Abstract: A vehicle and a steering system of a vehicle. The steering system includes a steering column emulator that generates an electrical driving signal in response to a driver input, a steering rack assembly that receives the electrical driving signal from the steering column emulator and controls steering of the vehicle as indicated by the received signal, and a backup system. The backup system provides a backup electrical driving signal to the steering rack assembly upon a failure of the steering column emulator, and the steering rack assembly steers the vehicle as indicated by the backup electrical driving signal upon the failure of the steering column emulator.

Abstract: A vehicle and a steering system of a vehicle. The steering system includes a steering column emulator that generates an electrical driving signal in response to a driver input, a steering rack assembly that receives the electrical driving signal from the steering column emulator and controls steering of the vehicle as indicated by the received signal, and a backup system. The backup system provides a backup electrical driving signal to the steering rack assembly upon a failure of the steering column emulator, and the steering rack assembly steers the vehicle as indicated by the backup electrical driving signal upon the failure of the steering column emulator.

Abstract: An air bag module (20) having a base plate (30) and a toroidal air bag (80) is disclosed. The toroidal air bag (80) defines a pocket (120). The toroidal air bag (80) is coupled to the base plate (30). A control module (40) having a base plate portion (82) and a generally cylindrical portion (86) is coupled to the base and located within the toroidal air bag (80). The control module (40) has a control module cover (90) coupled to said generally cylindrical portion (86) disposed within said pocket (120).

Abstract: A vehicle seat weight sensing system includes a plurality of sensors mounted below a seating surface of a vehicle seat. Each sensor includes a tubular inner wall about which are coiled an activation coil and a detection coil. All of the weight of the seating surface is borne by the inner walls of the sensors. The activation coil induces a current in the tubular inner wall which is detected by the detection coil. Stress in the inner wall alters the signal detected by the detection coil. Analysis of the wave form of the signal indicates the amount of stress applied to the tubular inner wall and the weight upon the vehicle seating surface. A fastener connecting to vehicle seat components passes through the tubular inner wall and retains the sensors in the vehicle seat.

Abstract: A vehicle seat weight sensing system includes a plurality of sensors mounted below a seating surface of a vehicle seat. Each sensor includes a tubular inner wall about which are coiled an activation coil and a detection coil. All of the weight of the seating surface is borne by the inner walls of the sensors. The activation coil induces a current in the tubular inner wall which is detected by the detection coil. Stress in the inner wall alters the signal detected by the detection coil. Analysis of the wave form of the signal indicates the amount of stress applied to the tubular inner wall and the weight upon the vehicle seating surface. A fastener connecting to vehicle seat components passes through the tubular inner wall and retains the sensors in the vehicle seat.

Abstract: An air bag module (20) having a base plate (30) and a toroidal air bag (80) is disclosed. The toroidal air bag (80) defines a pocket (120). The toroidal air bag (80) is coupled to the base plate (30). A control module (40) having a base plate portion (82) and a generally cylindrical portion (86) is coupled to the base and located within the toroidal air bag (80). The control module (40) has a control module cover (90) coupled to said generally cylindrical portion (86) disposed within said pocket (120).

Abstract: An air bag module (20) having a base plate (30) and a toroidal air bag (80) is disclosed. The toroidal air bag (80) defines a pocket (120). The toroidal air bag (80) is coupled to the base plate (30). A control module (40) having a base plate portion (82) and a generally cylindrical portion (86) is coupled to the base and located within the toroidal air bag (80). The control module (40) has a control module cover (90) coupled to said generally cylindrical portion (86) disposed within said pocket (120).

Abstract: A vehicle seat occupant position sensor has one of four mechanisms to provide input with respect to how a seat occupant is engaged with a seat back. The first mechanism has some of the individual tension wires forming the flexolator pass through magnetostrictive sensors to detect in wire tension. Another mechanism employs a potentiometer geared so that relative deflection between the seat back and the seat recliner is amplified. A further mechanism is a magnetostrictive sensor that senses the stress in a seat back structure that is loaded by the seat occupant leaning against the seat back. Lastly, a bladder filled with a fluid provides pressure measurements as an indicator of the force generated by the vehicle seat occupant leaning against the seat back.

Abstract: A system (20) comprising a buckle presenter (100) and/or a tongue presenter (200) and mechanism to activate and control each presenter. The buckle presenter and tongue presenter (200) are used to respectively move a seat belt buckle (26) and a corresponding tongue (24) from a stowed position to activated positions generally in front of the occupant to make the process of inserting the tongue into the buckle more convenient.

Abstract: A system for detecting the position of a seat within an automobile in which a selected number of discrete sensors S is used to detect (2xS) seat positions. This is accomplished by using an actuator which, when positioned over three sensors, activates three sensors and when positioned over two sensors, activates both sensors and when positioned over a single sensor, activates only the single sensor. A simple algorithm or logic determines position by the rule that, if a single sensor is activated the seat is positioned over the single sensor, but if two sensors are activated, the seat is positioned between those two sensors, and if none of the sensors is activated, the seat is not positioned over any of those sensors.

Abstract: A system (20) comprising a buckle presenter (100) and/or a tongue presenter (200) and mechanism to activate and control each presenter. The buckle presenter and tongue presenter (200) are used to respectively move a seat belt buckle (26) and a corresponding tongue (24) from a stowed position to activated positions generally in front of the occupant to make the process of inserting the tongue into the buckle more convenient.

Abstract: A vehicle seat and a seat headrest are adjustable to accommodate seat occupants of varying heights. The headrest, height and seat position are adjusted together by connecting the headrest drive motor and the seat drive motor to a single control switch. The headrest has a smaller total distance of travel in relation to the travel distance of the vehicle seat. The headrest motor may drive a thread with a smaller pitch. Alternatively, there may be employed pulse width modulation of the electrical power supplied by a common switch or a similar device to create a proportional relationship between the motion of the headrest and the vehicle seat.

Abstract: An air bag module (20) having a base plate (30) and a toroidal air bag (80) is disclosed. The toroidal air bag (80) defines a pocket (120). The toroidal air bag (80) is coupled to the base plate (30). A control module (40) having a base plate portion (82) and a generally cylindrical portion (86) is coupled to the base and located within the toroidal air bag (80). The control module (40) has a control module cover (90) coupled to said generally cylindrical portion (86) disposed within said pocket (120).

Abstract: A system (20) comprising a buckle presenter (100) and/or a tongue presenter (200) and mechanism to activate and control each presenter. The buckle presenter and tongue presenter (200) are used to respectively move a seat belt buckle (26) and a corresponding tongue (24) from a stowed position to activated positions generally in front of the occupant to make the process of inserting the tongue into the buckle more convenient.