Abstract: A method suitable for characterizing a motor, for instance a permanent magnet synchronous motor, includes obtaining a plurality of winding flux linkage values or terminal voltages of the motor, each corresponding to a different combination of phase current magnitude and phase advance. The resultant flux-linkage values or terminal voltages are transformed into the rotor dq reference frame. The flux linkage model is fitted to the one or more dq-axis flux-linkage values or terminal voltages and their linked phase current magnitude and phase advance using a process of parametric optimisation.

Abstract: An airbag (10) for a vehicle occupant restraint system comprises at least two opposite fabric layers (12, 14) which delimit at least one chamber (18) adapted to be filled with gas and comprises at least two spacers (20a, 20b, 20c, 20d) which, in the inflated state of the airbag (10), delimit the distance of the fabric layers (12, 14) from each other, wherein the spacers (20a, 20b, 20c, 20d) are formed by threads which in a connecting area (22a, 22b, 22c, 22d, 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d) are connected to a fabric layer (12, 14), extend in the direction of the opposite fabric layer (14, 12) and in a further connecting area (24a, 24b, 24c, 24d, 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d) are connected to the original or the opposite fabric layer (14, 12).

Abstract: A coupling device (16) for mounting an airbag module (14) to be oscillating on a steering wheel structure (12) of a vehicle steering wheel (10) includes a mounting member (18) which includes, relative to a steering wheel axis, an axial bottom side (20) which in the assembled state of the vehicle steering wheel (10) faces the steering wheel structure (12) as well as an opposite axial top side (22) which in the assembled state of the vehicle steering wheel (10) faces the airbag module (14), a contact face (24) for a damping element (26) provided on the axial bottom side (20) for oscillating coupling of the mounting member (18) to the steering wheel structure (12), and comprising a locking element (28) disposed on the top side (22) of the mounting member (18) for locking with the prefabricated airbag module (14), wherein the locking element (28) is configured so that the airbag module (14) can be coupled to the mounting member (18) by a locking connection substantially in an axially fixed manner or in an axially

Abstract: An apparatus for use in turning steerable vehicle wheels includes a steering column having a pinion connected with a vehicle steering wheel such that rotation of the steering wheel results in rotation of the pinion. An electrically powered steering unit includes an electric motor having a first output shaft rotatable about an axis. A first planetary gear stage has a first gear reduction ratio and is driven by the first output shaft. A second planetary gear stage is driven by the first planetary gear stage and the pinion and has a second gear reduction ratio different from the first gear reduction ratio. A second output shaft is driven by the second planetary gear stage and coupled to the steerable wheels such that rotation of the second output shaft affects steering of the vehicle wheels.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wiring harness (10) for an airbag module of a vehicle occupant safety system, particularly for a driver's airbag module, having a connector (11) for connecting to a pyrotechnic igniter of the airbag module, at least one module connecting cable (12) connected to the connector (11) for connecting the connector (11) to a vehicle wiring harness, and at least one actuator unit (13) having a pyrotechnic actuator (17) and an actuator connecting cable (14) which is formed integrally with the actuator unit (13) and is connected to the connector (11). The invention further relates to an airbag module, vehicle cabling and a vehicle occupant safety system having a wiring harness of this kind and to a method of production.

Abstract: A method for assisting operation of a vehicle traveling on a roadway includes acquiring visual images around the vehicle with at least one visual camera having a field of view and acquiring thermal images around the vehicle with at least one thermal camera having the field of view. The thermal images are superimposed over the visual images to produce composite images. An object is detected in the composite images. A vehicle assist system adjusts at least one of a direction of travel and speed of the vehicle in response to detecting the object.

Abstract: A belt retractor comprises a frame (10), a belt reel (12) rotatably arranged in the frame (10) and having a first end (16) and an opposite second end (17) as well as comprising a blocking mechanism (18) arranged at an end face of the belt reel (12) by which the belt reel (12) can be blocked within the frame (10). The belt retractor further comprises an axially extending first load limiter which is releasably coupled to the belt reel (12) by means of a disconnecting clutch (24), a second load limiter which is coupled to be rotationally fixed to the first load limiter or a hub, and a third load limiter which can be coupled to be rotationally fixed to the belt reel (12) by means of a connecting clutch (38). Moreover, a method for controlling such belt retractor is provided.

Abstract: A description is given of a bearing unit of a vehicle subassembly, wherein the vehicle subassembly has a vehicle-mounted support, in particular a vehicle steering wheel (10), and a component which is to be fastened on the support, in particular an airbag module. The baring unit comprises at least one adjustable spacer element (14a, 14b, 14c) for orienting the position of the component on the support. Also provided are a bearing unit having a plurality of spacer elements (14a) which can be adjusted independently of one another and a steering wheel subassembly having a vehicle steering wheel (10) and an airbag module, wherein the vehicle steering wheel (10) and the airbag module are connected to each other by the bearing unit. The invention additionally relates to a method for producing a vehicle subassembly having a vehicle-mounted support, a component which is to be fastened on the support and at least one bearing unit.

Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a driver assist system for a vehicle includes a housing and a camera extending from the housing. A data processing circuit is mounted within the housing for processing and analyzing image data provided by the camera. A fluid filled heat sink transfers heat from the data processing circuit to the environment for cooling the data processing circuit.

Abstract: A front head/torso airbag (10) of a vehicle occupant restraint system includes a cover surface (12) and a baffle surface (14) forming a contact face for the vehicle occupant (22) which merges Into the cover surface (12). In the inflated state of the airbag (10) being in the mounted position, the baffle surface (14) includes a central surface portion and laterally adjacent thereto at feast one bulge (20) projecting from the central surface portion for laterally protecting the head (24).

Abstract: The invention relates to an airbag for a vehicle occupant restraint system, comprising an airbag panel (16) defining an inflatable airbag volume as well as including a front panel portion (18) and a rear panel portion (20), a tether (22) extending in the interior of the airbag (14) across the inflatable airbag volume, a discharge orifice (24) which is formed in the rear panel portion (20) of the airbag panel (16), as well as a first closing tab (26) and a second closing tab (28) for closing the discharge orifice (24), wherein the tether (22) extends from a first tether end (32) tightly connected to the front panel portion (18) in the direction of the discharge orifice (24) to an opposite second tether end (34), wherein the first closing tab (26) extends from a first tab end (36) tightly connected to the rear panel portion (20) to a second tab end (38) tightly connected to the second tether end (34), wherein the second closing tab (28) is fastened on the rear panel portion (20) adjacent to the discharge orific

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of folding an airbag (10), especially an airbag (10) to be arranged beneath a vehicle roof (50), comprising an injection orifice (11), a guiding portion (13) arranged adjacent thereto in the longitudinal direction and an inflating portion (12) arranged adjacent to the guiding portion (13) in the longitudinal direction, the method including flatly spreading the airbag (10); laterally folding, especially zigzag folding, at least in portions at least one side part (30; 30?) of the airbag (10) in the direction of the longitudinal axis (L) of the airbag (10); furling the inflating portion (12) at least in portions starting from a trailing edge (26) of the airbag (10) that is maximally spaced from the injection orifice (11) in a first furling direction (AR) in the direction to the injection orifice (11); and forming the guiding portion (13) by laying at least one folding including a first folding bend (14) against the first furling direction (AR) so that the deployment behavior of

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant (20) of a vehicle (12) having a seat (16 or 22) for receiving the occupant (20) includes an inflatable protection device (14) inflatable from a stored condition in the vehicle (12) adjacent a reaction surface (19, 23, 36) to a deployed condition between the reaction surface and the vehicle occupant (20). The protection device (14) includes a front portion (62) presented toward the seat (22) and an inflatable volume for receiving a penetrating occupant (20?) when the protection device (14) is in the deployed condition. A rear portion (64) connected to the front portion (62) has an inflatable volume spaced from the front portion (62) by a space (110). The front portion (62) is positioned between the vehicle occupant (20) and the rear portion (64) when the protection device (14) is in the deployed condition.

Abstract: The invention relates to an airbag module (16) for an occupant restraint system, comprising a module cap (28) which in the mounted condition of the airbag module (16) faces an occupant and comprising a module bottom (30) which includes a latch means for securing the airbag module (16) to a vehicle component, wherein the module cap (28) and the module bottom (30) are movable toward each other along a mounting axis (A) until they reach at first an axial pre-mounting position and then an axial final mounting position, the module cap (28) and the module bottom (30) including interacting pre-fixing elements which captively secure the module cap (28) and the module bottom (30) to each other in the pre-mounting position, the module cap (28) and the module bottom (30) including interacting resistance contours which during an axial relative movement of the module cap (28) and the module bottom (30) from the pre-mounting position to the final mounting position have a predetermined mounting resistance.

Abstract: A method is presented for controlling a motor vehicle (10). Initially, driving maneuver data containing information concerning multiple possible, different driving maneuvers of the motor vehicle (10) are generated and/or received. Traffic data containing information concerning at least one undisturbed predicted trajectory of at least one further road user (20, 22, 24) are generated and/or received. An influence of the at least one driving maneuver on the trajectory of the at least one further road user (20, 22, 24) is determined, based on the driving maneuver data and the traffic data, and a characteristic variable is ascertained that describes the influence of the at least one driving maneuver on the at least one further road user (20, 22, 24). In addition, a system (34) for controlling a motor vehicle (10) is proposed.

Abstract: A control system for the autonomous control of a motor vehicle comprises an environmental sensor system, which is arranged and configured to acquire environmental data for the autonomous control of a motor vehicle. The control system further comprises at least one actuator controller, which is configured to control at least one actuator of the motor vehicle. A first control unit is configured to determine control commands for the at least one actuator controller with the environmental data and to transmit these to the actuator controller.

Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint device comprises a control unit and a group of at least two matched airbags (20, 24; 22, 26) for the protection of a vehicle occupant (10; 16) on a particular vehicle seat (12; 16). The control unit is arranged and the airbags (20, 24; 22, 26) are disposed and designed so that, in a collision case, the control unit differentiates between a first situation in which the vehicle occupant (10; 16) is located in a standard distance area relative to a first airbag (20; 22) and a second situation in which the vehicle occupant (10; 16) is located in a rear area which is further distant from the first airbag (20; 22) than the standard distance area. When the first situation is given, the control unit activates the first airbag (20; 22) only. In contrast, when the second situation is given, the control unit activates the first airbag (20; 22) and additionally at least a second airbag (24; 26) of the group, with the first airbag (20; 22) backing the second airbag (24; 26).

Abstract: An elongate airbag module (10) of a vehicle occupant restraint system includes a folded airbag (12) and an envelope (14) receiving the folded airbag (12) and at least one elongate flexible fixing tab (16) via which the airbag module (10) can be fastened to a vehicle. The fixing tab (16) has at least one opening (24b) for receiving a fastening clip (18) through which an engaging portion (20) of the fastening clip (18) serving for locking to the vehicle extends. Portions of the fastening clip (18) are wrapped in the fixing tab (16), with the fixing tab (16) extending toward a free end (34) of the fixing tab (16), relating to the not yet folded state, substantially in parallel to a longitudinal direction (L) of the airbag module (10).

Abstract: The invention relates to a belt rectractor (10) for a seatbelt of a motor vehicle. The belt retractor (10) comprises a belt spool (14) which is rotationally connected to a belt spool-side end of a torsioning rod, said torsioning rod being operatively connected to a locking mechanism (20) at a locking mechanism-side end. In a locked state, the locking mechanism-side end of the torsioning rod is rotationally fixed to a frame (12). The belt spool-side end can then be rotated relative to the locking mechanism-side end in an unwinding direction (16) under the effect of torsion from the torsioning rod. The belt spool (14) is additionally rotationally fixed to the frame (12) in the unwinding direction (16) in a stopped state of a stopping mechanism (22). The stopped state is set of the belt spool-side end is rotated by a specified number of rotations relative to the locking mechanism-side end in the locked state of the locking mechanism (20).

Abstract: A method for introducing electric conductors into an overmolding of a steering wheel frame is provided. The electric conductors are used for heating and shielding purposes and for sensing contact on a steering wheel. In a first step, at least one cut is introduced into the overmolding using a cutting tool. In a second step, both a first layer of an electric conductor and a second layer of an electric conductor are simultaneously introduced into the cut that has been created. The first layer forms both a heating layer for heating the steering wheel and a guard layer which, together with the second layer acting as a sensor layer, allows the capacitive sensing of hand contact.