Abstract: A safety steering column which is adjustable in its axial direction whereby pyrotechnically driven steering column retraction is provided for a positioning of a safety steering column in its axial direction, to move it away from the driver in case of an accident. Furthermore, a safety system incorporating such a safety steering column and a motor vehicle so equipped that can distinguish between different drivers regarding weight, size and belted condition; the system providing alternative safety measures depending on the driver's needs for protection.

Abstract: A safety steering mechanism for a steering column, with a steering-column comfort adjustment having linear positioning devices, and provided with safety devices designed such that, in an accident situation, at least an end area of the steering column can be moved away from a driver's position. The linear positioning devices include load absorption devices and/or withdrawal devices regarding the movement of at least the end area of the steering column away from a driver's position. An operating method for a safety steering mechanism for a steering column that can be adjusted by a comfort adjustment in accordance with the requirements and/or wishes of a driver by means of linear positioning devices and of which at least an end area of the steering column can be moved away from a driver's position in an accident situation.

Abstract: An electrically adjustable steering column includes a steering column servo-drive with a motor in two planes. The steering column is configured so that an inner shaft, mounted in an outer shaft provides for vertical movement or so that the inner shaft accomplishes the lengthwise movement.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a vehicle wherein a load absorption for an impact of the knees relative to the steering column is provided arranged in case of an accident to be adjusted toward the driver's knees.

Abstract: A safety device is provided for a motor vehicle with a steering column arrangement having length and height adjustment. The length adjustment contains a slot guidance, which runs linearly in the longitudinal direction of the steering column arrangement, and an engagement mechanism cooperates therewith. The height adjustment contains a swiveling mechanism used for the length adjustment. Moreover, the length adjustment is carried out by the slot guidance and an engagement mechanism guided therein. The height adjustment is carried out by swiveling a steering column arrangement by means of a swiveling mechanism that engages with the engagement mechanism.

Abstract: A safety device is provided for a motor vehicle with a steering column arrangement having length and height adjustment. The length adjustment contains a slot guidance, which runs linearly in the longitudinal direction of the steering column arrangement, and an engagement mechanism cooperates therewith. The height adjustment contains a swiveling mechanism used for the length adjustment. Moreover, the length adjustment is carried out by the slot guidance and an engagement mechanism guided therein. The height adjustment is carried out by swiveling a steering column arrangement by means of a swiveling mechanism that engages with the engagement mechanism.

Abstract: A steering column in which a guide, an outer housing, a steering shaft housing and/or a guiding plate include one or more extruded profiles and in which are accommodated a steering shaft housing and load absorbencies.

Abstract: The invention relates to an airbag apparatus, with an airbag module and at least one covering device, behind which, in a closing position, an airbag expanding by gas inflation is accommodated and which, to release the expansion of the airbag, can be moved out of the closing position into an open position by means of a mechanism, the mechanism containing a first mechanism component, which is coupled firmly to the airbag module, and a second mechanism component, which is coupled firmly to the covering device, and the airbag module forming, together with the first mechanism component, a unit ready for installation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a vehicle wherein a load absorption for an impact of the knees relative to the steering column is provided arranged in case of an accident to be adjusted toward the driver's knees.

Abstract: An airbag system including an airbag and gas generating device provided with deployment control devices that enable the air bag to be at least partially deployed before it is inflated with gas from the gas generating device, and to a method of operating such an airbag.

Abstract: A steering column for a motor vehicle with adjustment which can be triggered in the case of an accident to move at least a steering wheel end region of the steering column away from a passenger wherein the adjustment include load absorbing to absorb a movement of at least the steering wheel end region of the steering column away from a passenger. An alternative, a steering column for a motor vehicle with adjustment which can be triggered in the case of an accident to move at least a steering wheel end region of the steering column away from a passenger wherein the adjustment is designed for at least two operation modes and wherein a control is provided to record passenger's parameters by detector and to trigger an operation mode of the adjustment in dependence on the passenger's parameters. An adjustment method for a steering column of a motor vehicle wherein in the case of an accident at least a steering wheel end region of the steering column is moved away from a passenger by means of adjustment.

Abstract: A steering column in which an outer housing, a steering shaft housing and/or a guiding plate include an extruded profile. Furthermore, a manufacturing method for a steering column whereby an outer housing, a steering shaft housing and/or a guiding plate are at least partly made of extruded profile.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for free-space optical communication. The method comprises the steps of receiving a receive optical beam through a narrow field of view, determining a receive power level, shifting an alignment, maximizing the receive power, and transmitting a transmit optical beam along the alignment, wherein the narrow field of view is less than a divergence of the transmit optical beam. The narrow field of view can be a narrow region of a multi-region field of view. The apparatus comprises an optical beam transmitter configured to generate a narrow diverging transmit beam, a narrow field of view optical receiver, wherein the field of view is less than the divergence of the transmit beam, and a controller configured to determine a power level of a receive beam and to determine adjustments to a direction of transmission maximizing receive power.

Abstract: An airbag device includes an airbag module that is located behind a multipart dashboard. An opening device opens the multipart dashboard in a manner similar to that of the mouth of a fish. An operating method for an airbag device with an airbag module located behind a multipart dashboard includes opening the dashboard in a manner similar to that of the mouth of a fish before, during, or after the triggering of the airbag device. According to another embodiment, a dashboard includes at least one fabric flap or foil flap which is integrated into the dashboard on at least one side by using detachable retaining devices in order to close an opening in the dashboard. The airbag module is positioned behind the opening in such a way that an airbag opens the retaining devices when it is triggered and emerges through the opening.

Abstract: A safety device is provided for a motor vehicle with a steering column arrangement having length and height adjustment. The length adjustment contains a slot guidance, which runs linearly in the longitudinal direction of the steering column arrangement, and an engagement mechanism cooperates therewith. The height adjustment contains a swiveling mechanism used for the length adjustment. Moreover, the length adjustment is carried out by the slot guidance and an engagement mechanism guided therein. The height adjustment is carried out by swiveling a steering column arrangement by means of a swiveling mechanism that engages with the engagement mechanism.

Abstract: A safety steering mechanism for a steering column, with a steering-column comfort adjustment having linear positioning devices, and provided with safety devices designed such that, in an accident situation, at least an end area of the steering column can be moved away from a driver's position. The linear positioning devices include load absorption devices and/or withdrawal devices regarding the movement of at least the end area of the steering column away from a driver's position. An operating method for a safety steering mechanism for a steering column that can be adjusted by a comfort adjustment in accordance with the requirements and/or wishes of a driver by means of linear positioning devices and of which at least an end area of the steering column can be moved away from a driver's position in an accident situation.

Abstract: An airbag device includes an airbag module and at least one airbag cover which is connected to a piston via pulling devices. The piston can be subjected to pyrotechnical action in order to produce a linear movement of the piston. When the piston is caused to move, the airbag cover moves from a closed position, in which the airbag cover blocks an exit path of the airbag out of the airbag module, into an open position, in which the airbag cover clears the exit path of the airbag out of the airbag module. The piston is forcibly guided to perform a helical movement so that the piston, when caused to move, performs a rotational movement during its linear movement, thus winding up the pulling devices. A method for operating an airbag device is also provided.

Abstract: An airbag device includes a gas generator and an airbag to be accommodated behind at least one cover that can be displaced from a closed position, in which it is integrated into the vehicle's paneling, into an open position, in which it is disposed behind the paneling, when the airbag device is activated by driving devices. In the open position, the cover does not substantially project beyond the vehicle's paneling in the direction toward a passenger. The driving devices include at least one rolling piston that can be rolled in a guide chamber along a rolling path from a starting position into an end position when being subjected to compressed gas. The rolling piston thus causes the cover to move from the closed position to the open position. A method for operating an airbag device is also provided.

Abstract: A safety steering column which is adjustable in its axial direction whereby pyrotechnically driven steering column retraction is provided for a positioning of a safety steering column in its axial direction, to move it away from the driver in case of an accident. Furthermore, a safety system incorporating such a safety steering column and a motor vehicle so equipped that can distinguish between different drivers regarding weight, size and belted condition; the system providing alternative safety measures depending on the driver's needs for protection.

Abstract: An operating system and method for a vehicle safety device that includes a housing having a duct, one or more pistons in the duct and a gas generator that has two stages. The first stage is ignited conventionally, but the second stage is ignited automatically with a delay directly responsive to the first stage ignition. The gas generated is fed to a common space in the housing where it drives the piston(s). Each piston has an associated axially spaced thimble with a load limiter between. A cable is connected to each vehicle safety device and to each thimble. When the system is operated, each piston is driven to move its associated thimble away to draw the cable from the associated vehicle safety device to actuate it. However, if a counter force on the cable becomes excessive, the thimble moves closer to the piston and the excessive pressure is relieved under the control of the load limiter.