Abstract: Airbag inflator system including a housing defining a flow passage leading into an interior of an airbag). A gas generator is arranged in connection with the housing. An activation system provides a signal to the gas generator to cause generation of gas. An aspirator is arranged between the reverse flow valve and the outlet end region and includes an inlet portion alongside the reverse flow valve and an aspiration portion partly separated from the inlet portion to define at least one opening in flow communication with the gas generator. The aspirator is preferably configured to generate gas flow in accordance with the Prandtl-Meyer effect.

Abstract: Airbag inflator system including a housing defining a flow passage leading into an interior of an airbag). A gas generator is arranged in connection with the housing. An activation system provides a signal to the gas generator to cause generation of gas. An aspirator is arranged between the reverse flow valve and the outlet end region and includes an inlet portion alongside the reverse flow valve and an aspiration portion partly separated from the inlet portion to define at least one opening in flow communication with the gas generator. The aspirator is preferably configured to generate gas flow in accordance with the Prandtl-Meyer effect.

Abstract: Airbag inflator system including a housing defining a flow passage leading into an interior of an airbag). A reverse flow valve is arranged at an inlet end region and selectively enables connection of the flow passage to ambient atmosphere dependent on a pressure differential on opposite sides of the reverse flow valve. A gas generator is arranged in connection with the housing. An activation system provides a signal to the gas generator to cause generation of gas. An aspirator is arranged between the reverse flow valve and the outlet end region and includes an inlet portion alongside the reverse flow valve and an aspiration portion partly separated from the inlet portion to define at least one opening in flow communication with the gas generator. The aspirator is preferably configured to generate gas flow in accordance with the Prandtl-Meyer effect.

Abstract: Valve including a valve body having a drain hole, a valve seat including an outlet union from which fluid flows out of the valve, a cup coupled to the valve body and biased against the valve seat, an input union, and a control valve arranged partly inside the valve seat. The control valve defines a compartment and includes an actuator, a permanent magnet and first and second electromagnets. The actuator includes a slide arranged in the compartment and that closes the drain hole when in a first position and is spaced apart from the drain hole when in a second position, and an armature. Providing current to the first electromagnet causes the slide to move to the second position separated from the drain hole and causes movement of the cup apart from the valve seat and thus flow of fluid from the input union to the outlet union.

Abstract: Vehicle with computer networking capability includes a display visible to an occupant of the vehicle, an on-board computer coupled to the display; and a communications device for enabling the on-board computer to communicate with other computers apart from the vehicle via a communications network. The on-board computer communicates with the other computers via the communications device to receive data and software to enable the on-board computer to perform functions. Further, the on-board computer directs the display to display the data received by the on-board computer from the other computers via the communications device. The on-board computer determines which data and software to receive based on a location of the vehicle.

Abstract: Airbag inflator system including a housing defining a flow passage leading into an interior of an airbag). A reverse flow valve is arranged at an inlet end region and selectively enables connection of the flow passage to ambient atmosphere dependent on a pressure differential on opposite sides of the reverse flow valve. A gas generator is arranged in connection with the housing. An activation system provides a signal to the gas generator to cause generation of gas. An aspirator is arranged between the reverse flow valve and the outlet end region and includes an inlet portion alongside the reverse flow valve and an aspiration portion partly separated from the inlet portion to define at least one opening in flow communication with the gas generator. The aspirator is preferably configured to generate gas flow in accordance with the Prandtl-Meyer effect.

Abstract: Valve including a valve body having a drain hole, a valve seat including an outlet union from which fluid flows out of the valve, a cup coupled to the valve body and biased against the valve seat, an input union, and a control valve arranged partly inside the valve seat. The control valve defines a compartment and including an actuator, a permanent magnet and first and second electromagnets. The actuator includes a slide arranged in the compartment and that closes the drain hole when in a first position and is spaced apart from the drain hole when in a second position, and an armature. Providing current to the first electromagnet cause the slide to move to the second position separated from the drain hole and causing movement of the cup apart from the valve seat and thus flow of fluid from the input union to the outlet union.

Abstract: Aspirator for an airbag deploying into a vehicle passenger compartment in order to protect a driver of the vehicle during an accident, includes a housing having an innermost and an outermost wall and defining an outlet at a distal end leading to an airbag and coaxial flow passages between the innermost and outermost walls into which air from a passenger compartment flows to inflate the airbag. An aspiration system is coupled to the housing and configured to direct gas into the flow passages to mix with the air from the passenger compartment in the flow passages. The aspiration system includes openings on an inner side of the outermost wall and on an outer side of the innermost wall. These openings are configured such that the gas is directed therefrom into the flow passages in a direction substantially parallel to a flow direction of air into the flow passages.

Abstract: Electronic crash sensor system for a vehicle including at least one inertial measurement device arranged on the vehicle to measure an inertial property of the vehicle, a processor that incorporates or executes a crash sensing algorithm that determines whether the vehicle is sensing a crash based on the inertial property measured by each inertial measurement device and a positioning system arranged on the vehicle to provide its position. The inertial property measured by each inertial measurement device is modified based on the position and then provided to the crash sensing algorithm such that the crash sensing algorithm determines whether the vehicle is sensing a crash based on the modified inertial property measured by each inertial measurement device. Self-testing of each inertial measurement device is not performed.

Abstract: Inflatable airbag for a vehicle which is deployed in the event of an accident involving the vehicle to provide protection for an occupant of the vehicle includes a plurality of ribbons coupled together to define an enclosed, fluid-retaining space and a layer of film laminated on at least one of an outer side of the woven ribbons and an inner side of the ribbons. The ribbons each have a width of less than about 3 mm and preferably about 0.5 to about 1 mm. The ribbons may be made from polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester or polyamide and the layers of film may be made from polyethylene, polyurethane, polyester or polyamide. The ribbons and layers of film may be made of the same or different materials.

Abstract: Low cost airbag system (1) for a vehicle that deploys to protect a driver and optionally a passenger during a crash involving the vehicle. The airbag system includes a crash sensor system (2) that detects a crash involving the vehicle, a driver side airbag module (40) mounted to a steering wheel and including a driver side airbag (42) that inflates to protect the driver and a gas generator (108) that generates inflation medium to inflate the driver side airbag (42). A control module (6) is coupled to the crash sensor system (2) and gas generator (108) and initiates generation of inflation medium by the gas generator (108) based on detection of a crash by the crash sensor system (2). A similar system is provided for the passenger side airbag module (20).

Abstract: Low cost airbag system (1) for a vehicle that deploys to protect a driver and optionally a passenger during a crash involving the vehicle,. The airbag system includes a crash sensor system (2) that detects a crash involving the vehicle, a driver side airbag module (40) mounted to a steering wheel and including a driver side airbag (42) that inflates to protect the driver and a gas generator (108) that generates inflation medium to inflate the driver side airbag (42). A control module (6) is coupled to the crash sensor system (2) and gas generator (108) and initiates generation of inflation medium by the gas generator (108) based on detection of a crash by the crash sensor system (2). A similar system is provided for the passenger side airbag module (20).

Abstract: Method and system for deploying an occupant restraint device in a vehicle includes arranging a sensor to detect a rear impact and deploying the occupant restraint device when the sensor detects the rear impact of sufficient magnitude to require deployment of the occupant restraint device to prevent injury to the occupant. The sensor may be a crush sensor which preferably extends across a major portion of the rear of the vehicle, an inertial sensor and/or an anticipatory sensor.

Abstract: Vehicle with wireless sensors includes a frame, at least one sensor assembly fixed to the frame and each including a sensor arranged to obtain data about a condition or property of the vehicle or part thereof or an environment in or around the vehicle, and a wireless transmission component coupled to the sensor for wirelessly transmitting a signal derived from the data obtained by the sensor, a receiver fixed to the frame arranged to receive signals from the wireless transmission component, and a reactive component for performing an action based on the data obtained by the sensor and transmitted from the wireless transmission component to the receiver. The data can be displayed as an indication to the driver or other occupant of the vehicle, relayed the data to a remote location for analysis or response and/or used to determine adjustment or control a component in the vehicle.

Abstract: Control system for controlling at least one occupant protection system of a vehicle includes a plurality of preferably electronic sensor systems mounted at different locations on the vehicle, each sensor system providing a measurement related to a state thereof system or a measurement related to a state of the mounting location. A processor is coupled to the sensor systems and diagnoses the state of the vehicle based on the measurements of the sensor systems. The processor controls each occupant protection system based at least in part on the diagnosed state of the vehicle. The occupant protection system may be a deployable airbag whose deployment is controlled by the processor based on the diagnosed state of the vehicle. The diagnosis of the state of the vehicle may be a diagnosis of the overall condition of the vehicle with respect to its stability or a diagnosis of the vehicle itself.

Abstract: Arrangement and method for monitoring an asset includes a location determining system and a self-powered interior sensor and communication system which data about contents in the interior of the asset and transmits the data and the location of the asset. It includes a transmitter and receiver for communicating directly with a wireless ISP such that the data about the contents and the location of the asset are available to a user having access to the Internet and a user having access to the Internet can direct communications to the interior sensor and communications system. A triggering device is coupled to the interior sensor and communication system and arranged to detect an event which might cause a change in the contents or condition of the asset. The triggering device directs the interior sensor and communication system to obtain data about the contents when such an event is detected.

Abstract: Vehicle with wireless sensors includes a frame, at least one sensor assembly fixed to the frame and each including a sensor arranged to obtain data about a condition or property of the vehicle or part thereof or an environment in or around the vehicle, and a wireless transmission component coupled to the sensor for wirelessly transmitting a signal derived from the data obtained by the sensor, a receiver fixed to the frame arranged to receive signals from the wireless transmission component, and a reactive component for performing an action based on the data obtained by the sensor and transmitted from the wireless transmission component to the receiver. The data can be displayed as an indication to the driver or other occupant of the vehicle, relayed the data to a remote location for analysis or response and/or used to determine adjustment or control a component in the vehicle.

Abstract: Vehicular apparatus and method for determining a characteristic of an object that may be located on a seat of the vehicle includes emitters, each emitting a beam along a path on which the object may be located, each path being in a different direction, receivers, each receiving beams emitted from the array of emitters that are reflected from the object when present in the seat, and a processor coupled to the emitters and the receivers for determining time-of-flight of each reflected and received beam between emission of the beam from the emitters and reception of the beam at the receivers. The processor determines one or more characteristics of the object based on the determined time-of-flight of each reflected and received beam, taken either individually or in combination.

Abstract: Method for protecting an occupant seated on a seat of a vehicle which includes an airbag arranged to deploy to protect the occupant in the event of a crash involving the vehicle, a first sensor system for detecting presence of the occupant, a second sensor system connected to the seatbelt for obtaining information about seatbelt spool out, and a processor coupled to the first and second sensor systems and arranged to control deployment of the airbag based on the presence of the occupant and the information about seatbelt spool out. The second sensor system may be arranged to measure a length of the seatbelt pulled out of a seatbelt retractor and include an encoder arranged on a shaft around which the seatbelt is wound and a receptor arranged to generate a signal when a line on the encoder passes by the receptor.

Abstract: Inflatable airbag for a vehicle which is deployed in the event of an accident involving the vehicle to provide protection for an occupant of the vehicle includes a plurality of ribbons coupled together to define an enclosed, fluid-retaining space and a layer of film laminated on at least one of an outer side of the woven ribbons and an inner side of the ribbons. The ribbons may be made from polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester or polyamide and the layers of film may be made from polyethylene, polyurethane, polyester or polyamide. The ribbons and layers of film may be made of the same or different materials.