Patent application number | Description | Published |
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 |
20080243327 | Vehicle Safety System With Advanced Tire Monitoring - A control system ( | 10-02-2008 |
20080243334 | Vehicle Control System With Advanced Tire Monitoring - A control system ( | 10-02-2008 |
20080243335 | Vehicle Stability Control System With Tire Monitoring - A control system ( | 10-02-2008 |
20090045928 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMBINED BLIND SPOT DETECTION AND REAR CROSSING PATH COLLISION WARNING - A vehicle is equipped with blind spot detection and rear crossing path collision warning system. Programmable maximum range limit radar sensors mounted on the vehicle are used to provide blind spot object detection warning when the vehicle is traveling in a forward direction and rear crossing path collision warning when the vehicle is traveling in a rearward direction. | 02-19-2009 |
20090261561 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRE-IMPACT DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG - An air bag deployment system includes a pre-impact sensor operative to detect an imminent impact and at least one post-impact sensor operative to detect an impact. An air bag has a non-deployed volume, a pre-impact deployed volume, and a post-impact deployed volume smaller than the pre-impact deployed volume. The air bag is deployed to the pre-impact volume wherein the air bag deployment system is arranged to deploy the air bag before the impact and the at least one air bag is deployed into the pre-impact deployed volume, in reaction to the imminent impact, and to the post-impact deployed volume in reaction to the impact. The system provides for enhanced occupant safety during a collision by allowing pre-impact deployment of the air bag in order to utilize the full possible length of deceleration for the occupant as the impact pulse affects the occupant. | 10-22-2009 |
20100201507 | DUAL-MODE VISION SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE SAFETY - A dual-mode imaging system for a vehicle includes an electro-optical camera mounted inside the passenger cabin and a drive unit for rotating the camera between a rear view position wherein the camera images an area rearward of the vehicle and a seating view position wherein the camera images a seating area within the cabin. When the vehicle is in a non-reverse travel mode, an electronic control module (ECM) directs the camera to the seating view position and analyzes imagery to determine an occupancy status for at least one seating position. A safety system undergoes a function change based on the occupancy status. When the powertrain is in a reverse travel mode, the ECM directs the camera to the rear view position and imagery from the camera is presented on a display screen displays for viewing by the vehicle operator while backing up. | 08-12-2010 |
20100220406 | Blind Spot Detection System - A method and system to control a side mirror are disclosed in which a blind spot detector is used to determine whether an alien vehicle is present in a blind spot of a host vehicle. A sensor proximate a driver's seat detects whether the seat is in a first range or a second range. The side mirror is rotated a first predetermined angle when the alien vehicle is detected and the seat is in the first range; and the side mirror is rotated a second predetermined angle when the alien vehicle is detected and the seat is in a second range. | 09-02-2010 |
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 |
20100289631 | DUAL-MODE VEHICLE REAR VISION SYSTEM - A dual-mode rear vision system for an automotive vehicle includes an electro-optical imaging device operable in a short range mode to image a backup region immediately rearward of the vehicle and operable in a long range mode to image a collision threat region rearward of the backup region. The imaging device assumes the short range mode when the vehicle is in a reverse travel mode and assumes the long range mode when the vehicle is in a non-reverse travel mode. An electronic control module (ECM) analyzes imagery from the imaging device to detect backup hazards when in the reverse travel mode, and to detect rear collision threats when in the non-reverse travel mode. The ECM activates an occupant protection system if a collision threat is detected, and generates a driver alert and/or a braking intervention if a backup hazard is detected. | 11-18-2010 |
20110074565 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IN-VEHICLE PRESENCE DETECTION AND DRIVER ALERTING - A system for alerting a responsible party to the presence of an occupant in a passenger compartment of a vehicle includes a vibration sensor detecting movement of an occupant, a microphone detecting sound made by the occupant, a processor configured to receive signals output from the vibration sensor and the microphone and to use a combination of the signals to determine whether the occupant is present, and an alerting device to provide an alert to the responsible party if the processor determines that the occupant is present. The microphone may also be used in a communication or voice-recognition command system. Two or more microphones may be used to locate the sound's source of origin. | 03-31-2011 |
20110074566 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF VEHICLE PASSENGER DETECTION FOR REAR SEATING ROWS - A system for detecting a passenger in a rear seating row of a vehicle and alerting an occupant of a vehicle when a passenger safety device in a rear row is not properly used. Occupancy is determined by sensing any actuation of a switch or control in the rear row along with detecting sounds made by the rear row passenger. A processor receives control activity signals indicating that a control has been actuated, receives audio signals generated by a microphone, and uses the control activity signals and the audio signals in combination to determine that the passenger is present. The processor also receives a status signal from the passenger safety device indicating that it is not in proper use. An occupant alerting device provides an alert to the occupant if the processor determines that the passenger is present and the passenger safety device is not in proper use. | 03-31-2011 |
20110224875 | Biometric Application of a Polymer-based Pressure Sensor - The invention is a control system for adjusting at least one vehicle system in a plurality of vehicle systems comprising at least one polymer-based biometric sensor positioned proximate a driver for monitoring at least one vital sign of a driver of the vehicle and configured to produce data in response to changes in the at least one vital sign. The system also comprises at least one camera system positioned to view the driver. A first processing system is configured to receive sensor data and input collected by the camera system to determine a biometric state of the driver. The biometric state of the vehicle driver is then used to determine an adjustment setting for the at least one vehicle system thereby controlling the vehicle system in response to the adjustment setting in accordance with the determined biometric state of the vehicle driver. | 09-15-2011 |
20110267186 | Occupant Detection - A system and method are disclosed for detecting an occupant in a vehicle. Successive images from an infrared camera are analyzed to detect thermal characteristics of an occupant as well as movement. If an operator of the vehicle has exited the vehicle, the vehicle is deactivated, an occupant is detected, and a temperature in the cabin of the vehicle is higher or lower than desired, a report is made to the operator via a mobile phone or key fob. | 11-03-2011 |
20110301821 | VEHICLE CONTROL SYSTEM WITH ADVANCED TIRE MONITORING - A control system ( | 12-08-2011 |
20110307147 | VEHICLE CONTROL SYSTEM WITH ADVANCED TIRE MONITORING - A control system ( | 12-15-2011 |
20130054051 | Method and Apparatus for a Near Field Communication System to Exchange Occupant Information - A system includes a plurality of antennas, positioned to be capable of receiving a wireless near field communication (NFC) device signal associated with a device located in any one of a driver's back pocket or front pocket, a center console or a passenger seat. The system also includes an NFC reader, in communication with the plurality of antennas. The NFC reader is operable to assign, based at least in part on a number of signals received and a signal strength, one of one or more devices associated with detected signals to a driver. The NFC reader is in communication with a vehicle computing system, operable to retrieve additional information associated with the device assigned to the driver and to apply that information to control vehicle settings. | 02-28-2013 |
20130147953 | COMBINED BACKUP CAMERA AND DRIVER ALERTNESS SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE - A combined backup camera and driver alertness system for a vehicle includes an imaging device that is adapted to be supported on a vehicle for capturing images adjacent a rearward portion of the vehicle. A sensor is provided that generates a signal when either (1) a transmission contained in the vehicle is operated in the rearward operating mode or (2) the vehicle is actually moved in the rearward direction. The system also includes a driver alertness processor and an image display. A data router routes the images from the imaging device to the driver alertness processor when not the signal is generated by the sensor and to the image display when the signal is generated by the sensor. | 06-13-2013 |
20130184942 | Method and Apparatus for Determining Position of Motor Vehicle Seat - Apparatus for moving an automotive vehicle seat along a track includes a motor, a first sensor sensing rotation of the motor, and a second sensor detecting presence of the seat at a reference position along the track. A controller determines a seat position based upon signals from the first sensor and calibrates the determined seat position based upon a signal from the second sensor indicating that the seat is at the reference position. This allows any error that as accumulated in the seat position as determined by the first sensor to be eliminated each time the seat reaches the known reference position. | 07-18-2013 |
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 |
20140025232 | Method and Apparatus for a Near Field Communication System to Exchange Occupant Information - A system includes a plurality of antennas, positioned to be capable of receiving a wireless near field communication (NFC) device signal associated with a device located in any one of a driver's back pocket or front pocket, a center console or a passenger seat. The system also includes an NFC reader, in communication with the plurality of antennas. The NFC reader is operable to assign, based at least in part on a number of signals received and a signal strength, one of one or more devices associated with detected signals to a driver. The NFC reader is in communication with a vehicle computing system, operable to retrieve additional information associated with the device assigned to the driver and to apply that information to control vehicle settings. | 01-23-2014 |
20140285216 | SYSTEM FOR ENHANCING SIGNAL QUALITY FROM CAPACITIVE BIOMETRIC SENSOR IN A VEHICLE FOR CONTINUOUS BIOMETRIC MONITORING - A system may include at least one sensor configured to detect at least one vital signal, wherein the sensor is positioned proximate to a driver within a vehicle seat. At least one contact element may be configured to detect at least one reference signal, wherein the contact element surrounds a vehicle steering wheel. At least one resistor may be coupled to the at least one sensor and configured to receive the reference signal from the contact element. | 09-25-2014 |