| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 701046000 | By integrating the amplitude of the input signal | 88 |
| 20080208414 | Control Apparatus For an Occupant Protection Means in a Motor Vehicle - A control apparatus for an occupant protection device in a motor vehicle, including an apparatus for classifying an object and/or occupant on a motor vehicle seat is provided. The control apparatus includes a capacitive force sensor for recording a weight force acting on the motor vehicle seat, which is realized as a measurement capacitor which has at least one elastic, and therefore deformable, plate. The sensor signal is supplied to a control and evaluation circuit which allows the sensor signal to be classified, according to the weight or according to the weight distribution and therefore according to the position of the occupant and/or of the object on the motor vehicle seat, and controls the occupant protection device as a function of the classification. This provides a very robust control apparatus which is of straightforward design and permits very reliable classification and accordingly ensures reliable control of the occupant protection device. | 08-28-2008 |
| 20080228357 | OVERTURN PREVENTION CONTROL DEVICE - An overturn prevention control device includes a bicycle robot capable of freely laterally inclining, an angular velocity sensor mounted on the bicycle robot such that a detection axis thereof extends in a substantially longitudinal direction of the bicycle robot, a motor mounted on the body such that a rotating shaft thereof extends in a substantially longitudinal direction of the body, a rotation sensor that detects a rotational position or a rotational speed of the motor, and an inertial rotor coupled to the rotating shaft of the motor. The overturn prevention control device corrects inclination of the bicycle robot by rotating the inertial rotor using the motor and by utilizing a reaction torque occurring when the inertial rotor is rotated. The overturn prevention control device further includes an inclination angle estimating portion arranged to estimate an inclination angle relative to a balanced state from an angular velocity output ω | 09-18-2008 |
| 20080243343 | Control Method for Occupant Restraint Apparatus and Occupant Restraint Apparatus - A method and apparatus for controlling an occupant restraint apparatus are provided which allow the force applied to a nearby occupant to be optimized in response to collision conditions. In one form, a method for controlling an occupant restraint apparatus includes detecting an obstacle in a travelling direction of a vehicle that may potentially collide with the vehicle; predicting a type of collision between the obstacle detected and the vehicle; setting conditions for expanding an airbag of the vehicle based on the collision type predicted; and controlling the expansion of the airbag and/or gas discharge from the airbag according to the conditions set at the setting step. Detecting the obstacle preferably includes detecting the position and relative speed of the obstacle with respect to the vehicle based on images of views in the travelling direction of the vehicle. | 10-02-2008 |
| 20080300754 | Protecting systems for vehicles - A protecting system for a vehicle includes a tilt-detecting module capable of detecting a tilt condition of the vehicle, an airbag capable of being inflated and expanding to cover an outer surface of the vehicle if the airbag is inflated; and an inflation module capable of generating a gas to inflate the airbag. | 12-04-2008 |
| 20080306657 | Control Device and Method for Deploying a Protective Means for Rollover Protection for Motor Vehicles - A control device of a protective means for rollover protection for a motor vehicle includes a rotational acceleration sensor for the rotational acceleration about the longitudinal axis of the vehicle (rolling motion of the vehicle) and an analyzer device for analyzing the rotational acceleration (angular acceleration). A signal that depends on the rotational acceleration is output by the analyzer device for the protective means for rollover protection. | 12-11-2008 |
| 20080306658 | Motor Vehicle Comprising a Preventive Protective System - A motor vehicle including a preventive protective system which includes safety devices actuated as a function of information obtained from a vehicle state sensor system and evaluated in a data evaluation and control device. In the associated process, the data evaluation and control device compares the recorded information with at least one triggering threshold value and actuates at least one safety device which is associated with this driving state when a criticality of the driving state is identified. Triggering of the associated safety device is actuated with respect to a force time gradient as a function of the identified criticality of the driving state. | 12-11-2008 |
| 20080306659 | Device and Method for Distinguishing a Person From an Object on a Vehicle Seat - A device for differentiating between a person sitting on the seat surface of a vehicle seat and an object includes at least one largely flat bearing surface that is arranged over a large part of the seat surface including a central region. The novel device includes a vehicle seat, a cushion with weight sensors that are distributed over the seat surface of the vehicle seat in a plane manner, and an evaluation unit to which the signals of the weight sensors are supplied. A central region of the seat surface is curved in a concave manner in the direction of the bottom of the vehicle, in such a way that a first weight sensor arranged therein is closer to the bottom of the vehicle than a plurality of second weight sensors arranged in the region of the seat surface covered by the object, outside the central region. The capacity to differentiate between a person and an object is especially useful when the object is a child seat. In this case, the triggering of a passenger retaining means must be prevented. | 12-11-2008 |
| 20090005937 | VEHICULAR SEATBELT APPARATUS - A seatbelt apparatus for a vehicle includes a control device for controlling an amount of electric current fed to a motor for winding a seatbelt. The control device controls the motor such that a predetermined amount of electric current is applied to the motor in a behavioral state of the vehicle requiring emergency measures, and such that when the seatbelt is wound a predetermined amount, the predetermined amount of winding is maintained. | 01-01-2009 |
| 20090030577 | Seat Occupancy Sensor Assembly - An occupancy sensor assembly with a variable-resistance seat occupancy sensor comprises an adapter circuit for connecting the occupancy sensor to a control unit. The adapter circuit includes switching means for switching, between discrete states and as a function of resistance of the seat occupancy sensor, a current drawn from the control unit by the assembly. | 01-29-2009 |
| 20090037056 | Arrangement for Detecting a Crash - A crash detection arrangement, to be installed in a motor vehicle, for detecting a crash and providing a control signal for controlling a safety device in the event that a crash is detected, the arrangement comprising an accelerometer and a control unit, the accelerometer being arranged to supply a signal to the control unit which is indicative of the acceleration of the vehicle, the control unit being adapted to: calculate a classification parameter based on the value of the signal from the accelerometer during a classification time period, which includes an interval of time before an initiation criterion was fulfilled; modify a crash evaluation algorithm in dependence upon the classification parameter; and perform the crash evaluation algorithm upon fulfillment of the initiation criterion to produce the control signal. | 02-05-2009 |
| 20090037057 | Method and system for detecting a vehicle rollover, in particular a soil trip rollover - A method and system for detecting a vehicle rollover or dangerous situations that may precede a rollover, in particular a soil trip type rollover includes the following steps, where the steps are performed in loops,
| 02-05-2009 |
| 20090093933 | Integrated control system for vehicles - The present invention relates to an integrated safety control system for vehicles. In particular, the present invention includes a sensor unit, an actuating unit, an actuating control unit, and an integrated control unit. The sensor unit includes a plurality of sensors for outputting sensed signals required for chassis control and Advanced Safety Vehicle (ASV) control of the vehicle. The actuating unit includes a plurality of actuating subunits for performing the chassis control and the ASV control. The actuating control unit includes a plurality of actuating control subunits provided for the respective actuating subunits, and configured to operate the respective actuating subunits. The integrated control unit compares and analyzes the sensed signals and selectively controls the respective actuating subunits so as to perform chassis control and ASV control in an integrated control manner. | 04-09-2009 |
| 20090099733 | Method and device for activating restraining means - A method and a device for activating a restraining arrangement, in which the restraining arrangement is triggered as a function of the crash type and/or the crash severity. The crash type is derived from a signal characterizing the crash. The crash type is ascertained by analyzing signal and slope values of the signal characterizing the crash using threshold values. The crash severity is derived from the crash type and information about the velocity of vehicle. | 04-16-2009 |
| 20090099734 | POST IMPACT SAFETY SYSTEM WITH VEHICLE CONTACT INFORMATION - A system for providing post-impact signals in a vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes at least one impact zone with a passive safety sensor positioned at designated sections of the vehicle. The system comprises a plurality of passive safety sensors, a passive safety controller, and an active safety controller. The passive safety controller determines the impact location, impact direction and intensity. The passive safety controller transmits a passive output signal indicative of the impact intensity, impact direction and impact location. The active safety controller stabilizes the vehicle post-impact in response to the passive output signal. | 04-16-2009 |
| 20090099735 | Vehicle rollover prediction with occupant restraint system activation - An automobile rollover prediction and restraint device deployment system comprises a plurality of automobile data sensors to generate a plurality of data signals, and a controller to receive the data signals and configured to deploy resettable and non-resettable restraint devices. The controller is configured to activate at least one resettable restraint device when one or more of the data signals exceed a first threshold, indicating that the vehicle is in a position or undergoing movement that indicates a potential for vehicle rollover, and to de-activate the at least one resettable restraint device when one or more of the data signals fall below the first threshold. | 04-16-2009 |
| 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 |
| 20090198418 | Side impact detection apparatus - An apparatus for detecting information related to a side impact of a vehicle includes a sensor spaced from a metal object and located in a space defined by vehicle door panels, and a mounting portion to which the sensor is attached relative to the vehicle door. The sensor includes a ring-like coil parallel to the object, a housing for the coil that is coaxial with the coil, and a sensor bracket between the coil housing and the mounting portion. The sensor bracket includes a ring-like peripheral portion joined along a ring-like portion of the coil housing, a bottom portion spaced apart from and extending on the opposite side of the object with regard to the coil housing, and a standing portion between the peripheral portion and the bottom portion. The sensor detects a distance between the coil and the object based on a variation in current flowing through the coil. | 08-06-2009 |
| 20090204297 | System for Preventing Overheating in a Vehicle Interior - A system for sensing the presence of a vehicle occupant and taking remedial action so as to prevent overheating of an occupant of the vehicle. The system comprises a presence sensor, a temperature sensor, and a control module. The presence sensor provides information relating to the presence of an occupant in the vehicle and he temperature sensor measures an interior temperature of the vehicle. The control module receives temperature measurements from the temperature sensor, receiving the information from the presence sensor, forms a temperature comparison by comparing the information from the presence sensor with predetermined criteria, forms a determination whether to operate a cooling mechanism of the vehicle so as to reduce the interior temperature, the determination based on the temperature comparison and the information from the presence sensor, and operates the cooling mechanism based on the determination. | 08-13-2009 |
| 20090210117 | Collision detector - A vehicle collision detector is configured to reliably activate an airbag system at a collision and prevent the airbag system from erroneously operating. The collision detector includes two acceleration sensors disposed at different positions in a vehicle to detect acceleration for collision determination, first and second collision routines in which a determination is made on whether or not a variation in the detected acceleration is caused by a collision, and a final collision routine in which an airbag module is activated when all of results of the first and second collision routines indicate a collision. | 08-20-2009 |
| 20090216409 | Method and Device for Determining an Initial Float for Skid Detection in Rollover Sensing - A method for determining an initial float angle for skid detection in rollover sensing of a rollover of a vehicle having at least one sensor system for vehicle-dynamic signals and a control unit for activating a restraining device, which divides the driving state of the vehicle into chronologically consecutive state phases, having the following method steps carried out continuously in the first state phase: calculating a change in the float angle from the vehicle-dynamic signals; comparing the calculated change in the float angle with a predefinable threshold value; and determining the initial float angle on the basis of the calculated change in the float angle as a function of the threshold value for a first range of small changes in the float angle or for a second range of larger values of changes in the float angle and a device therefor. | 08-27-2009 |
| 20090292424 | VEHICLE ROLLOVER DETECTION - A system and method for detecting a rollover of a vehicle that includes at least one wheel reaction force sensing device for transmitting wheel reaction force signals indicative of an amount of force exerted on at least one wheel of the vehicle is provided. The system includes a controller operably coupled to the at least one wheel reaction force sensing device and including at least one accelerometer sensor for transmitting acceleration signals. The controller is configured to determine a first force index in response to the wheel reaction force signals, determine a first lateral acceleration of the vehicle in response to the acceleration signals, compare the first force index to a threshold force index and the first lateral acceleration to a threshold lateral acceleration, and deploy a restraint system based on the comparison. | 11-26-2009 |
| 20090299578 | SAFETY DEVICE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES - A safety device for motor vehicles includes an impact detection system and a triggering device for triggering a braking operation as a function of a signal of the impact detection system characterized in that the triggering device is designed for the purpose of triggering the braking operation when the impact detection system indicates the beginning of an impact. | 12-03-2009 |
| 20090299579 | Kinematic-based method of estimating the absolute roll angle of a vehicle body - The absolute roll angle of a vehicle body is estimated by blending two preliminary roll angle estimates based on their frequency so that the blended estimate continuously favors the more accurate of the preliminary roll angle estimates. A first preliminary roll angle estimate based on the measured roll rate is improved by initially compensating the roll rate signal for bias error using roll rate estimates inferred from other measured parameters. And a second preliminary roll angle estimate is determined based on the kinematic relationship among roll angle, lateral acceleration, yaw rate and vehicle speed. The blended estimate of roll angle utilizes a blending coefficient that varies with the frequency of the preliminary roll angle signals, and a blending factor used in the blending coefficient is set to different values depending whether the vehicle is in a steady-state or transient condition. | 12-03-2009 |
| 20090306859 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR TRIGGERING PASSENGER PROTECTION SYSTEM IN CONSIDERATION OF ROAD GRIP COEFFICIENT - A device and a method for triggering passenger protection systems, the passenger protection systems being triggered as a function of a rollover process. A signal which characterizes a road grip coefficient (coefficient of friction) is received via an interface. An evaluation circuit is provided which triggers the passenger protection systems as a function of the signal and a stability factor, the evaluation circuit determining the stability factor as a function of at least one kinematic variable. | 12-10-2009 |
| 20090326766 | TIME DILATION FORMULAS, ALGORITHMS AND APPLICATIONS - An algorithm that is part of a collision preparation system that provides selective and limited vehicle braking to avoid undesirable intrusive high-G braking while still giving the system adequate time to activate collision mitigation devices on the vehicle before impact with an object. If a predicted time to collision between the vehicle and the object is less than a required time to collision, which is determined by how much time is necessary for a certain collision mitigation device to be activated, the algorithm calculates a time dilation deceleration. The system causes the vehicle to automatically brake to decelerate the vehicle at the time dilation deceleration until the time dilation deceleration reaches a predetermined decelerating threshold so that more time is available for the collision preparation system to determine whether to activate the collision mitigation device. | 12-31-2009 |
| 20100004828 | DATA COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A data communication system includes one or more data processing units and includes a central control unit. The decentralized data processing units are connected to the central control unit by data connection. The central control unit ( | 01-07-2010 |
| 20100017067 | METHOD AND CONTROL UNIT FOR TRIGGERING PASSENGER PROTECTION MEANS - In a method and a control unit for triggering passenger protection devices, at least one characteristic is extracted from at least one variable. A crash is classified on the basis of this at least one characteristic, and the crash classification results in the making of a triggering decision. The passenger protection devices are then triggered as a function of the triggering decision. The triggering decision is made by providing a sequence control which, as a function of at least one progression variable, activates or deactivates a plurality of functions for the crash classification and/or defines which at least one characteristic is used for the particular function. | 01-21-2010 |
| 20100023226 | Vehicle-mounted safety control apparatus - The vehicle-mounted safety control apparatus includes a first function of detecting an object ahead of the vehicle, a second function of acquiring, as a time to collision, a ratio of a relative speed to a relative distance between the vehicle and the object, a third function of performing an automatic brake operation when the time to collision is smaller than or equal to a predetermined time, a fourth function of detecting acceleration of the vehicle, and a fifth function of acquiring, as a collision acceleration, acceleration detected within a period having a predetermined duration and straddling a time at which the time to collision becomes 0, and operating to continue the automatic brake operation if the collision acceleration is larger than or equal to a collision threshold preset to a value larger than acceleration produced by the automatic brake operation, and otherwise terminate the automatic brake operation. | 01-28-2010 |
| 20100042296 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR TRIGGERING A PERSONAL PROTECTION MEANS FOR A VEHICLE - A method and device for triggering a personal protection device for a vehicle, in particular, an occupant protection device in a vehicle. An acceleration sensor provides a first impact parameter Formula, compared with a triggering threshold value. A chassis noise sensor provides a second impact parameter Formula. The triggering threshold value is altered depending on the second impact parameter Formula. | 02-18-2010 |
| 20100049406 | Vehicle safety system - A vehicle safety system comprising a vehicle stability-regulating system, one or more secondary safety components and an electronic interface. The electronic interface communicates with both the vehicle stability-regulating system and the secondary safety components. The electronic interface receives data from the vehicle stability-regulating system and controls the operating condition of the secondary safety components based thereon. | 02-25-2010 |
| 20100049407 | DRIVER ASSISTING SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE AND VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH THE DRIVER ASSISTING SYSTEM - A system assists a driver occupying a seat within a vehicle traveling on a road. The system includes sensing apparatus that senses a plurality of different types of conditions regarding the vehicle. Information apparatus provides information regarding the different types of conditions to the driver by respective different types of haptic inputs. | 02-25-2010 |
| 20100063687 | GPS DEVICE AND SAFE DRIVING METHOD USING THE SAME - This present disclosure provides a global positioning system (GPS) device, and a method of safe driving. The GPS device includes a storage unit, the storage unit configured to store map data and speed limit information of each speed limit section. Each speed limit information includes a speed limit start position, a speed limit end position, and a first predetermined speed value, the method includes steps of: receiving GPS satellite navigation signals in real time; detecting current location of a vehicle and determine whether the vehicle is in a speed limit section; detecting current speed value of the vehicle when the vehicle is in a speed limit section; generating and sending a control signal to control a safety protection unit to perform a safety protection operation, when the current speed value is greater than the first predetermined speed value in the speed limit section. | 03-11-2010 |
| 20100138114 | APPARATUS TO CONTROL AIRBAG FOR SIDE COLLISION - An apparatus to control an airbag for a side collision includes a vehicle inclination detecting unit which detects an inclination of a vehicle relative to a horizontal direction, and a threshold value changing unit which changes a threshold value to operate the airbag for the side collision corresponding to the inclination of the vehicle relative to the horizontal direction detected by the vehicle inclination detecting unit. | 06-03-2010 |
| 20100138115 | ON-BOARD APPARATUS AND METHOD USED BY SAID APPARATUS - A lane marker recognition apparatus which recognizes a lane marker based on a captured image of a road surface in the direction in which a vehicle is traveling includes a lane identifying portion that identifies the type of lane that the vehicle is traveling in based on the image, and a timing changing portion which outputs a change command to change the start timing of an operation of an assist system provided in the vehicle to the assist system when the type of lane identified by the lane identifying portion is a predetermined type of lane. | 06-03-2010 |
| 20100241317 | Activation device for passenger protection system and acceleration sensor module therefor - An acceleration sensor module is provided with sensor chips, first and second collision check sections and an OR circuit so that accelerations in different detection directions can be detected. The sensor chips of the acceleration sensor module can thus be used as a redundancy sensor in an activation device for a passenger protection system. The passenger protection system is thus prevented form being erroneously activated by only an output signal of a microcomputer, because the first switch section is controlled by both outputs of the acceleration sensor module and the microcomputer. | 09-23-2010 |
| 20100241318 | method and control device for triggering passenger protection means for a vehicle - A control device and a method for triggering passenger protection arrangement for a vehicle are described, in which the triggering occurs as a function of at least one signal from a rear crash sensor system monitoring a rear region of the vehicle. The triggering of the passive passenger protection arrangement takes place as a function of at least one threshold comparison of the at least one signal. | 09-23-2010 |
| 20100280719 | METHOD AND CONTROL UNIT FOR ACTIVATING OCCUPANT PROTECTION MEANS FOR A VEHICLE - A control unit and a method for activating an occupant protection unit for a vehicle are provided, the occupant protection unit being activated as a function of a first signal of a first sensor system. The activation is validated as a function of an additional sensor signal, which validation is performed by gating at least one acceleration signal and at least one structure-borne noise signal as the sensor signals. | 11-04-2010 |
| 20100305818 | METHOD AND CONTROL UNIT FOR ACTIVATING OCCUPANT PROTECTION MEANS, AS WELL AS COMPUTER PROGRAM AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT - A control unit and a method for activating an occupant protection arrangement are described, a feature vector having at least two features being formed from at least one signal of a crash sensor system. The occupant protection arrangement is activated by a kernel algorithm as a function of the feature vector or a first partial feature vector. The feature vector or a second partial feature vector is classified by a support vector machine (SVM) and the kernel algorithm is influenced by the classification. | 12-02-2010 |
| 20110066334 | METHOD AND CONTROL DEVICE FOR TRIGGERING PASSENGER PROTECTION MEANS FOR A VEHICLE - A method and a control device for triggering a passenger protection arrangement for a vehicle are provided, at least one sensor signal from an accident sensor system being provided. A characteristic is derived from this at least one sensor signal, and a flatness is determined from this first characteristic in relation to at least one second characteristic. The crash type is then determined as a function of this flatness. The triggering the passenger protection arrangement (PS) takes place as a function of this crash type. | 03-17-2011 |
| 20110071732 | Vehicle Safety System - A vehicle safety system comprising: at least one occupant safety device ( | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110082626 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING A VEHICLE PITCH-OVER CONDITION - An apparatus for determining a pitch-over condition of a vehicle comprises a first accelerometer for sensing acceleration in a Z-axis direction substantially perpendicular to both a front-to-rear axis of the vehicle and a side-to-side axis of the vehicle and for providing a first acceleration signal indicative thereof. A second accelerometer for senses acceleration in an X-axis direction substantially parallel to said front-to-rear axis of the vehicle and provides a second acceleration signal indicative thereof. A controller determines a Z-axis velocity value from the first acceleration signal and a pitch-over condition of the vehicle in response to both the determined Z-axis velocity value and the second acceleration signal. | 04-07-2011 |
| 20110098893 | VEHICLE OCCUPANT PROTECTION DEVICE - A vehicle occupant protection device that smoothly operates a seat and a seatbelt. When a collision is predicted, if the time to the collision reaches a preset time t | 04-28-2011 |
| 20110112726 | Method and Control Device for Triggering Passenger Protection Means for a Vehicle - A control device and a method for triggering a passenger protection arrangement for a vehicle are provided, at least two acceleration signals being provided by at least two acceleration sensors oriented in different spatial directions. The orientations are angled in relation to a coordinate system oriented toward the vehicle longitudinal direction. The at least two acceleration signals are transformed on at least two axes of the coordinate system. The triggering signal is generated as a function of the comparison of the at least two acceleration signals and the transformed acceleration signals. The passenger protection arrangement is triggered as a function of the triggering signal. | 05-12-2011 |
| 20110118943 | SECURITY SYSTEM COMPRISING A SELF-MIXING LASER SENSOR AND METHOD OF DRIVING SUCH A SECURITY SYSTEM - A security system is described, comprising a sensor module ( | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110190988 | METHOD AND CONTROL UNIT FOR ACTIVATING PASSENGER PROTECTION MEANS FOR A VEHICLE - In a method for activating a passenger protection unit for a vehicle, features are generated from at least one sensor signal of a crash sensor system. Furthermore, a difference of a feature vector with a first threshold value is formed. This difference is weighted as a function of at least one of the features. The passenger protection unit is subsequently activated as a function of a comparison of a variable, derived from the weighted difference, with a second threshold value. | 08-04-2011 |
| 20110190989 | METHOD FOR DETERMINING A CRITERION OF THE SEVERITY OF AN ACCIDENT BY MEANS OF AN ACCLERATION SIGNAL AND A SOLID-BORNE SOUND SIGNAL - A method for determining a criterion of the severity of an accident by means of an acceleration signal and a solid-borne sound signal. The signal edge direction of the absolute value of the acceleration signal is detected. If the signal edge of the absolute value of the acceleration signal drops, the solid-borne sound signal which occurs in the process is evaluated. The solid-borne sound signal may be integrated and the criterion of the severity of the accident is derived therefrom. This criterion of the severity of the accident can be used directly, or as a function of criteria, to trigger the protection devices. | 08-04-2011 |
| 20110202241 | Method and System for Restraint Deployment Using Lateral Kinetic Energy - A safety system for a motor vehicle has a yaw rate sensor for detecting a yaw rate of the vehicle and impact sensors for detecting a side impact. A control module calculates a lateral kinetic energy of the vehicle if the yaw rate exceeds a threshold value, and an occupant restraint is activated based upon the lateral kinetic energy and signals from the side impact sensors. The disclosed system and method provide for improved restraint deployment decisions when a vehicle has a lateral velocity associated with a high yaw rate, as may be the case during a spin or a skid. | 08-18-2011 |
| 20110218710 | METHOD AND CONTROL DEVICE FOR TRIGGERING PASSENGER PROTECTION MEANS FOR A VEHICLE - In a method for triggering a passenger protection arrangement for a vehicle, a crash type is detected with the aid of at least one structure-borne noise signal, and the triggering takes place as a function of the crash type. For the crash type recognition, the structure-borne noise signal is evaluated in a predefined time period with regard to a change in amplitude. | 09-08-2011 |
| 20110231067 | COLLISION DETERMINATION SYSTEM, OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM, AND VEHICLE - The invention provides an effective technique for appropriately restraining a vehicle occupant at the time of a side collision of a vehicle. An occupant restraint system mounted to a vehicle comprises a camera, a side impact sensor, an acceleration sensor, an ECU, and an airbag module. The ECU changes a threshold value setting for collision velocity at the time of a side collision of the vehicle according to whether or not a colliding object involved in the side collision of the vehicle is a pole-like object, and controls the airbag module based on the set threshold value. | 09-22-2011 |
| 20110295467 | PRE-COLLISION ASSESSMENT OF POTENTIAL COLLISION SEVERITY FOR ROAD VEHICLES - A method of predicting severity of a potential collision of first and second vehicles. The method includes determining that a probability of a potential collision of the vehicles is greater than a threshold value. Vehicle condition-defining signals are exchanged between the vehicles when the probability of the potential collision is greater than the threshold value including a first vehicle condition-defining signal developed on board the first vehicle and a second vehicle condition-defining signal developed onboard the second vehicle. The method further includes predicting onboard the first vehicle a severity of the potential collision for the first vehicle based upon input that includes the first vehicle condition-defining signal and the second vehicle condition-defining signal. A severity of the potential collision for the second vehicle is predicted onboard the second vehicle based upon the second vehicle condition-defining signal and the first vehicle condition-defining signal. | 12-01-2011 |
| 20110320091 | VEHICLE ROLLOVER DETECTION - A system and method for detecting a rollover of a vehicle that includes at least one wheel reaction force sensing device for transmitting wheel reaction force signal indicative of an amount of force exerted on at least one wheel of the vehicle is provided. The system includes a controller operably coupled to the at least one wheel reaction force sensing device and including at least one accelerometer sensor for transmitting the acceleration signal. The controller is configured to determine a first force index in response to the wheel reaction force signal, determine a first lateral acceleration of the vehicle in response to the acceleration signal, compare the first force index to a threshold force index and the first lateral acceleration to a threshold lateral acceleration, and deploy a restraint system based on the comparison. | 12-29-2011 |
| 20120035812 | BODY VELOCITY ESTIMATING DEVICE, AND COLLISION SAFETY PROTECTING SYSTEM - Body velocity estimating device | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120072078 | COLLISION DETERMINING APPARATUS FOR VEHICLE - A collision determining apparatus for a vehicle includes a vibration detection device that detects a high-frequency vibration of an audio band generated in a vehicle and a low-frequency vibration of the audio band which is lower than the high-frequency vibration; and a collision determining device that determines whether or not a collision requiring an activation of an occupant protection apparatus of the vehicle has occurred based on the detection result of the high-frequency vibration and the low-frequency vibration. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120123645 | PASSENGER-SHIFT AIRBAG APPARATUS, SIDE AIRBAG SYSTEM HAVING THE SAME, AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING SIDE AIRBAG SYSTEM - A passenger-shift airbag apparatus may include an inflator installed at a predetermined position in a seat back of a vehicle; and a passenger-shift airbag cushion fluid-connected to the inflator directly or by a gas supply tube, the passenger-shift airbag cushion being located in the seat back adjacent to a lateral side of the seatback, so that when the passenger-shift airbag cushion is inflated by gas supplied from the inflator, the passenger-shift airbag cushion shifts the passenger towards an inside of the vehicle. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120173085 | Apparatus for activating at least one driver's cab actuator element and/or at least one seat actuator element and/or at least one steering column actuator element of a commercial vehicle - An apparatus is described for activating at least one driver's cab actuator element and/or at least one seat actuator element and/or at least one steering column actuator element of a commercial vehicle. | 07-05-2012 |
| 20120191303 | Method for Controlling a Restraint Device for Occupants of a Vehicle - A method for controlling a restraint device for occupants of a vehicle is provided. An environment of the vehicle is captured and a restraint device is triggered depending on object data and vehicle data determined in the environment. An impact probability is determined in stages based on determined object data and/or vehicle data. Depending on the determined strength of impact probability of a respective stage, a restraint device is pre-triggered or triggered, or triggering of restraint device is suppressed and determined triggering information is processed further in a next stage. | 07-26-2012 |
| 20120221211 | METHOD AND CONTROL UNIT FOR DETECTING THE WIDTH OF AN IMPACT AREA OF AN OBJECT IN THE FRONT-END SECTION OF A VEHICLE - A method is described for detecting a width of an impact area of an object in the front-end section of a vehicle, which has a step of receiving a first deformation element signal, which represents a change in the distance of components of a first deformation element from one another, that is mounted in the left front-end section of the vehicle. Furthermore, the method includes a step of receiving a second deformation element signal, which represents a change in the distance of components of a second deformation element from one another, that is mounted in the right front-end section of the vehicle. Finally, the method includes detection step of an offset collision with a small width of an impact area of the object on the vehicle, if the first deformation element signal differs by more than a predefined threshold value level from the second deformation element signal. | 08-30-2012 |
| 20120259515 | METHOD FOR ACTIVATING AND/OR CONTROLLING AT LEAST ONE REVERSIBLE RESTRAINING DEVICE - A method for activating and/or controlling at least one reversible restraining device as a function of a danger situation that is detected ahead of time, the danger situation being detected ahead of time by evaluating sensor signals that are provided by at least one sensor unit, and an evaluation-control unit for implementing the method and an occupant protection system having such an evaluation and control unit. Such a danger situation is detected if an evaluation of the sensor signals determines that the vehicle has departed from the roadway, a directional angle being ascertained at which the vehicle has departed from the roadway, and the at least one reversible restraining device being activated and/or controlled as a function of the ascertained directional angle. | 10-11-2012 |
| 20120265408 | METHOD FOR SETTING A LIMITING VALUE OF A VEHICLE STATE VARIABLE IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT - In a method for setting a limiting value of a vehicle state variable in a driver assistance system, in particular in an electronic stability program ESP, accelerations are measured by the airbag sensor system, and are used in the event of an accident of low to medium severity to determine limiting values of the yaw acceleration and the yaw rate. These limiting values are used for monitoring the functionality of the yaw rate sensor. | 10-18-2012 |
| 20120283917 | DEVICE HAVING PYROTECHNICALLY ADJUSTABLE RIGIDITY FOR ABSORBING CRASH ENERGY AND METHOD FOR ADJUSTING THE RIGIDITY - A device having an adjustable rigidity for absorbing crash energy, includes: a housing for accommodating and deforming a deformation element when the deformation element is moved in a forward motion direction due to the crash energy; a disengageable die situated in the housing for accommodating and deforming the deformation element; a supporting device situated in the housing and configured to support, in a first position, the disengageable die against a radial force of the deformation element acting in a transverse direction to the forward motion direction, and (ii) release, in a second position, the disengageable die for a motion for disengagement due to the radial force; and a pyrotechnic actuator moving the supporting device from the first position into the second position, to adjust the rigidity of the device. | 11-08-2012 |
| 20120296527 | ACTUATION JUDGMENT APPARATUS FOR PASSENGER PROTECTION CONTROL DEVICE - An actuation judgment apparatus for a passenger protection control device can optimally judge a need for actuating a passenger protection device. The actuation judgment apparatus may comprise an integrator for integrating the horizontal acceleration and a judgment circuit in a main control unit is configured to change a threshold for the actuation of the passenger protection device based on a value obtained by integrating the horizontal acceleration at the integrator in order to reduce the error rate in assessing that a trip-over event has occurred. | 11-22-2012 |
| 20120310484 | COLLISION DETECTING DEVICE FOR VEHICLE AND OCCUPANT PROTECTION SYSTEM HAVING THE SAME - A collision detecting device includes a first sensor, a second sensor, and a determination unit. The first sensor is disposed in a rear region of a passenger compartment of a vehicle defined from a first seat row towards a rear of the vehicle. The second sensor is disposed one of in a front region of the passenger compartment defined from the first seat row towards a front of the vehicle and at a side of the first seat row. The determination unit stores a safing threshold and a main threshold greater than the safing threshold, and determines that a side collision has occurred only when an output value of the second sensor is greater than the safing threshold and an output value of the first sensor is greater than the main threshold. | 12-06-2012 |
| 20120310485 | METHOD AND CONTROL UNIT FOR ASCERTAINING A TYPE OF COLLISION OF A VEHICLE - A method for ascertaining a type of collision of a vehicle includes: receiving acceleration information items, via a reception interface, representing the accelerations of the vehicle in a vehicle longitudinal direction and a vehicle transverse direction; determining a first resultant acceleration information item from a first and a second acceleration information item; determining a second resultant acceleration information item from a third and a fourth acceleration information item; combining the first and second resultant acceleration information items to obtain at least one evaluation information item; and determining the collision type based on the at least one evaluation information item. | 12-06-2012 |
| 20130024075 | OBJECT IDENTIFICATION AND ACTIVE SAFETY CONTROL FOR VEHICLES - Methods and vehicles are provided for identifying objects in proximity to the vehicle and controlling active safety functionality for the vehicle. A target object in proximity to the vehicle is detected. A movement of the target object is measured. The target object is classified based at least in part on the movement. The active safety functionality is controlled based at least in part on the classification of the target object. | 01-24-2013 |
| 20130030657 | ACTIVE SAFETY CONTROL FOR VEHICLES - Methods, systems, and vehicles are provided for controlling active safety functionality for a vehicle. The active safety functionality provides an action during a drive cycle of the vehicle based on a predetermined threshold. Data pertaining to driving conditions, usage conditions of the vehicle, or both, is obtained for a drive cycle of the vehicle. A risk factor grade is calculated using the data. The risk factor grade corresponds to a level of situational risk for the drive cycle. The predetermined threshold of the active safety system is adjusted based on the risk factor grade. | 01-31-2013 |
| 20130079996 | CONTROL OF ACTIVE VEHICLE DEVICES DURING CORNERING - A method of triggering an active device of a vehicle at a pre-determined threshold comprises generating a steering wheel signal from steering angle rate of change of steering angle of the vehicle, the signal representing an advance in time in comparison to the steering wheel position and/or speed, and determining a conditioned vehicle lateral acceleration in dependence on the steering wheel signal and a measured vehicle lateral acceleration, the conditioned vehicle lateral acceleration being advanced in time in comparison with the measured vehicle lateral acceleration. An active device of the vehicle is triggered if the conditioned vehicle lateral acceleration exceeds a threshold lateral acceleration. | 03-28-2013 |
| 20130079997 | METHOD AND APPARATUS OF TRIGGERING AN ACTIVE DEVICE OF A VEHICLE - An active device of a vehicle, for example a seat belt tensioner, is triggered by reference to an estimated vehicle roll rate exceeding a threshold roll rate. The estimated vehicle roll rate may be conditioned according to vehicle speed, and is determined from inputs of vehicle lateral acceleration, steering wheel angle, and steering wheel speed. | 03-28-2013 |
| 20130090814 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR THE DETERMINATION OF AT LEAST ONE TRIGGERING PARAMETER OF PERSONAL PROTECTION MEANS OF A VEHICLE - A method to determine at least one triggering parameter of personal protection device of a vehicle using pattern signal curves of a possible signal of a sensor for a physical variable. The pattern signal curves replicating a curve over time of the physical variable upon impact of an object on the vehicle at a different location on the vehicle and/or upon impact of the object on the vehicle at a different angle. A sensor signal is read which represents the physical variable measured by a sensor. Values of a curve over time of the sensor signal are compared to values of the at least two pattern signal curves, that pattern signal curve being selected which, in at least one time segment of the pattern signal curve or one scaled form of the pattern signal curve has a lower deviation from the curve over time of the sensor signal. | 04-11-2013 |
| 20130124052 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY SYSTEM AND A SAFETY SYSTEM FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE - A method for operating a safety system in a motor vehicle is provided. The method includes ascertaining at least one parameter characterizing a traffic situation of the motor vehicle and classifying a momentary traffic situation of the motor vehicle based on the at least one ascertained parameter. The method includes ascertaining a probability of an occurrence of at least one accident type from a plurality of predefined accident types in the classified momentary traffic situation, and if the ascertained probability exceeds a predefined threshold value, adapting a triggering threshold for actuating at least one passenger protection device of the motor vehicle. | 05-16-2013 |
| 20130124053 | VEHICLE SAFETY SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH SPLIT ACTIVE/PASSIVE PROCESSING - A vehicle safety system includes a remote sensor detecting an object and a collision detector detecting a collision with the vehicle. An active safety module receives the remote sensor output and controls operation of an active vehicle safety system utilizing a first parameter set providing a first balance between suppression of false positive detections of imminent collision and acknowledgement of true positive detections of imminent collision, the first balance optimized for control of the active safety system. A passive safety module is connected in parallel with the active safety module to receive the sensor output and receives the detector output. The passive safety module utilizes a second parameter set to control operation of a passive vehicle safety system providing a second balance having, in relation to the first balance, a relatively lower suppression of false positive detections and a relatively higher acknowledgement of true positive detections. | 05-16-2013 |
| 20130179042 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CALIBRATING ROLLOVER SETTINGS OF A VEHICLE - A method and system for controlling rollover calibration settings of a vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle has a roll axis extending from a front end of the vehicle to a back end of the vehicle. The method comprises monitoring an off-road signal indicating whether the vehicle is operating in an off-road mode or a default mode, monitoring a speed signal indicative of the speed of the vehicle, and selecting the rollover calibration settings of the vehicle based on the off-road signal and the speed signal. | 07-11-2013 |
| 20130317702 | AIRBAG START-UP DECISION APPARATUS FOR MOTORCYCLE - A safing decision is executed using a first integrator for integrating acceleration sensor output values for a first integration interval to obtain a first arithmetic operation value, a second integrator for cumulative integration of the acceleration sensor output values using it as a trigger that the first arithmetic operation value exceeds a first predetermined value to obtain a second arithmetic operation value, a third integrator for integrating the second arithmetic operation value for a third integration interval to obtain a third arithmetic operation value as a second order integration value of the output values of the acceleration sensors, and a comparator for comparing a map derivation value derived by substituting the third arithmetic operation value into a threshold value map and the first arithmetic operation value with each other. The airbag is started up when the main decision and the safing decision are carried out as an on decision. | 11-28-2013 |
| 20130332032 | METHOD AND CONTROL UNIT FOR ACTIVATING A SAFETY DEVICE FOR A VEHICLE IN A ROLLOVER SITUATION - A method for activating a safety device for a vehicle in a rollover situation is described. The method includes determining an activation signal for activating the safety device based on a variable representing the angle of inclination of the vehicle in a transverse direction of the vehicle and a variable representing the steering angle of a wheel of the vehicle. | 12-12-2013 |
| 20140100742 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING RESTRAINT DEVICES OF A MOTOR VEHICLE - A method for controlling restraint devices of a motor vehicle includes measuring a movement variable of the motor vehicle, triggering a first restraint device on the basis of a first predefined threshold value for the measured movement variable being exceeded, triggering a second restraint device on the basis of a second predefined threshold value for the measured movement variable being exceeded, and activating a first device influencing the restraining force of the first restraint device and a second device influencing the restraining force of the second restraint device on the basis of the first predefined threshold value and/or the second predefined threshold value being exceeded | 04-10-2014 |
| 20140149001 | AUTOMOBILE AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING AUTOMOBILE - Disclosed are an automobile and a method of controlling an automobile, capable of deploying an airbag at an optimum time. To this end, an automobile according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a first sensor configured to detect a relative distance and a relative velocity with respect to a front obstacle of the automobile; a second sensor configured to detect an impact signal value when the automobile collides with the obstacle; and a controller configured to change a set impact critical value by using the relative distance and the relative velocity detected by the first sensor and deploy an airbag when the impact signal value detected by the second sensor is greater than the changed impact critical value. | 05-29-2014 |
| 20140172237 | VEHICLE-OCCUPANT PROTECTION SYSTEM - A vehicle-occupant protection system in a vehicle has a first sensor and a second sensor on a lateral side closer to a seat of an occupant. The first sensor is either forward of or lateral to the seat of the occupant in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. The second sensor is rearward of the first sensor. The system further includes a collision determination section, which concludes an occurrence of a collision when a signal of the first sensor exceeds a determination threshold value in a situation where a signal of the second sensor has not exceeded a determination threshold value. Upon concluding the occurrence of the collision, the collision determination section activates a movement restraint device to restrain the occupant from moving away from the seat. | 06-19-2014 |
| 20140207341 | IMPACT-INJURY PREDICTING SYSTEM - A first-collision predicting part determines if a possibility of a first collision, which happens between a human and a vehicle, is higher than a predetermined threshold. A first-collision-situation determining part determines a position of a head of the human and a relative speed of the head relative to the vehicle at a time of the first collision, when the first-collision predicting part determines the possibility of the first collision is higher than the predetermined threshold. A second-collision-situation estimating part estimates a collision situation of the head in a second collision, based on a determining result of the first-collision-situation determining part. An injury-degree predicting part predicts a degree of injury of the head based on an estimation result of the second-collision-situation estimating part. | 07-24-2014 |
| 20140288784 | RAIN ONSET DETECTION GLAZING AUTO-CLOSE - A vehicle system may include a plurality of exterior capacitive sensors, such as door handles, and a controller in communication with the plurality of capacitive sensors. The controller may be configured to identify a rain condition based on sensor data received from at least one of the exterior capacitive sensors of the vehicle; ensure an absence of a key fob in proximity of the at least one locked handle and an absence of a subsequent door opening occurrence when unlocked to confirm the rain condition; and initiate a closure action to a power actuator associated with an open vehicle window for a confirmed rain condition. | 09-25-2014 |
| 20150051796 | CRASH DETECTION - An implementation determines crash severity quantifier values based on crash sensor samples and determining an air bag firing based at least on the crash severity quantifier values. | 02-19-2015 |
| 20160002959 | PROACTIVE SAFETY METHODS, DEVICES AND SYSTEMS, AND SAFETY METHODS AND DEVICES FOR BLOCKING OPERATION OF LATCHES FOR OCCUPANT INGRESS AND EGRESS CLOSURE PANELS - A method for controlling a blocking component for a latch of a closure panel of a vehicle, the latch having latch components including a ratchet and pawl, the method comprising: determining whether an occupant is in the vehicle and whether a speed of the vehicle is above a first threshold; and blocking release of the latch by positioning the blocking component whenever the occupant is in the vehicle and the speed is above the first threshold, automatically without occupant intervention, into a blocking position adjacent to at least one of the latch components to restrict movement of the at least one of the latch components which movement would cause the latch to open, wherein the blocking position is adjacent either the ratchet or the pawl, and restricts movement of the ratchet or pawl, respectively. | 01-07-2016 |
| 20160046251 | Control Device for an Object Coupling Device of a Vehicle, Object Coupling Device for a Vehicle and Method for Dampening an Impact of an Inertially Accelerated Object - A control device for an object coupling device of a vehicle is configured to actuate a dampening device of the object coupling device such that an object moved by an inertial force from a fixing position along a specified target route to a target impact component of the vehicle can be delayed. The control device is additionally configured to determine a target operating mode of the dampening device from at least two executable operating modes of the dampening device having a different time difference between an exit time of the object from the fixing position and an insert time of a delay of the object to be executed by the dampening device and to control the dampening device into the target operating mode via the at least one control signal. | 02-18-2016 |
| 20160052473 | METHOD, APPARATUS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR DETECTING A COLLISION USING ACCELEROMETER DATA - A collision is detected using an accelerometer attached to a vehicle. Acceleration data is received ( | 02-25-2016 |
| 20160067123 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PREVENTING FALL-RELATED INJURIES - A system for preventing fall-related injuries is described. The system comprises a re-useable airbag which can be mounted on a wheelchair, power chair, stroller or scooter or can be design as a hip protector to be put on a waist of a wearer. The system further comprises a fall detection unit that can automatically trigger inflation of the airbag system in case of a fall. | 03-10-2016 |
| 20160075294 | DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING PERSONAL PROTECTION IN A VEHICLE - A device for controlling personal protection apparatus in a vehicle includes: at least one sensor unit that acquires at least one physical quantity; and evaluation and control unit which (i) produces, from the at least one acquired physical quantity, at least one signal curve that characterizes an impact, (ii) determines, as a function of an energy dissipation behavior of the vehicle, at least one temporal phase in the produced signal curve, and (iii) evaluates the at least one phase for crash classification and for a triggering decision for the personal protection apparatus. The evaluation and control unit retroactively calculates at least one feature of the energy dissipation based on a characteristic time in the signal curve that represents the end of a first temporal phase. | 03-17-2016 |
| 20160090063 | OCCUPANT PROTECTION APPARATUS FOR VEHICLE - An occupant protection apparatus for a vehicle includes a door sensor that detects a defamation of a side door in a side collision and an occupant position detection sensor that detects a lumbar position of the occupant. A pretensioner is activated when it is determined from detection by the door sensor and the occupant position detection sensor that an intruding-object collision rear-end position in the side door is located in front of the lumbar position, and the pretensioner is prohibited from activation when it is determined that the intruding-object collision rear-end position is not located in front of the lumbar position. When there is a possibility that a clearance between the lumbar of the occupant and the deformed side door is insufficient, the pretensioner is prohibited from activation to allow the occupant to move at the early stage of a collision. | 03-31-2016 |
| 20160152208 | Method and Device for Operating a Pedestrian-Protection Device of a Vehicle, Pedestrian-Protection Device | 06-02-2016 |
| 20160176374 | deformation device for a vehicle, and method for detecting a shortening of a deformation device for a vehicle | 06-23-2016 |
| 20180022233 | OCCUPANT DETECTION AND CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM | 01-25-2018 |
