Abstract: An apparatus for protecting a vehicle occupant that triggers a restraint means as a function of the vehicle occupant's motion in the context of an accident. The motion is predicted in that by using an occupant detection system and an impact sensor system, a height of the center of mass of the vehicle occupant and a force action on the vehicle occupant are determined, and the motion of the vehicle occupant is thereby predicted.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining inherent vehicle velocity determines the inherent vehicle velocity using the pre-crash sensor suite. The determination is performed on the basis of signals reflected from road surfaces. The determination is performed only when a predefined operating state exists, such as a locked, slipping or suspended wheel.

Abstract: A method for adjusting the sensor cells of a seat mat to a mechanical stress caused by the installation of the seat mat in a vehicle seat, a diagnostic tester being connected to a control unit at the seat mat, and the diagnostic tester reads out the sensor values of the seat mat and compares them to setpoint values, in order then to transmit back correcting values to the control unit, which the control unit uses in further operation for calibrating the sensor values.

Abstract: A method and a system in the classification of objects occupying a seat, in particular for the reliable control of the triggering of restraint systems in motor vehicles. Utilized are the dynamics of a person seated on the seat, based on the acceleration forces acting on the person. Using the variables of these forces and the force exerted on the seat cushion of the seat by the mass of the person and its change, there is a determination, as a redundant variable, the mass, the location of the center mass and other physical variables and these are used for the reliable classification.

Abstract: A device for classifying persons or objects, in particular for occupant classification in a motor vehicle, includes an arrangement for acquiring characteristic data on the person to be classified or the object to the classified; at least one algorithm for extracting features from the instantaneously acquired characteristic data; at least one filter for determining the classification of the person or the object from the instantaneously extracted features, taking into account the time progression of the features extracted for the person to be classified or the object to be classified; and a first counter for initiating the resetting of the filter when the algorithm, during the first time interval specified by the first counter, has exclusively provided features for the non-presence of a person or an object, so that the resetting behavior of the algorithm, or the filter downstream from the algorithm, may be decoupled from the output of the determined classification in a simple manner.

Abstract: In a system having a control unit for triggering a restraint system for vehicles, and having a status acquisition device, such as a seat occupation device, from which a data record describing the presence or the non-presence of the condition is transmitted to the control device, upon a defined stimulation signal from the control unit to the status acquisition device the latter transmits a second data record to the control unit, which corresponds to the type characteristics and the type data. Thereby, type data are able to be recorded even in the case of a status acquisition device installed in an obstructed way in a motor vehicle.

Abstract: A device for classifying the seat occupancy in a motor vehicle by which the accuracy in the detection of child seats may be increased is provided. The seats of the motor vehicle are each equipped with a safety belt, a belt buckle for the safety belt and a belt-buckle switch. The device includes at least one belt-force sensor for at least one safety belt. According to the present invention, the belt-force sensor and the belt-buckle switch assigned to the respective safety belt are interconnected in such a way that the output signals of the belt-force sensor and the belt-buckle switch are combined into one belt-buckle output signal.

Abstract: A method for occupant classification in a vehicle is used to extract a plurality of features from a seat profile and to assign a weight estimate to each of these features. The occupant weight and a measure of quality are determined from the different weight estimates. The measure of quality determines whether the occupant weight continues to be used as the occupant classification. The weight estimation for the feature in question is carried out via a stored function. The occupant classification can be used for a restraint system. The ischial tuberosity distance and/or the seat profile size can be used as the features.

Abstract: A distance sensor having a sensor for a motor vehicle in which an arrangement is provided by which gnment angles and trajectory curvatures can be compensated for during travel not only on a straight road but also along curves. In a sensor mounted displaced from the center line of the vehicle, an angle (alpha_sensor) is measured which cuts the projected center line of the motor vehicle at the target object, a vehicle driving ahead. By the additional use of a yaw rate sensor, curve curvatures of the road are also compensated for, so that angle and distance measurement can also be made along curves.

Abstract: A device is provided for detecting a seating position of a passenger in a motor vehicle, the device being characterized in that it outputs at least one instruction to the passenger for adjusting the seat as a function of a signal from a sensory system. The instructions may be output at predefined points in time that minimize a driver's loss of concentration.

Abstract: A system for classifying occupants of a vehicle, which, in addition to a sound-wave receiver, has at least one sound-wave transmitter in the seat. Therefore, it is possible to obtain additional information, particularly by using a propagation-time measurement and a shift in frequency. Moreover, by the evaluation of the reception spectra, it is possible to infer the ageing of the elements used for generating or receiving sound waves.

Abstract: A method for adjusting the sensor cells of a seat mat (3) to a mechanical stress caused by the installation of the seat mat (3) in a vehicle seat is proposed, a diagnostic tester being connected to a control unit at the seat mat, and the diagnostic tester reads out the sensor values of the seat mat and compares them to setpoint values, in order then to transmit back correcting values to the control unit, which the control unit uses in further operation for calibrating the sensor values.

Abstract: A device for classifying persons or objects, in particular for occupant classification in a motor vehicle, includes an arrangement for acquiring characteristic data on the person to be classified or the object to the classified; at least one algorithm for extracting features from the instantaneously acquired characteristic data; at least one filter for determining the classification of the person or the object from the instantaneously extracted features, taking into account the time progression of the features extracted for the person to be classified or the object to be classified; and a first counter for initiating the resetting of the filter when the algorithm, during the first time interval specified by the first counter, has exclusively provided features for the non-presence of a person or an object, so that the resetting behavior of the algorithm, or the filter downstream from the algorithm, may be decoupled from the output of the determined classification in a simple manner.

Abstract: Method and device for state estimation in a system for automatic longitudinal and/or transverse regulation in a motor vehicle, operating according to the radar principle and/or the lidar principle, in particular for detecting soiling and/or blindness of a sensor is disclosed. The state estimation is dependent upon at least two indicators, which are formed from the signals received and/or transmitted by the sensor.

Abstract: A method for measuring the distance and speed of objects using electromagnetic waves with a motor vehicle radar system is described, electromagnetic waves being transmitted and simultaneously received, the transmitted electromagnetic waves being modulated in the shape of a ramp, at least the signals received during one rise and one drop of the frequency of the transmitted signal being mixed in each case with the transmitted signal, a number of intermediate frequency signals being formed, and the distance and speed of the object being calculated using the intermediate frequency, a weather condition in the vicinity of the motor vehicle and/or a disturbance in the motor vehicle radar system being identified on the basis of characteristic intermediate frequency signals.

Abstract: System for measuring the distance and the relative speed between objects using electromagnetic waves, having means for emitting electromagnetic waves from a first object and having means for receiving reflected electromagnetic waves from at least one second object, the frequency of the emitted signal being modulated in such a way that the modulation frequency, during a first time segment, increases approximately linearly from a first to a second modulation frequency value, that the modulation frequency, during a second time segment, is approximately constant, that the modulation frequency, during a third time segment, decreases approximately linearly from the second to a third modulation frequency value, that the modulation frequency, during a fourth time segment, is approximately constant, and that these time segments recur repeatedly, at least one of the modulation frequency values and/or the duration of at least one time segment being changeable.

Abstract: A method and a device are for evaluating sensor signals from a seat mat in a vehicle seat, the signals functioning to characterize the sensors in the seat mat as active and inactive. In this manner, a linear evaluation method is performed to make possible a weight classification of passengers situated on the vehicle seat. For this purpose, a seat profile is generated using the active and inactive sensors.

Abstract: A method is described for detecting moving and/or stationary objects in the path of a vehicle, where the distance and velocity of the reflecting object are determined by using a radar sensor, where the frequency of the signal transmitted is modulated in the shape of a ramp according to a multi-ramp method, and some ramps have a lower slope in the frequency curve. The higher spectral components of the mixed signals from the ramps having the lower slope, which are to be assigned to a distance range of the reflecting object which is greater than the distance range belonging to the ramps having the greater slope, are used to determine the distance, speed and angle of objects.

Abstract: A method for occupant classification in a vehicle is used to extract a plurality of features from a seat profile and to assign a weight estimate to each of these features. The occupant weight and a measure of quality are determined from the different weight estimates. The measure of quality determines whether the occupant weight continues to be used as the occupant classification. The weight estimation for the feature in question is carried out via a stored function. The occupant classification can be used for a restraint system. The ischial tuberosity distance and/or the seat profile size can be used as the features.

Abstract: A method and a device are for evaluating sensor signals from a seat mat in a vehicle seat, the signals functioning to characterize the sensors in the seat mat as active and inactive. In this manner, a linear evaluation method is performed to make possible a weight classification of passengers situated on the vehicle seat. For this purpose, a seat profile is generated using the active and inactive sensors.