Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080203712 | Switch-based seat sensor for occupant presence detection - A switch-based sensor apparatus is disposed between the bottom cushion and frame of a seat. The sensor apparatus includes upper and lower rigid and generally parallel force translation plates biased apart by a set of springs, and a switch assembly. The force translation plates are joined so as to pre-load the springs while permitting closing movement between the upper and lower force translation plates in response to occupant seat force that exceeds the pre-load force of the springs. The switch assembly includes a circuit board and elastomeric switch pad defining one or more switch elements that are actuated by a prescribed closing movement between the upper and lower force translation plates for electrically detecting the presence of a seat occupant. | 08-28-2008 |
20090033078 | Dual function capacitive sensor for seat occupant detection - A dual function capacitive occupant detection sensor includes a capacitive load cell disposed below a seat cushion, an electric field emitter disposed above the seat cushion and a capacitance-responsive control circuit. The control circuit determines a seated weight of an occupant based on the load cell capacitance, and a coupling of the electric field through an occupant based on the capacitance between the electric field emitter and the vehicle ground. The measured seated weight and electric field coupling parameters are logically combined to detect an occupant and to distinguish between a normally seated occupant and a cinched down infant or child seat of similar apparent weight. | 02-05-2009 |
20090099736 | Vehicle pre-impact sensing system and method - A vehicle pre-impact sensing system and method are provided. Included in the system is an array of energy signal transmitters mounted on a vehicle for transmitting signals within multiple transmit zones incrementally spaced from the vehicle. The system further includes an array of receiver elements mounted on the vehicle for receiving signals reflected from an object located in one or more multiple receive zones indicative of the object being in certain one or more zones. The system also includes a processor for processing the received reflected signals and determining location, speed and direction of the object, wherein the processor further determines whether the object is expected to impact the vehicle as a function of the determined location, speed and direction of the object, and generates an output signal indicative of a pre-impact event. | 04-16-2009 |
20090218159 | Vehicle Pedestrian Impact Sensor With Proximity Arming - A pedestrian impact sensor system includes a first plate and a second plate both connected to an outer surface of a vehicle such that a capacitance between the first plate and the second plate is dependent upon whether a body proximate the vehicle is animate. A crush sensor senses a force exerted by the body on the vehicle. A monitoring circuit monitors the capacitance between the first plate and the second plate and an output signal of the crush sensor. The monitoring circuit issues a safety countermeasure signal dependent upon the capacitance between the first plate and the second plate and the output signal of the crush sensor. | 09-03-2009 |
20090299631 | Vehicle Pre-Impact Sensing System Having Object Feature Detection - A vehicle pre-impact sensing system is provided that includes an array of energy signal transmitters mounted on a vehicle for transmitting signals within multiple transmit zones spaced from the vehicle and an array of receiver elements mounted on the vehicle for receiving signals reflected from an object located in one or more multiple receive zones indicative of the object being in certain one or more zones. A processor processes the received reflected signals and determines range, location, speed and direction of the object, determines whether the object is expected to impact the vehicle as a function of the determined range, location, speed and direction of the object, and generates an output signal indicative of a pre-impact event. The system may detect one or more features of a target object, such as a front end of a vehicle. Additionally, the system may modulate the transmit beams. Further, the system may perform a terrain normalization to remove stationary items. | 12-03-2009 |
20090299632 | Vehicle Pre-Impact Sensing System Having Signal Modulation - A vehicle pre-impact sensing system is provided that includes an array of energy signal transmitters mounted on a vehicle for transmitting signals within multiple transmit zones spaced from the vehicle and an array of receiver elements mounted on the vehicle for receiving signals reflected from an object located in one or more multiple receive zones indicative of the object being in certain one or more zones. A processor processes the received reflected signals and determines range, location, speed and direction of the object, determines whether the object is expected to impact the vehicle as a function of the determined range, location, speed and direction of the object, and generates an output signal indicative of a pre-impact event. The system may detect one or more features of a target object, such as a front end of a vehicle. Additionally, the system may modulate the transmit beams. Further, the system may perform a terrain normalization to remove stationary items. | 12-03-2009 |
20090299633 | Vehicle Pre-Impact Sensing System Having Terrain Normalization - A vehicle pre-impact sensing system is provided that includes an array of energy signal transmitters mounted on a vehicle for transmitting signals within multiple transmit zones spaced from the vehicle and an array of receiver elements mounted on the vehicle for receiving signals reflected from an object located in one or more multiple receive zones indicative of the object being in certain one or more zones. A processor processes the received reflected signals and determines range, location, speed and direction of the object, determines whether the object is expected to impact the vehicle as a function of the determined range, location, speed and direction of the object, and generates an output signal indicative of a pre-impact event. The system may detect one or more features of a target object, such as a front end of a vehicle. Additionally, the system may modulate the transmit beams. Further, the system may perform a terrain normalization to remove stationary items. | 12-03-2009 |
20100025974 | Apparatus for allowing or suppressing deployment of a low risk deployment airbag - A low-cost automatic suppression apparatus allows or suppresses deployment of a low risk deployment airbag based solely on occupant seat load and seat belt tension. The seat load and belt tension parameters are detected by low-cost sensors, and an airbag control unit suppresses airbag deployment when the occupant load is below a specified load threshold or the belt tension is above a specified tension threshold, and otherwise allows airbag deployment. The sensors are preferably switch-based so that the signals provided to the airbag control unit are in the form of a differential electrical current, and only two wires are needed to interface each sensor to the airbag control unit. | 02-04-2010 |
20100095787 | Determining seat belt tension in a motorized seat belt apparatus - A method and apparatus is provided for determining seat belt tension in a seat belt system. The apparatus includes webbing and a motor coupled to the webbing for retracting the webbing and generating a seat belt tension. When the seat belt apparatus is deployed to restrain an occupant, the tension on the seatbelt is monitored by applying a voltage to the motor to retract the webbing, measuring an electrical current during the application of the voltage, determining a maximum value of the electrical current and determining the seat belt tension based upon the maximum value. | 04-22-2010 |
20100136392 | CELL TEMPERATURE SENSING APPARATUS FOR A BATTTERY MODULE - A printed circuit board supported over the top surface of a multi-cell battery module for battery cell voltage and temperature monitoring has an array of openings in alignment with selected battery cells for receiving temperature-sensing units that electrically couple with contacts formed on the printed circuit board and resiliently engage the cases of the selected battery cells. Each such temperature-sensing unit includes a printed circuit board mountable lamp socket and a lamp socket insert including a thermistor and a compressible element that maintains the thermistor in thermal proximity to the battery cell case when the temperature-sensing unit is installed in a respective printed circuit board opening. | 06-03-2010 |
20100192698 | SEAT SENSOR APPARATUS FOR OCCUPANT PRESENCE DETECTION - An occupant presence sensor apparatus disposed in a seat includes first and second substantially non-compliant force translation plates generally parallel to the seating surface of the seat, an elastomeric mat disposed between the first and second force translation plates, and a switch mechanism disposed between the first and second force translation plates within an opening formed in the elastomeric mat. The elastomeric mat includes a distributed array of hollow protuberances that extend toward and contact the force translation plates, and the mat has a stiffness that normally provides a clearance between the switch mechanism and one of the force translation plates. When an occupant of specified or higher weight sits on the seating surface, the protuberances collapse and the force translation plates activate the switch mechanism. | 08-05-2010 |
20140330448 | PASSIVE ENTRY AND PASSIVE START SYSTEM WITH OPERATOR WALKING DETECTION - A passive entry passive start (PEPS) vehicle security system configured to activate a vehicle function when an activation signal is received. The system includes a nomadic device configured to detect a change of a magnetic field relative to the nomadic device, and emit an activation signal only if the change corresponds to walking by an operator carrying the nomadic device. | 11-06-2014 |
20140330449 | RELAY ATTACK PREVENTION FOR PASSIVE ENTRY PASSIVE START (PEPS) VEHICLE SECURITY SYSTEMS - A passive entry passive start (PEPS) vehicle security system configured to thwart a relay attack on the system. The system includes one or more ultra wideband transceivers (UWBX) installed on a vehicle and configured to transmit a request pulse at a request time. A mobile UWBX, possibly installed in a nomadic device such as a smart phone, is configured to transmit a reply pulse in response to the request pulse. A controller is configured to determine a distance between each UWBX and the mobile UWBX based on a time interval between the request time and a time that corresponds to when the reply pulse is received by the each UWBX. The controller may also be configured to unlock doors of the vehicle only if the distance is less than an unlock threshold. | 11-06-2014 |
20140379231 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC LOCATION ASSIGNMENT OF WHEELS EQUIPPED WITH PRESSURE SENSORS - A method of operating a tire pressure monitor system on a vehicle to determine a wheel location of wheels equipped with pressure sensors. The method includes equipping a plurality of wheels with a pressure sensor, determining a plurality of pressure values from each pressure sensor, detecting a variation of the pressure values from a plurality of pressure sensors, and determining a wheel location based on a comparison of the variations of the pressure values. Variations useful for determining wheel location may include running over an object such as a rumble strip or pot-hole on the roadway, or the vehicle executing a turn. | 12-25-2014 |
20150015193 | VEHICLE POSITIONING SYSTEM FOR WIRELESS CHARGING STATIONS - A system for positioning a vehicle over a wireless charging station. The system includes a plurality of ultra wideband transceivers (UWBX) installed on the vehicle and the wireless charging station, and a controller configured to determine various distances between the various UWBXs. | 01-15-2015 |