Abstract: A motor vehicle is provided with a pre-safe system in which active and/or passive safety devices which are driven as a function of information recorded at least by a vehicle surrounding-area identification device and a driving situation data detection device. The information is evaluated in a data evaluation device which determines whether a collision is plausible. At least some of the active and/or passive safety devices are activated when the information from the vehicle surrounding-area identification device represents a potential collision object and the data from the driving situation data detection device represents a driver response which is predefined for a collision being plausible.

Abstract: A method for detecting of a viewing direction of a person includes sensing a speech signal originating from the person using at least one direction-selective microphone so as to produce a microphone signal, detecting the speaking direction of the person using the microphone signal, and deriving the viewing direction from the speaking direction. Also, a device that includes at least one direction-selective microphone configured to detect a speaking direction of the person using speech signals, and a processing unit configured to process the speech signals so as to determine the viewing direction of the person.

Abstract: Information system in a vehicle, having a plurality of information sources for outputting respectively associated information. The information which is to be output is generated and/or filtered as a function of the state of the driver and/or of the behavior of the driver. The state of the driver and/or of the behavior of the driver is determined by of data from one or more driving systems of the vehicle and/or one or more comfort systems of the vehicle. At least one of the information sources generates the information which is to be output with a frequency which depends on the state of the driver and/or the behavior of the driver.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hazard-prevention system for a vehicle. The vehicle has devices for sensing driving state variables, for sensing ambient data and for sensing the driver's activity, and a data processing device. The data processing device is provided for processing the sensed data and for actuating a safety device in accordance with a predefined control strategy. According to the invention, the vehicle has a device for identifying the driver, and the data processing device derives a driver load factor related specifically to the driver from the driving state variables, the ambient data and the data relating to the activity of the driver, and said driver load factor is used to adapt the control strategy.

Abstract: Information system in a vehicle, having a plurality of information sources for outputting respectively associated information. The information which is to be output is generated and/or filtered as a function of the state of the driver and/or of the behavior of the driver. The state of the driver and/or of the behavior of the driver is determined by of data from one or more driving systems of the vehicle and/or one or more comfort systems of the vehicle. At least one of the information sources generates the information which is to be output with a frequency which depends on the state of the driver and/or the behavior of the driver.

Abstract: A method senses the readiness of a driver of a motor vehicle to brake. The position of the feet of the driver are sensed by a sensor arrangement at the foot well of the motor vehicle in order to determine the position of the right-hand foot and the left-hand foot of the driver and/or the leg posture of the driver. In order to sense the feet and/or leg posture of the driver, a pressure-sensitive film with a matrix of pressure-sensitive cells may be arranged in the foot well of the motor vehicle. An expected time which the driver takes to activate the brake in a hazardous situation can be derived from the position of the feet at a particular time.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for sensing the readiness to steer or the steering behavior of the driver of a motor vehicle, at least one pressure and/or contact sensor which supplies an electrical signal when it is touched and/or pressure is exerted being integrated into the steering wheel or mounted on the steering wheel. The pressure sensor and/or contact sensor has a multiplicity of sensor elements or segments arranged along the circumference of the steering wheel. Each of the sensor elements or sensor segments has, in the cross section of the steering wheel rim, a multiplicity of pressure-sensitive and/or contact-sensitive zones so that it is possible to detect whether the driver's hand grasps the steering wheel from the inside, outside, top or bottom.

Abstract: A method and system for restraining an occupant on a vehicle seat, the occupant being pulled into the vehicle seat is provided with a force by a belt tensioner when a critical driving state is detected and then held in a pulled-back position on the vehicle seat with a holding force. The holding force selected is lower than the force for pulling the occupant back. A forward-looking detection system for a dangerous driving state and an occupant-position detection system unprovided, in which, when a dangerous driving state is detected, a belt tensioner is subjected to a force and the occupant is thereby pulled into the vehicle seat, and in which the occupant is held in a pulled-back position on the vehicle seat with a holding force which is lower than the force for pulling the occupant back.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hazard-prevention system for a vehicle. The vehicle has devices for sensing driving state variables, for sensing ambient data and for sensing the driver's activity, and a data processing device. The data processing device is provided for processing the sensed data and for actuating a safety device in accordance with a predefined control strategy. According to the invention, the vehicle has a device for identifying the driver, and the data processing device derives a driver load factor related specifically to the driver from the driving state variables, the ambient data and the data relating to the activity of the driver, and said driver load factor is used to adapt the control strategy.

Abstract: A method for detecting of a viewing direction of a person includes sensing a speech signal originating from the person using at least one direction-selective microphone so as to produce a microphone signal, detecting the speaking direction of the person using the microphone signal, and deriving the viewing direction from the speaking direction. Also, a device that includes at least one direction-selective microphone configured to detect a speaking direction of the person using speech signals, and a processing unit configured to process the speech signals so as to determine the viewing direction of the person.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for sensing the readiness to steer or the steering behavior of the driver of a motor vehicle, at least one pressure and/or contact sensor which supplies an electrical signal when it is touched and/or pressure is exerted being integrated into the steering wheel or mounted on the steering wheel. The pressure sensor and/or contact sensor has a multiplicity of sensor elements or segments arranged along the circumference of the steering wheel. Each of the sensor elements or sensor segments has, in the cross section of the steering wheel rim, a multiplicity of pressure-sensitive and/or contact-sensitive zones so that it is possible to detect whether the driver's hand grasps the steering wheel from the inside, outside, top or bottom.

Abstract: A method senses the readiness of a driver of a motor vehicle to brake. The position of the feet of the driver are sensed by a sensor arrangement at the foot well of the motor vehicle in order to determine the position of the right-hand foot and the left-hand foot of the driver and/or the leg posture of the driver. In order to sense the feet and/or leg posture of the driver, a pressure-sensitive film with a matrix of pressure-sensitive cells may be arranged in the foot well of the motor vehicle. An expected time which the driver takes to activate the brake in a hazardous situation can be derived from the position of the feet at a particular time.

Abstract: A method and system for restraining an occupant on a vehicle seat, the occupant being pulled into the vehicle seat is provided with a force by a belt tensioner when a critical driving state is detected and then held in a pulled-back position on the vehicle seat with a holding force. The holding force selected is lower than the force for pulling the occupant back. A forward-looking detection system for a dangerous driving state and an occupant-position detection system unprovided, in which, when a dangerous driving state is detected, a belt tensioner is subjected to a force and the occupant is thereby pulled into the vehicle seat, and in which the occupant is held in a pulled-back position on the vehicle seat with a holding force which is lower than the force for pulling the occupant back.