20150120147 | VEHICLE COLLISION DETERMINATION APPARATUS - A vehicle collision determination apparatus includes a sensor disposed on a mounting surface in a cabin of a vehicle, and a determining part that determines whether or not a collision of the vehicle has occurred, on the basis of an output from the sensor. The output from the sensor includes first acceleration in a direction vertical to the mounting surface, and when energy based on an amplitude of the first acceleration or a physical quantity correlating to the energy exceeds a threshold, the determining part determines that the collision has occurred. The output of the sensor further includes second acceleration in a rearward direction of the vehicle, and when a value, which is determined by the energy or the physical quantity correlating to the energy and an integrated value of the second acceleration, exceeds the threshold, the determining part determines that the collision has occurred. | 04-30-2015 |
20150127224 | ADVANCED WEIGHT RESPONSIVE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT AND OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM - Advanced supplemental restraint system associated with occupant detection and weight responsive classification system operable for controlling resistance of the supplemental restraint system such that in an accident, an occupant of the vehicle impacts the supplemental restraint system without injury. The supplemental restraint system is associated with a weight-sensing unit mounted to one or more seats positioned between the seat mounting frame and the floor of the vehicle for sensing the weight of a sitting occupant and for classifying the occupant accordingly, a computerized system is configured for calculating an operating weight value corresponding to the classified weight value, and an airbag system is disposed, comprising one or more airbags in association with a deployment unit configured to inflate the airbags with a deployment force and acceleration that is proportionate to the operating weight value when a collision force is sensed above a predetermined collision force value by a collision sensor. | 05-07-2015 |
20150127225 | SEAT APPARATUS FOR VEHICLE - A seat apparatus for a vehicle includes a load detection device placed at a front and a rear of one of a right-left pair of the attachment members so as to be spaced apart from each other, the load detection device measuring a load applied to a seat to distinguish an existence of a passenger and a type of a passenger, a detection influence determination device determining an existence of an influence on a passenger determination performance of the load detection device in a case where a collision load value detected by the load detection device in the case of a collision of the vehicle corresponds to a detected value between a preset first collision load value and a preset second collision load value, and a collision influence alert device outputting an alert in a case where the detection influence determination device determines that the passenger determination performance is influenced. | 05-07-2015 |
20150142271 | FLEXIBLE OPTICAL IMPACT DETECTION SENSOR FOR FRONT RAIL MOUNTED AIRBAG - A flexible optical 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 optical 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 |
20150149041 | CENTRIPETAL PHASE SHIFT ISOLATION CONTROL SYSTEM, IN DEFLECTION, DAMPEN, DISSIPATION, TRANSPOSITION AND ISOLATION OF A STOCHASTIC VECTOR - A CPS dampen, dissipation, deflection and isolation control system includes a first structure comprising at least one chamber | 05-28-2015 |
20150291122 | PEDESTRIAN PROTECTION APPARATUS OF VEHICLE - A pedestrian protection apparatus of a vehicle includes a first pressure sensor installed at a first side of a front side of the vehicle and a second pressure sensor installed at a second side of the front side of the vehicle. A hollow tube extends between and is connected with each of the first and second pressure sensors. A control unit is configured to receive pressure values output by the first and second pressure sensors and determine whether a collision object is a pedestrian based on the received pressure values. | 10-15-2015 |
20150298636 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING A SEAT BELT DEVICE, WHICH IS CONNECTED TO A SEAT BELT, OF A VEHICLE WITH A PREDICTIVE COLLISION DETECTION UNIT - A method and a device for controlling a seat belt device, which is connected to a seat belt, of a vehicle with a collision detection unit having sensor units for detecting an imminent collision with a collision object external to the vehicle includes classifying the collision object in terms of an object class and a weight class with an object identification unit, determining a value for an accident severity of the imminent collision at least from the object class, the weight class and the speed of the collision object, and from the speed and the mass of the vehicle. The maximum initial forward displacement of a vehicle occupant is determined with forward displacement sensors, and the seat belt device is activated depending on the determined value of the accident severity and the maximum initial forward displacement | 10-22-2015 |
20150309206 | DETECTION DEVICE FOR DETECTING AN OBJECT IN A DETECTION REGION ON AN INNER PANEL PART OF A MOTOR VEHICLE, MOTOR VEHICLE, AND CORRESPONDING METHOD - A detection device for detecting an object is disclosed. The detection device is located on and/or above an inner panel part of a motor vehicle in the region of an exit opening implemented in the inner panel part, wherein the detection device has a detection region, in which the object is detectable in an acquisition direction of the detection device, wherein the acquisition direction extends at least essentially in parallel to an opening plane of the exit opening. | 10-29-2015 |
20150314745 | CENTRIPETAL PHASE SHIFT ISOLATION CONTROL SYSTEM, IN AN OSCILLATION CONFIGURATION OF TRANSPOSITION, DEFLECTION, DAMPEN, DISSIPATION, AND ISOLATION OF A STOCHASTIC VECTOR - The protected mass (PM) of a vehicle collision event, is signaled for deceleration, by oscillation cycling, or a single transposition and/or DDD of the PM, in isolation of an unprotected mass (UPM). | 11-05-2015 |
20150321633 | METHOD FOR UNFOLDING EXTERNAL AIR BAG - A method for deploying an external air bag, including searching region of a front of vehicle, updating a physical amount of a searched object within the searching region each measurement period of a front sensor, determining a predicted physical amount each unit time during each measurement period, and predicting the physical amount by assuming that a specific searched object is moved at a constant speed when a capture of the specific searched object which was searched by the front sensor is stopped, selecting a target object among searched objects based on a relative speed or an overlap of the searched object obtained by the updating step or (Time To External Airbag) TTE and deploying the external air bag in a case in which each of a relative speed and an overlap predicted when the target object collides are a predetermined level or more. | 11-12-2015 |
20150321634 | METHOD AND CONTROL UNIT FOR DETECTING AN IMPACT OF A COLLISION OBJECT ON A VEHICLE - A method for detecting an impact of a collision object on a vehicle, which has a pressure hose sensor, includes the task of importing a pressure hose sensor signal, which represents a change in a pressure of a pressurized hose of the pressure hose sensor. This method also includes activating an occupant protection system using the pressure hose sensor signal. | 11-12-2015 |
20150329078 | IN-VEHICLE PROTECTION SYSTEM USING MULTIPLE PROCESSING UNITS AND/OR USING COMMUNICATION MODULE TO SEND POSITIONING INFORMATION - An in-vehicle protection system includes a signal input interface, a vehicle protection circuit, and a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) module. The signal input interface receives an indication signal indicative of a status of a vehicle. The vehicle protection circuit includes a first processing unit, a second processing unit, and a controller. The first and second processing units perform predetermined action in response to abnormality of a vehicle, and have different computing power. The controller outputs the indication signal to one of the first and second processing units according to an operational state of the in-vehicle protection system. The GNSS module obtains positioning information of the vehicle. After the second processing unit detects an abnormal status of the vehicle, the first processing unit sends at least one of the positioning information and vehicle alarm information indicative of the abnormal status through a communication network. | 11-19-2015 |
20150336508 | DRIVING SUPPORT DEVICE, VEHICLE, AND CONTROL PROGRAM - There is provided a driving support device including: a control unit configured to perform predetermined safety control according to approach of another vehicle to a own-vehicle, the another vehicle being in an area which is defined based on a reference azimuth as viewed from the own-vehicle on which the driving support device is mounted, the reference azimuth being centered on the area; and a determination unit configured to determine the reference azimuth to be one of a first azimuth and a second azimuth based on information regarding turn of the own-vehicle, the first azimuth being defined along a direction of a central axis of the own-vehicle, the second azimuth being different from the first azimuth. | 11-26-2015 |
20150336613 | DEVICE FOR CHANGING THE RIGIDITY OF A VEHICLE, METHOD FOR ACTIVATING A DEVICE FOR CHANGING THE RIGIDITY OF A VEHICLE AND CONTROL UNIT - A device for changing the rigidity of a vehicle includes: at least one frame side member; and an adaptive element having at least two fastening points, one of the at least two fastening points being connected to the at least one frame side member. The adaptive element is aligned transversely to the at least one frame side member, and the adaptive element has an actuator including an interface for receiving a triggering signal for operating the actuator. The actuator is configured to change the rigidity of the adaptive element in response to the triggering signal. | 11-26-2015 |
20150343977 | AIRBAG SYSTEM - Disclosed is an airbag system that efficiently copes with a small overlap collision of a vehicle. The airbag system according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a front airbag module; a side airbag module; a central sensor measuring the forward acceleration a lateral acceleration; a left side sensor measuring the forward acceleration and the lateral acceleration; a right side sensor measuring the forward acceleration the lateral acceleration; and a controller configured to determine a small overlap collision to expand the front airbag module and the side airbag module. | 12-03-2015 |
20150343989 | BUMPER ASSEMBLY INCLUDING AIRBAG - A bumper assembly for a vehicle includes a bumper beam and an energy absorbing member adjacent the bumper beam. An airbag module includes an inflator coupled to the bumper beam and an airbag coupled to the inflator. The airbag is disposed between the bumper beam and the energy absorbing member. The airbag is deployed during an impact between the vehicle and an object to modify the stiffness of the bumper assembly during the impact. | 12-03-2015 |
20150367799 | COLLISION SENSING APPARATUS - An apparatus includes a center component defining a center chamber therein and first and second side components defining first and second chambers therein, respectively. The first and second side components are coupled to opposing ends of the center component with the first and second chambers in fluid communication with the center chamber. The center, first side and second side components are configured to extend substantially across a width of a vehicle. The apparatus further includes first, second and third pressure sensors in communication with the first, second and center chambers, respectively. | 12-24-2015 |
20160001731 | TURRET AIR BAGS - A turret airbag system is provided including a plurality of airbags disposed within the turret to protect an occupant of the turret from injury and/or ejection from the turret. Turret airbags may be configured in padding around a turret access opening, and/or as substantially cylindrical airbags that deploy between the occupant of the turret and a wall or exterior opening of the turret. In some examples, the turret airbag(s) may be integrated with a countermeasure system that deploys explosion countermeasures and activates the turret airbags based on sensor data and multiple thresholds that indicate a collision event, a rollover event and/or an explosion event. | 01-07-2016 |
20160023632 | SEAT BELT DEVICE - A seat belt device includes: a belt reel that winds a webbing; an electric motor that drives the belt reel to wind; a collision prediction unit that predicts a collision with an object; and a controller that is connected to the collision prediction unit via a network and that performs winding control of the electric motor when a collision with the object is predicted by the collision prediction unit. After the controller receives information on collision prediction from the collision prediction unit via the network, even when a communication failure occurs between the controller and the collision prediction unit, the controller performs control to cause the electric motor to continue winding control. | 01-28-2016 |
20160025214 | CONTROLLER AND SHIFT-BY-WIRE SYSTEM USING THE CONTROLLER - A shift-by-wire system, including a controller that includes a motor driver, and a microcomputer connected to the motor driver to control a motor that drives a control object. The control object has a park lock mechanism having a lock state and an unlock state. The lock state and the unlock state are switched according to an operation position of the control object. The controller is configured to estimate a tilt of a vehicle, detect whether the lock mechanism is in the lock state or in the unlock state, and adjust a target rotation speed of the motor according to the estimated tilt when the operation position of the control object is changed for switching the lock state to the unlock state. | 01-28-2016 |
20160031342 | BACK SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTOR AND ALARM - A person, animal, or object in the back seat of a motor vehicle can be presumed to have been inadvertently left there if a back seat access device such as a rear door or seatback of a front seat has been used, followed by the closure of a door lock and not followed by a second usage of the back seat access device. When a person, animal, or object is determined to have been inadvertently locked in the vehicle, an alarm is automatically generated by the vehicle, which notifies the driver, by-standers, and/or an emergency service provider. | 02-04-2016 |
20160031401 | Roof Mounted Rear Seat Airbag Safety Cage - Described herein is a rear seat airbag deployment system, a rear seat airbag of the rear seat airbag deployment system, and a method of deploying the rear seat airbag. The rear seat airbag is configured in a substantially ‘U’ shape to encompass both the front and rear sides of rear seat occupants when the rear seat airbag is deployed. It follows that the rear seat airbag provides a safety cage that surrounds rear seat passengers upon deployment. Exemplary embodiments may further include an airbag deployment tool for gathering vehicle state information, analyzing the vehicle state information, determining whether to deploy one or more airbags, and controlling the deployment of the rear seat airbag. | 02-04-2016 |
20160039378 | HYBRID VEHICLE/PEDESTRIAN IMPACT DETECTING METHOD AND APPARATUS - An apparatus detects a vehicle/pedestrian impact event by sensing impact events near a forward location of a vehicle using a multi-port pressure sensor and acceleration sensors. The multi-port pressure sensor includes multiple pressure sensors in a unified housing, connected via individual pressure ports to multiple impact-sensing hoses mounted along the vehicle bumper. An acceleration sensor may also be installed in the same housing. A single electrical connector provides connection to the multiple pressure sensors and also the acceleration sensors. | 02-11-2016 |
20160039410 | DRIVING SUPPORT DEVICE AND DRIVING SUPPORT METHOD - A driving support device for a host vehicle that travels on a first road and makes a direction change, at a junction between the first road and a second road, by turning right or left is provided. The driving support device includes: a front detection unit configured to detect an object in front of the host vehicle; a recognition unit configured to recognize a state of another vehicle that travels on the second road toward the junction and that follows the host vehicle after the host vehicle completes the direction change, based on a detection result of the front detection unit obtained before or during the direction change; and a support determination unit configured to determine whether the host vehicle needs a rear-side support in relation to the state of the other vehicle, based on a recognition result of the recognition unit. | 02-11-2016 |
20160042238 | DRIVER ACTIVE SAFETY CONTROL SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE - A driver active safety control system for a vehicle includes a plurality of image capture sensors, a video display screen, a central driver active safety control module and at least one non-imaging sensor. The control module at least includes an image processor, a vision core and a fusion core. The image processor processes image data captured by and received from at least a forward viewing image capture sensor for at least one of (i) automatic headlamp control, (ii) lane departure warning and (iii) traffic sign recognition. The vision core is operable to manipulate image data captured by and received at least from rearward and sideward viewing image capture sensors to form video images for displaying on the video display screen. The fusion core is operable to process inputs received to enhance control by the control module of a driver assistance system of the equipped vehicle. | 02-11-2016 |
20160046295 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DETERMINING A REACTION TIME OF A VEHICLE DRIVER - A method and a device for determining a reaction time of a vehicle driver of a vehicle includes a display device displaying at least one visual stimulus; and processing circuitry using a view recognition device to observe the direction of view of the vehicle driver, and determining the reaction time starting from the displaying of the visual stimulus, the reaction time corresponding to a specified time span if the direction of view of the vehicle driver is not recognized within the specified time span as running in the direction of the visual stimulus, or the reaction time corresponding to a time span in which the direction of view of the vehicle driver is recognized within the specified time span as running in the direction of the visual stimulus. | 02-18-2016 |
20160052474 | VEHICLE SAFETY SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING A SAFETY FEATURE - A safety system for a vehicle includes an imaging sensor configured to be disposed at a vehicle so as to have an exterior field of view external of the equipped vehicle. An image processor is operable to process image data captured by the imaging sensor to detect a vehicle exterior the equipped vehicle and to determine if a collision between the detected vehicle and the equipped vehicle is pending. Responsive to such determination of the pending collision, a safety feature of the vehicle is triggered before any actual impact occurs. The triggered safety feature is a reversible adjustment of a seat headrest, a seat belt, a seat setting or a door lock of the equipped vehicle. If the pending collision is avoided or otherwise does not occur, the adjusted safety feature returns to its unadjusted condition that existed prior to such determination of the pending collision. | 02-25-2016 |
20160059755 | Active Suspension of a Motor Vehicle Passenger Seat - A method for controlling the operation of an active suspension system for a motor vehicle passenger seat, where the active suspension system comprises an actuator that is constructed and arranged to place force on the seat in a first degree of freedom and a control system that is responsive to a sensor system that detects motor vehicle accelerations in at least the first degree of freedom, where the sensor system comprises an accident detection system that detects motor vehicle accident conditions, where the control system provides control signals that cause the actuator to exert a force on the seat in the first degree of freedom, wherein in normal active suspension operation mode the actuator is controlled to output forces that reduce acceleration of the seat so as to counteract motions of the seat in the first degree of freedom. In response to the detection of an accident condition, the control system is used to operate the actuator in a crash performance mode where the actuator is controlled to output a force that is proportional to the velocity of the seat in the first degree of freedom. | 03-03-2016 |
20160059813 | SENSOR BASED OCCUPANT PROTECTION SYSTEM - A system and method for optimizing various vehicle safety systems, such as airbags and seat belt load tensioning limiters, for a particular occupant of a vehicle seat, such as the vehicle driver or passenger, based on the weight of the occupant and the fore-aft position of the seat. The method senses the mass of the occupant and the position of the seat and classifies the combination of the mass and position. The method then determines the optimized setting of the safety systems for that combination classification, and automatically sets the safety systems to that setting. The method can also determine the optimized setting of the safety systems based on whether the occupant is wearing a seat belt. | 03-03-2016 |
20160059825 | VEHICLE ANTI-THEFT APPARATUS AND METHOD - A vehicle immobiliser having an input device configured to receive a code and an output device configured to issue an instruction to a controller of a vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle immobiliser may be configured to prevent an operation of the vehicle when the vehicle immobiliser is armed and allow an operation of the vehicle when the vehicle immobiliser is disarmed. The vehicle immobiliser may also be configured to operate in a first life-state and a subsequent second life-state. The vehicle immobiliser may enter the second life-state only after being disarmed in the first life-state. When the vehicle immobiliser is armed and in a first life-state, the vehicle immobiliser may be disarmed upon receiving the code that satisfies a first disarming condition. Similarly, when the vehicle immobiliser is armed and in a second life-state, the vehicle immobiliser may be disarmed upon receiving the code that satisfies a second disarming condition. | 03-03-2016 |
20160075444 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TRIGGERING AN EMERGENCY MEASURE - A method for triggering a plurality of emergency measures associated with an aircraft emergency is disclosed. The method includes determining a risk level for an aircraft emergency by evaluating a plurality of flight parameters and/or aircraft parameters using a predefined logic. For each emergency measure of the plurality of emergency measures a threshold is defined and each emergency measure of the plurality of emergency measures is only triggered if the determined risk level exceeds the threshold defined for the emergency measure. Further, a system for use onboard an aircraft for triggering a plurality of emergency measures associated with an aircraft emergency and an aircraft comprising such a system are disclosed. | 03-17-2016 |
20160082912 | AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT CONTROL APPARATUS AND METHOD - An airbag deployment control apparatus and method utilizes an output of a pre-collision sensor mounted on the vehicle as a first airbag safing signal, and an output of a vehicle mounted impact sensor, when the impact sensor output exceeds a predetermined level corresponding to an actual vehicle collision, as a second airbag safing signal. A control, after determining the occurrence of the two consecutive safing signals, checks airbag arming and deployment criteria for deployment of the airbag. The pre-impact sensor can be a camera, radar, or Lidar sensor mounted on the vehicle. | 03-24-2016 |
20160082920 | BELT RETRACTOR AND METHOD FOR TIGHTENING AN UNUSED VEHICLE BELT - In a belt retractor ( | 03-24-2016 |
20160096625 | INFLATABLE PERSONAL RESTRAINT SYSTEMS - An electronic module assembly (EMA) for use in controlling one or more personal restraint systems. A programmed processor within the EMA is configured to determine when a personal restraint system associated with each seat in a vehicle should be deployed. In addition, the programmed processor is configured to perform a diagnostic self-test to determine if the EMA and the personal restraint systems are operational. In one embodiment, results of the diagnostic self-test routine are displayed on a display included on the electronic module assembly. In an alternative embodiment, the results of the diagnostic self-test routine are transmitted via a wireless transceiver to a remote device. The remote device can include a wireless interrogator or can be a remote computer system such as a cabin management computer system. | 04-07-2016 |
20160097224 | AUTOMATIC DOOR CHILD SAFETY LOCK RELEASE IN A CRASH EVENT - An automated child safety unlocking system for automobiles which disengages the child safety locks and unlocks the doors at appropriate times during events such as vehicle crashes. The vehicle ECU continually monitors the status of the vehicle to check if a crash event has occurred via various methods such as the status of airbag deployment, accelerometers placed in the car, and crumple points. In the event of a crash the vehicle ECU transmits one of at least two CSL command signals a child safety lock ECU. The command signals are each specific to an event severity and event type, and the child safety lock ECU then interprets the signal and acts according to the signal type. If the data interpreted indicates a crash, the child safety lock ECU unlocks the child safety locks, and if it does not determine a crash has not occurred, the locks remain engaged. | 04-07-2016 |
20160121834 | SAFETY SYSTEM FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE, ASSOCIATED MOTOR VEHICLE, AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A SAFETY SYSTEM FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE - The invention relates to a safety system for a motor vehicle ( | 05-05-2016 |
20160121835 | ADAPTIVE SUPPRESSION OF VEHICLE RESTRAINT SYSTEM - A vehicle has a restraint system with at least two restraint devices. A sensor detects a potential collision object and outputs a signal representing a relative position of the potential collision object to the vehicle. A processing device suppresses deployment of at least one of the restraint devices based at least in part on the signal output by the at least one sensor. | 05-05-2016 |
20160129869 | FLEXIBLE ELECTRO-RESISTIVE IMPACT DETECTION SENSOR FOR FRONT RAIL MOUNTED AIRBAG - A sensing device for actuating an airbag system in a motor vehicle comprises an airbag having a stowed condition and an inflated condition, an inflator operationally coupled with the airbag responsive to electrical actuation for inflating the airbag with a gas, an impact detection sensor for generating a signal upon an offset impact event, and a controller for processing the signal generated by the sensor and electrically actuating the inflator upon computing a predetermined impact severity to a forward corner of the motor vehicle. The motor vehicle further comprises a front bumper beam attached proximate a distal end of a front rail and the sensor comprises a flexible electro-resistive sensor mounted to a rear side of an outboard portion of the front bumper beam. | 05-12-2016 |
20160129881 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A TIME OF ACTIVATION OF A REVERSIBLE RESTRAINT SYSTEM IN A VEHICLE - The present disclosure relates to a method for controlling a time of activation of a restraint system in a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a seat belt associated to a seat, the restraint system being a reversible restraint system, the method comprising the steps of
| 05-12-2016 |
20160137152 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROTECTING VEHICLE PASSENGER - The present specification relates to an apparatus for protecting a vehicle passenger, and the apparatus for protecting a vehicle passenger according to an exemplary embodiment of the present specification includes: a front two-axis sensor; a first side two-axis sensor; a second side two-axis sensor; a control unit which determines whether the vehicle passenger is in a front collision situation, by calculating an average value of acceleration values , or determines whether the vehicle passenger is in a broadside collision situation, by calculating speed and a speed change of the first side two-axis sensor using the acceleration value obtained by the sensor unit and by calculating speed of the second side two-axis sensor; and a protection unit which protects the vehicle passenger based on the determination of the control unit. | 05-19-2016 |
20160159316 | VEHICLE AND SAFETY PROTECTION METHOD - A method of protecting safety of a driver of a vehicle, the vehicle including a motion sensor, and a seat belt pretensioner of a seat belt is provided. Driving information is obtained from the motion sensor, and a tension value of the seat belt pretensioner is determined according to the driving information. The seat belt pretensioner is controlled to tighten the seat belt with the tension value. | 06-09-2016 |
20160167617 | DUAL STAGE HYBRID INFLATOR AND METHOD OF TRIGGERING THE SAME | 06-16-2016 |
20160176265 | VEHICLE SAFETY ARRANGEMENT, VEHICLE AND A METHOD FOR INCREASING VEHICLE SAFETY | 06-23-2016 |
20160176322 | MOTOR VEHICLE | 06-23-2016 |
20160200168 | SYSTEM AND METHOD TO DETECT AN UNATTENDED OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE AND TAKE SAFETY COUNTERMEASURES | 07-14-2016 |
20160200169 | Method for Vehicle Occupant Presence and Reminder System | 07-14-2016 |
20160200274 | METHOD FOR ACTIVATING A PERSONAL PROTECTION DEVICE FOR A MOTORCYCLE AND PERSONAL PROTECTION SYSTEM | 07-14-2016 |
20160200275 | System for Controlling the Deployment of an External Safety Device | 07-14-2016 |
20160375850 | VEHICULAR OCCUPANT DETERMINATION APPARATUS - A vehicular occupant determination apparatus includes a load detection portion, an occupant determination portion, an acceleration detection portion, a transition prohibition portion, and a transition permission portion. The transition permission portion detects whether an acceleration increases or decreases a load, and sets a transition permission state even during the transition prohibition state. In the transition permission state, a determination result of a first occupant type is permitted to transit to a determination result of a second occupant type with a smaller load than the load of the first occupant type when the acceleration increases the load, and the determination result of the first occupant type is permitted to transit to a determination result of a third occupant type with a greater load than the load of the first occupant type when the acceleration decreases the load. | 12-29-2016 |
20160378112 | AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE SAFETY SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Autonomous vehicle safety systems and methods are disclosed, which detect and consider occupant reactions to potential hazards to suggest or incorporate safety procedures. Also disclosed are systems for controlling autonomous vehicles based on occupant sentiment and other occupant data in order to improve the occupant driving experience. The disclosed embodiments may include an occupant monitoring system obtaining occupant data for an occupant of the autonomous vehicle. A learning engine can process occupant data received from the occupant monitoring system to identify one or more suggested driving aspects based on the occupant data. A vehicle interface can communicate the one or more suggested driving aspects to the autonomous vehicle, such as a defensive action that can enhance safety of the occupant(s). | 12-29-2016 |
20170232918 | VEHICLE COLLISION ENERGY ABSORBANCE WITH MAGNETORHEOLOGICAL OR ELECTRORHEOLOGICAL MATERIAL | 08-17-2017 |
20170232919 | ACTIVATION CONTROL DEVICE FOR OCCUPANT PROTECTION DEVICE | 08-17-2017 |