Abstract: Electromagnetic radiation is directed from an optical grating in a regular array of beams in rows and columns toward a target object surface; and the reflected beams are focused through a lens to form beam images on an image plane of a single camera. Each of the beam images has a position on the image plane that moves substantially linearly with variation of a target distance between the optical grating and a point on the object surface from which that beam image is reflected; and the direction of the substantially linear movement of each beam image forms a predetermined angle with the column of the array of beam images on the image plane to which that beam belongs at a common target distance.

Abstract: Noise produced during a supplemental brake apply is reduced eliminated by reducing the quantity of additional brake fluid supplied to the pump during the apply. The prime valve is opened only at the initiation of the supplemental apply to supply a predetermined small quantity of brake fluid to the accumulator and pump inlet and is then closed for the remainder of the apply. The quantity of extra fluid supplied can be retained by the accumulator and does not need to by blown off back to the master cylinder. The apply valve of the non-regulated wheel brake is controlled to regulate pressure to the regulated wheel brake through the apply valve thereof, which is left open while the release valve of the regulated wheel brake is left closed. The release valve of the non-regulated wheel is controlled to maintain a lower pressure at the non-regulated wheel, preferably equal to the master cylinder pressure whenever possible, while permitting fluid flow back to the accumulator.

Abstract: A roll arming sensor is provided for determining an arming signal for use on a vehicle for rollover detection. The roll arming sensor includes a light source for generating a light beam and a receiver for detecting the light beam. Disposed substantially horizontal between the light source and receiver are first and second cylindrical members, both oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The first and second cylindrical members each have a window extending therethrough for passing the light beam during normal vehicle travel. Each of the first and second cylindrical members are movable to a second position upon experiencing an armed condition, such as a roll event, to prevent the optical beam from passing to the receiver, thereby generating an arming signal for use with a rollover sensor.

Abstract: A vehicle rollover detection apparatus and method are provided for detecting an overturn condition of the vehicle. The rollover detection apparatus includes an angular rate sensor sensing angular rate of the vehicle, and a vertical accelerometer for sensing vertical acceleration of the vehicle. A controller processes the sensed angular rate signal and integrates it to produce an attitude angle. The vertical acceleration signal is processed to determine an inclination angle of the vehicle. The rollover detection apparatus adjusts the attitude angle as a function of the inclination angle and compares the adjusted attitude angle and the processed angular rate signal to a threshold level to provide a vehicle overturn condition output signal. Additionally, the rollover detection apparatus detects a near-rollover event and adjusts the variable threshold in response thereto to prevent deployment of a vehicle overturn condition, thus providing immunity to such events.

Abstract: A brake by wire system is integrated with a brake transmission solenoid interlock (BTSI) unit to prevent a vehicle transmission from being shifted out of a park mode into a drive mode until a brake system operational state is determined. The BTSI is activated by a supplemental control unit, which generates a transmission release signal generated by a controller in response to simultaneous presence of a brake intent signal from one or more brake pedal sensors and a determination of an operational state of the brake system. The supplemental control unit includes a switch responsive to the transmission release signal to close the BTSI activating circuit and permit release of the transmission. In a split brake system with two brake controllers, the supplemental control unit may include a switch controlled by a logic (OR, AND) circuit or a pair of switches in an equivalent logical circuit configuration.

Abstract: In a vehicle seat occupant detection system, a transponder in a seat cushion is responsive to an activating signal to generate an electromagnetic signal containing unique seat identification data. An occupant detection system module senses a seat characteristic and derives therefrom an occupant detection signal. The module further generates the transponder activating signal and receives and processes the electromagnetic signal to derive the contained seat identification data. The module determines if there is seat identification data in a dedicated memory location in rewritable, non-volatile memory and, if there is, compares it to the seat identification data from the electromagnetic signal. If they do not match, the derivation of a valid occupant detection signal is prevented.

Abstract: An electric circuit module has a case made of a non-magnetic material. The case has an attachment portion for fixed mounting on a vehicle part made of a magnetic material and a permanent magnet fixed within the case. The module further has a Hall effect sensor fixed within the case in positional relation to the permanent magnet and the attachment portion such that the Hall effect sensor generates a first signal when the attachment portion of the case is fixedly attached to the vehicle part and a second signal different from the first signal when the attachment portion of the case is not so mounted. The module also has an electric circuit in the case with circuit elements responsive to the Hall effect sensor to provide a first mode of operation in response to the first signal and a second mode of operation in response to the second signal. The module is particularly useful when at least one of the electric circuit elements is an accelerometer, for example in a vehicle passive restraint deployment system.

Abstract: A vehicle chassis control stores first and second calibrated values of a predetermined braking parameter and a steering correction parameter. The control includes apparatus for detecting a split coefficient condition with respect to the road surface; and, when it does and a braking signal is present, the control actuates braking apparatus for a wheel on the side of the vehicle having the higher coefficient of friction with the first calibrated value of the predetermined braking parameter and simultaneously actuates the steering apparatus with a steering correction to compensate for yaw induced by braking on the split coefficient road surface. If the steering correction is not available, however, the braking apparatus is actuated for the wheel having the higher coefficient of friction with the second calibrated value of the predetermined braking parameter without simultaneously actuating the steering apparatus with the steering correction.

Abstract: A suspension control for vehicle dampers uses a trimset value to compensate signals from relative body/wheel position sensors associated with the dampers. Each trimset value is determined by recording a sensor value with the body and wheel in a predetermined relative state, such as by lifting the vehicle until the associated wheel is free of the ground and hanging in a low limit position determined by the suspension apparatus. In vehicle operation, the trimset value is used as an offset to the relative position sensor signal to accurately determine damper position relative to its compression and rebound limit positions. When the damper is within a predetermined bump stop region near either of the compression and rebound limit positions, a bump stop value is determined and applied to the damper to provide a high minimum damping level creating an electronic bump stop for the damper.

Abstract: An improved weight-based occupant characterization method reliably distinguishes between a minimum weight adult and a child seated on a booster seat. An early characterization of the seat occupant is made in an interval following a transition event such as a door opening or ignition state change that activates the occupant detection system. During this interval, an initial characterization routine monitors the seat belt tension and the raw seat pressure to identify signal values characteristic of a minimum weight adult or a child seated on a booster seat. If the indicated occupant weight during subsequent operation of the vehicle is inconsistent with the initial characterization, the initial characterization is discarded, and the seat occupancy is characterized based on the indicated occupant weight.

Abstract: A vehicle rollover sensing apparatus and method are provided for detecting a rollover condition of the vehicle. The rollover sensing apparatus includes an angular rate sensor for sensing attitude rate of change of a vehicle and a lateral accelerometer for sensing lateral dynamics of the vehicle. The rollover sensing apparatus also has an integrator for integrating the sensed attitude rate of change signal over a variable time window and producing an attitude angle. The rollover sensing apparatus further includes deployment logic for comparing the attitude angle and attitude rate of change to a pair of variable threshold values with a gray-zone that varies based on time, and for deploying a vehicle overturn condition signal based on the comparison. Sensitivity of the deployment logic is adjusted as a function of the sensed lateral dynamics to enhance rollover deployment during certain driving events.

Abstract: Dedicated memory locations for vehicle identification data and seat calibration data are provided in a first rewritable, non-volatile memory within an occupant detection system module and a second rewritable, non-volatile memory external to the occupant detection system. At least once each ignition cycle, preferably at power up, an algorithm responsive to vehicle identification data obtained from the vehicle, stored in the first rewritable, non-volatile memory and/or stored in the second rewritable, non-volatile memory, as well as the presence of seat calibration data in the first rewritable, non-volatile memory, controls the copying of seat calibration data and/or vehicle identification data between the first and second rewritable, non-volatile memories to preserve seat calibration data for a vehicle through replacement of the occupant detection system module or the entire occupant detection system.

Abstract: An improved method of selectively suppressing deployment of a vehicular inflatable restraint utilizes both static and dynamic variation in the measured capacitance of a vehicle occupant in a complementary manner that reduces overall system variability. The decision to allow or suppress deployment of the restraint is determined based on a comparison of the static capacitance reading with at least one threshold, and the dynamic variation of the measured capacitance and other parameters such as seat belt tension, seat humidity and seat temperature are used to adjust the threshold in a direction to minimize the overall variability of the system. In a preferred embodiment, the variation of the measured capacitance with respect to the variation in vertical acceleration of the vehicle is used to estimate the free capacitance of the occupant, and such free capacitance is used to adjust the threshold.

Abstract: A rear steer control for a motor vehicle considers vehicle velocity in three ranges and provides an out of phase rear steer angle in open loop control within a low velocity range for oversteer assistance of parking and similar vehicle maneuvers, an in phase rear steer angle in closed loop control responsive to vehicle yaw rate within a high velocity range for understeer vehicle stability assistance, and a steer angle in closed loop control responsive to vehicle yaw rate within an intermediate velocity range. In a preferred embodiment, the closed loop control in the high velocity range may be combined with an open loop control. The control further provides supplemental throttle adjustments in coordination with the rear steer control for increased traction and stability in a turn.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for controlling dampers in a suspension system of a vehicle body. A heave velocity of a vehicle body is derived from sensed dynamic variables of the vehicle body. A slew rate limit for a damping control command is derived in response to the heave velocity of the vehicle body. The damping control command for at least one dampers is generated in accordance with the slew rate limit.

Abstract: A disc brake caliper assembly has a housing with a bore. A piston in the bore is movable between applied, retracted and knock-back positions. The piston is activatable by hydraulic pressure to move from the retracted position to the applied position; and a retracting seal is effective in the absence of the hydraulic pressure to move the piston from the applied position to the retracted position. A linkage adjacent the piston carries a stop; and an actuator is responsive to an end of brake activation signal to cause the linkage to engage the stop with the piston when the piston is retracted from its applied position to its retracted position so as to prevent the piston from moving from the retracted position to the knock-back position. The actuator is preferably a comparatively weak electric motor that stalls as the stop engages the piston; and the stall is sensed to end motor activation. The end of brake activation signal is preferably provided by a brake position or pressure sensor.

Abstract: A vehicle hydraulic braking system responds to detection of an operator intended high braking intensity event to isolate vehicle brakes from the master cylinder and activate a motor driven pump to generate a maximum predetermined supply pressure, calibrated to provide activation of an anti-lock braking system, to the brake apply valves for an initial predetermined time. Thereafter, the supply pressure is reduced via an electrically controllable pressure relief valve responsive to sensed vehicle deceleration so as to decrease the supply pressure provided to the apply valve to a level just sufficient to provide the sensed vehicle deceleration. The high intensity braking event is detected via a rate of change of master cylinder pressure, pedal force or pedal travel.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for attaching a tube member to a housing of a vacuum brake booster is provided. A tube member includes a body portion, an outer surface, a first end, and a second end. A first collar portion is disposed between the first end and the body portion, and extends outward from the outer surface. A lip portion is disposed at the first end and extends outward from the outer surface. The first collar portion and the lip portion define a recess to receive a first housing member. The tube member may further include a second collar portion spaced apart from the first collar portion and extending outward from the outer surface. The second collar portion may preferably define a contact surface for contacting an inner surface of a second housing member.

Abstract: An estimated brake rotor temperature is provided including a cooling effect during active braking as well as when braking is inactive. The cooling effect is based on a difference between the rotor temperature and sensed ambient temperature and is also preferably based on wheel speed. In an active braking mode, a heating effect is provided based at least on sensed wheel speed. If no brake pressure signal is available, the heating effect is further based on vehicle deceleration. The heating effects for front and rear brake units are relatively compensated for differences in heat generation due to load shifts during braking, the compensation being preferably based on vehicle deceleration. The brake rotor temperature estimation is realized in a programmed digital computer but does not use computer resource hungry exponential functions.

Abstract: A collision detection system and method of estimating a miss distance of an object are provided. The collision detection system includes a sensor for sensing an object within a field of view and measuring range and range rate of the sensed object. The collision detection system further includes a controller for computing a mathematical square of the range and computing a mathematical square of the product of range and range rate. The controller estimates a miss distance of the object as a function of the computed squared range and the squared product of range and range rate.