Abstract: A restraint system includes a restraint configured to deploy from an interior surface and restrain motion of an occupant and a support including a door coupled to an upper portion of the restraint. The door is configured to rotate about a pivot. The door includes a telescoping panel configured to telescopically extend from a stowed position behind the interior surface to a deployed position spaced apart from the interior surface in unison with deployment of the restraint so that the anchor reaches the deployed position after the door rotates about the pivot. The support is configured to orient the upper portion of the restraint in respect to motion of the occupant.

Abstract: A system for diagnosing a squib loop in a restraint control module. The system may include a first amplifier, a capacitor, a second amplifier. The first amplifier may have a first input connected to a first side of the squib and a second input connected to a second side of the squib. The output of the first amplifier may generate an output voltage corresponding to the voltage drop across the squib. The capacitor may be connected in series with the output of the first amplifier and the output of the first amplifier may be connected to a first side of the capacitor. The second amplifier having a first input connected to a second side of the capacitor. A second input of the second amplifier may be connected to a reference voltage. The second amplifier may be configured with a feedback loop to generate a gain output.

Abstract: A steering apparatus assembly, having a steering axis, about which the steering apparatus assembly can rotate in is disclosed. The steering apparatus assembly comprises a first element and a second element. The two elements are connected to one another by a first and second joints. The first joint comprises a resilient locking element, which is deflectable in a direction transverse to the steering axis to disengage the first joint. The second joint is deflectable by an axial load acting on the assembly elements away from one another. A wedge is provided having a wedge length transverse to the steering axis and a variable wedge height in the direction of the steering axis. The wedge length and length and a wedge inclination angle are matched to one another such that both the first joint and the second joint can be undone by a linear movement of the wedge in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a floor defining a seating area. The vehicle includes a roof above the floor. The vehicle includes a panel supported by the roof and pivotable from a stowed position at the roof to a deployed position in front of the seating area. The vehicle includes an airbag supported by the panel and inflatable from an uninflated position to an inflated position. The vehicle includes a pyrotechnic inflator in fluid communication with the airbag.

Abstract: An inflator-based system provides for the actuation of valves and other devices using automotive air bag inflators, for example. One or more inflators can be connected to a valve body with an adapter such that upon inflator activation, inflator gases can act on a piston or similar device to achieve desired movement or operation of the valve or device. An inflator-based actuator can provide for a single action or multiple actions of a valve or other device. Such a system can provide safer and more reliable alternatives to electro-explosive ordnance devices found in pyrovalves, for example. Other uses for an inflator-based actuation system can include a lanyard pull initiator, a dual cartridge cutter, a bolt cutter, a hot gas generator (HGG) body, and a HGG pressure cartridge, to name a few examples.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to reducing the likelihood of injury to a passenger in a collision. In one example, a computing device may determine that an impact between a vehicle and an object external to the vehicle is imminent. The computing device may determine a protection range for a vehicle's airbag based on characteristics of the passenger, including the passenger's seating location within the vehicle. An airbag extension system may position an airbag package, including the vehicle's airbag, such that the vehicle's airbag is within the protection range of the passenger's seating location.

Abstract: A method for displaying the arrangement of components in a transportation vehicle in which the arrangement of the components increases the usage safety when the components are fixedly lockable at one or more fastening points in the transportation vehicle and have at least two different setting positions.

Abstract: An apparatus for resisting entry of objects through a windshield of a vehicle that has a passenger cabin. The apparatus includes an instrument panel that is located between the windshield and the passenger cabin, and an airbag that is deployable into an area above the instrument panel to resist entry of objects into the passenger cabin.

Abstract: A device for the detection of objects for a robot, provided for equipping said robot, including: at least one sensor, called approach sensor, implementing a first detection technology for detecting a neighbouring object; and at least one sensor, called proximity sensor, implementing a second detection technology for detecting a neighbouring object, different from said the first technology, and having a range less than that of the at least one approach sensor. A robot equipped with such a device is also disclosed.

Abstract: An occupancy detection system uses at least two sensors which are mounted spaced apart in an area to be monitored. A test metric is formed which based on a combination of distances for the at least two sensors. The evolution of the test metric over time enables determination of whether there is a single occupant or multiple occupants in the area to be monitored.

Abstract: A seat assembly includes a seat cushion, a backrest, and a headrest moveably coupled to a back of the backrest. The headrest is configured to be moved between a stowed position in which the headrest is retained within a portion of the backrest and a deployed position in which the headrest is configured to support a passenger in a forward resting position.

Abstract: A vehicle collision sensor includes a piezoelectric polymer film that includes a piezoelectric element deformed to generate an output voltage, and a pair of electrodes clamping the piezoelectric element from both its surfaces, at least one of the electrodes including divided pieces away from each other in a state where the at least one of the electrodes is joined to the piezoelectric element, and a conductive component that is clamped between the film and a bumper cover, which is provided on a front portion of a vehicle, or that is clamped between a fastening component, which attaches the film to the bumper cover, and the film, in a state where the film is attached to an inner surface of the bumper cover, so that the conductive component connects together the divided pieces from a side of the divided pieces, which is not joined to the piezoelectric element.

Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle capable of detecting the presence of a passenger in the vehicle includes steps of: scanning an interior of the vehicle based on ultrasonic signals and constructing spatial data on the interior of the vehicle; and re-scanning the interior of the vehicle based on ultrasonic signals when preset conditions are satisfied and outputting a sensing result when a change of the ultrasonic signals, which is greater than a reference value, is detected in the previously constructed spatial data.

Abstract: A rear seat occupant monitoring system for a vehicle includes a video display screen disposed in the vehicle cabin so as to be viewable by a driver of the vehicle. A camera is disposed a dome light or an overhead console. The dome light or overhead console includes first and second illumination sources that, when operated, illuminate a rear seat area within the field of view of the camera. The first illumination source principally emits visible light when electrically powered, and the second illumination source principally emits non-visible light when electrically powered. The camera captures image data representative of the rear seat area when the rear seat area is illuminated by at least one of the first and second illumination sources. Image data captured by the camera is provided to the video display screen for displaying video images for viewing by the driver of the vehicle.

Abstract: A transmission controller determines hydraulic pressures supplied to a primary pulley and a secondary pulley on the basis of a torque calculation value in a case where an integrated controller does not detect a torque detection error, determines the hydraulic pressures supplied to the primary pulley and the secondary pulley on the basis of the torque calculation value in a case where the integrated controller detects the torque detection error and the torque calculation value is equal to or more than a predetermined value, and determines the hydraulic pressures supplied to the primary pulley and the secondary pulley on the basis of a torque value higher than the torque calculation value in a case where the integrated controller detects the torque detection error and the torque calculation value is less than the predetermined value.

Abstract: System and techniques for progressive radar assisted facial recognition are described herein. An image may be obtained from a camera of the security device. A facial target in the image may be identified. The facial target may include a non-empty set of positive facial indicators and also be missing a non-empty set of facial indicators used for identification. In response to identifying the facial target, a power level of a millimeter wave radar may be increased at least until a threshold number of members of the set of facial indicators are observed. Then, the members of the set of facial indicators that are observed may be combined with the set of positive indicators of the face to create a composite image.

Abstract: A method and system for domain adaptation based on multi-layer fusion in a convolutional neural network architecture for feature extraction and a two-step training and fine-tuning scheme. The architecture concatenates features extracted at different depths of the network to form a fully connected layer before the classification step. First, the network is trained with a large set of images from a source domain as a feature extractor. Second, for each new domain (including the source domain), the classification step is fine-tuned with images collected from the corresponding site. The features from different depths are concatenated with and fine-tuned with weights adjusted for a specific task. The architecture is used for classifying high occupancy vehicle images.

Abstract: A seat configured so that the accuracy of detection of each sensor provided in the seat to detect the body potential of a seated occupant can be improved without degrading the sense and comfort of the seat. A seat includes a trim cover having a contact surface for a seated occupant, and sensors arranged opposite to the contact surface and configured to detect the body potential of the seated occupant. Each sensor is a capacitive coupling sensor configured to detect the body potential through the trim cover. Moreover, a portion of the seat facing each sensor includes a dielectric configured to increase the dielectric constant of such a portion.

Abstract: Disclosed is a driver supporting device including: a warning timing control unit for setting a timing at which to output warning data in accordance with the existence or non-existence of a passenger when it is determined that a warning target which possibly collides with a driver's vehicle exists ahead of the driver's vehicle, and a warning data outputting unit for outputting the warning data in accordance with the timing set by the warning timing control unit.

Abstract: An airbag module including a first casing enclosing a first gas space, a first inflator and a control device for controlling ventilation of the first gas space or the shape of the first casing. The control device includes a second casing (42) enclosing a second gas space and a gas source. The second gas space is bordered by a permanent edge connection, and further includes a control element such as a strap (60), whose first end is connected to the first casing and whose second end is sewn to the second casing (42) by a tear seam (49), and is decoupled from the second casing (42) upon filling of the second gas space. The tear seam (49) touches or intersects the edge connection at two points so that the tear seam divides the second gas space into two regions (43a, 43b).

Abstract: A seat heater (10) with a heating element (12) connected between a first (14) and a second (16) nodes comprises a third (18) and a fourth (20) node operatively connectable to a first and a second terminal, respectively, of a power supply. A first electric component (22) providing a controllable first conductance is connected between the first and the third nodes. A second electric component (24) providing a controllable second conductance is connected between the second and the fourth nodes. A control network (26) is connected to the electric components to control the respective conductances and has a mode of operation in which it applies an oscillating signal to the heating element by modulating the first and second conductances in such a way that a voltage drop variation between the third and first nodes is opposite to a voltage drop variation between the second and fourth nodes.

Abstract: A gas generator contains an anti-vibration, auto-igniting pad. The pad is formed from a mixture of a known auto-igniting composition mixed with an elastomeric polymer, and then cured, thereby forming a polymer-auto-igniting composition matrix. The pad is placed in thermodynamic communication with a housing on the gas generator, thereby enhancing the safety of the gas generator while yet providing a multi-functional pad. The pad is formulated to reduce vibrations when biased against an associated gas generant, while augmenting the amount of gas produced upon gas generator activation, while yet providing an auto-igniting material that is ignited during a high heat event.

Abstract: The present invention discloses embodiments of an apparatus, system and related method for diagnosing initiators in air bag systems. An embodiment of the system comprises a diagnostic circuit electrically connected between acceleration switches and one or more squib, that is user-activated via a momentary switch, and with user-feedback, wherein a user can diagnose the health of the one or more squib with no power drain while inactive. An embodiment of a method related to the system comprises activating a momentary switch, completing a circuit whereby a diagnostic circuit may function, indicating to the user that the diagnostic circuit is functioning, regulating the current into the diagnostic circuit so that the squib does not fire, boosting the signal to a window comparator, detecting the desired voltage by the window comparator, giving feedback to the user that the voltage is good, too high, or too low.

Abstract: A device, system and method for establishing, determining compliance and ongoing monitoring of a user in the operation of a machine based on predetermined restrictions. The system is useful for a motor vehicle and, more particularly, to comply with user restrictions in teen driving, the presence of passengers, time of day, curfew, range and location, speed, sobriety and the like, An ignition interlock is engaged if one or more sensors that monitor the presence of the vehicle operator, passengers inside the vehicle compartment, and other operational compliance parameters established for the vehicle is out of compliance, and disengaged if compliance is verified.

Abstract: An activation system for actuators of a vehicle seat device, including a first control device; a gas pressure accumulator having a gas pressure accumulator valve situated on it; a pressure distribution device functionally connected to the gas pressure accumulator; and a connecting device situated between the first control device and the pressure distribution device, the actuators being activatable as a function of an accident characteristic which is ascertainable with the aid of the first control device and which is transmittable to the pressure distribution device.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a passenger compartment and at least one seat located in the passenger compartment. The seat can be moved from a front-facing position to a rear-facing position for when the vehicle is operating in an autonomous mode. The vehicle may further include autonomous driving sensors and an autonomous controller that receives signals generated by the autonomous driving sensors and controls at least one vehicle subsystems according to the signals received.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a passenger compartment and a bench seat located in the passenger compartment. The bench seat has a bottom portion and a back portion and is configured to move from a front-facing position to a rear-facing position by moving the back portion toward a front of the passenger compartment for when the vehicle is operating in an autonomous mode.

Abstract: A vehicle collision damage mitigation system includes: a vehicle having a crashable zone on a front side of a dash panel in a vehicle longitudinal direction; a body airbag device that inflates a body airbag that is provided on a front surface of the dash panel by a pressure of gas generated by a gas generating device; a detector that detects whether a mode of a frontal collision of the vehicle is a full-overlap collision or another collision; and a control unit that operates the gas generating device when detecting a collision other than the full-overlap collision on the basis of a detection result of the detector and that does not operate the gas generating device when detecting the full-overlap collision.

Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a seatback having a forward cushion surface and a back panel. An airbag deployment system is operably coupled to a crash pulse module. A side airbag is disposed between the forward cushion surface and the back panel proximate a side portion of the seatback. A bolster airbag is disposed between the forward cushion surface and the back panel proximate a lower portion of the back panel. A single inflator is in communication with both the side airbag and the bolster airbag. A valve assembly is operably coupled with the single inflator and is in communication with the crash pulse module. The valve assembly is configured to activate at least one of the side airbag and the bolster airbag during a collision event.

Abstract: A vehicle control device and a vehicle control method automatically bring a vehicle to a halt by operating a brake. Thereafter, when the vehicle stops, a shift position is switched to a parking position by the control of a shift position actuator. This makes it possible to keep the vehicle stopping without any difficulty, and to prevent the vehicle from moving again.

Abstract: A leg restraint for side-seated vehicle occupants that includes a leg-restraining member for being mounted in proximity to a side-facing vehicle seat and selectively moveable between a deployed, laterally-extending leg-protecting position and a retracted, non-leg interfering position, and a sensor for detecting abrupt movement in the direction of forward travel of the vehicle incident to an abrupt deceleration of the vehicle and outputting a signal. A gas-inflatable bag is positioned operatively proximate the leg-restraining member and is responsive to the signal output by the sensor for inflating and deploying the leg-restraining member upon the occurrence of the abrupt deceleration of the vehicle.

Abstract: A safety restraint system having a seat belt (51) and an inflatable air bag (200), the air bag including first (220) and second (222) opposing panels, the first panel including one or more loops (234) and slots (232) to receive a seat belt (51), the air bag and/or seat belt configured to slide relatively to each other along the length of the seat belt.

Abstract: An advanced weight responsive supplemental restraint computer system that minimizes both actual and perceived dangers related to the deployment of vehicle air bag systems by distinguishing between the varying size and weight of a passenger and also sensing the imminence of a collision in order to cater the air bag deployment to the unique physical attributes of the passenger.

Abstract: A method for an automatic transmission includes measuring torque of a component of the transmission using a torque sensor in communication with the component. The torque of the component is estimated from information other than the measured torque. The measured torque is rejected from being used in a control operation of the transmission if the difference between the measured torque and the estimated torque is greater than a selected threshold.

Abstract: A vehicle according to the present invention includes: a weight sensor disposed in a seat to sense the weight of a passenger sitting on the seat; a weight-keeping-exerted time measurer measuring how long the weight of the passenger sensed by the weight sensor is exerted; a vehicle speed sensor sensing the traveling speed; and a passenger identification unit setting the class of the seat by using the passenger's weight sensed by the weight sensor and the weight-keeping-exerted time measured by the weight-keeping-exerted time measurer and finally fixing the set class, when the traveling speed sensed by the vehicle speed sensor is a fixed reference speed or more.

Abstract: A metal plate (14) is buried in a gasket (12) of a case (10) for accommodating an electric device such as an inverter. The metal plate (14) is connected to a control board (400) in the case (10), and the voltage of the metal plate (14) is determined. A reference voltage is applied to the metal plate (14), and the case (10) is grounded. When the metal plate (14) is brought into contact with the case (10) or disconnected due to a crash, the voltage of the metal plate (14) is thereby changed, and the control board (400) detects a crash, based on the change in the voltage.

Abstract: An impact sensor calibration tool, wherein an impact sensor is installed on a vehicle and in wireless communication with a processor, which analyzes data reported by the impact sensor. Specifically, the impact sensor of the present invention continuously measures two dimensional acceleration of a vehicle. Changes in vehicle acceleration create impulse data and the impact sensor reports this data to a processor. The processor performs statistical calculations on the data to identify the vehicle's normal use operation and from this, develops an impact threshold wherein impulses exceeding this threshold are identified as impacts. The impacts may be further characterized as real impacts and stored in memory for subsequent analysis.

Abstract: A vehicle control device and a vehicle control method of an embodiment of the present invention automatically bring a vehicle to a halt by operating a brake (16). Thereafter, when the vehicle stops, a shift potion is switched to a parking position by the control of a shift position actuator (17). This makes it possible to keep the vehicle stopping without any difficulty, and to prevent the vehicle from moving again.

Abstract: A releasable tether retention system includes a housing having a slot extending therealong and a projection extending into the slot. The projection is coupled to the housing so as to be movable along the housing between a first position along the slot and a second position along the slot. Rotation of the projection is prevented when the projection is in the first position, and rotation of the projection is enabled when the projection is in the second position.

Abstract: There is provided a steering device. The steering device has an airbag module that is disposed inside a steering wheel for steering a vehicle and that protects a vehicle occupant during a collision of the vehicle with another object by deploying an airbag body toward the vehicle occupant. The steering device includes a detecting unit that detects the collision of the vehicle with another object in advance; and an adjusting unit that positionally adjusts the steering wheel to a neutral position when the collision of the vehicle with another object is detected by the detecting unit, the neutral position of the steering wheel being a position of the steering wheel when the vehicle is traveling straight.

Abstract: A method and a control device for triggering passenger protection devices for a vehicle are provided, a rollover event causing the triggering of the passenger protection devices. The rollover event is detected as a function of kinematic and rotation variables, an adhesion, and a static stability factor. A state of rotation is ascertained via a rotation rate and a rotation angle. A state of adhesion is ascertained from a vehicle transverse acceleration and a vehicle vertical acceleration. The rollover event is detected via the state of adhesion and the state of rotation, the adhesion being much greater than the static stability factor.

Abstract: A motor vehicle blind-spot detection system has a remote sensor covering a rear-quadrant blind spot sensing zone and a forward-quadrant side impact sensing zone. A control module receives signals from a side impact sensor and the blind-spot detection sensor, calculates an approach vector of an object in the side impact sensing zone and/or the blind spot sensing zone, determines that the object will impact the vehicle, initializes a side impact algorithm controlling activation of an occupant safety device, detects an impact on the side of the vehicle and determines a magnitude of the impact, compares the magnitude of the impact with a threshold value established at least in part based upon the magnitude of the approach vector, and activates the occupant safety device if the magnitude of the impact exceeds the threshold value.

Abstract: In a passenger protection device, an object detection unit detects a relative position of an object in a circumference of a vehicle to the vehicle. A side collision prediction unit predicts that the object is about to collide with a side face of the vehicle, based on the relative position detected by the object detection unit. An impact detection unit detects an impact of the object on the vehicle side face. A side collision judgment unit determines whether the object has collided with the vehicle side face, based on the impact detected by the impact detection unit. A passenger protection unit protects a passenger in the vehicle. When the side collision prediction unit predicts that the object is about to collide with the vehicle side face and the side collision judgment unit determines that the object has collided with the vehicle side face, the passenger protection unit is initiated.

Abstract: A passenger detection system includes a passenger detecting part including a load detecting section that detects a load caused by a passenger seated on a seat of a vehicle, and a passenger detection controller including a passenger recognizing section, a movement detecting section and an activation determining section. The passenger recognizing section executes a passenger recognition based on a load detection signal outputted from the load detecting section. The movement detecting section detects whether the vehicle is moving based on the load detection signal. The activation determining section determines whether or not to activate an airbag apparatus based on a passenger recognition signal when a movement detection signal outputted from the movement detecting section indicates that the vehicle is stopped, and forgoes executing the determination and holds a determination result from a previous control cycle when the movement detection signal indicates that the vehicle is moving.

Abstract: A seating sensing device embedded in a seat includes: a variable resistance unit generating resistance values corresponding to the circumference of the seat through a plurality of conductive threads installed in the seat; and a signal analysis unit analyzing variable quantities of the resistance values to acquire activity information on one or more of whether a user is seated or not, a seating posture, and a seating posture change.

Abstract: An airbag assembly has an airbag, a gas emitting inflator, and an airbag thickness limiting structure. The airbag thickness limiting structure limits a first body region engaging portion to having a lateral thickness within a first lateral thickness range when the gas emitting inflator delivers a first amount of inflation gas into the interior space of the airbag and allows the first body region engaging portion of the airbag to have a lateral thickness within a second lateral thickness range when the gas emitting inflator delivers a second amount of inflation gas greater than the first amount into the interior space of the airbag. A second body region engaging portion has a substantially fixed maximum attainable lateral thickness. Maximum attainable lateral thickness of the first body region engaging portion of the airbag can be dependent upon whether or not inflation of the airbag is implemented using pre-crash sensing technology.

Abstract: An impact event countermeasure control method and system for an automotive vehicle includes management of impact countermeasures using not only variable timing responsive to impact severity, but also event control as a function of the displacement of a vehicle's occupant with respect to the passenger cabin environment, including various countermeasure devices.

Abstract: Externally deployed airbag system for a vehicle including one or more inflatable airbags deployable outside of the vehicle, an anticipatory sensor system for assessing the probable severity of an impact involving the vehicle based on data obtained prior to the impact and initiating inflation of the airbag(s) in the event an impact above a threshold severity is assessed, and an inflator coupled to the anticipatory sensor system and the airbag for inflating the airbag when initiated by the anticipatory sensor system. The airbag may be housed in a module mounted along a side of the vehicle, in a side door of the vehicle (both for side impact protection), at a front of the vehicle (for frontal impact protection) or at a rear of the vehicle (for rear impact protection). Also, the externally deployed airbag can be deployed to cushion a pedestrian's impact against the vehicle.

Abstract: A method and device are provided for lessening the consequences of an accident affecting a vehicle occupant in the event of a collision of the vehicle with an obstruction. Before the collision, the absolute speed of the vehicle occupant relative to the obstruction is reduced independently of the traveling speed of the vehicle by way of a reduction of the vehicle occupant's speed relative to the vehicle, without the vehicle occupant experiencing a first displacement movement against the vehicle movement direction beyond his initial destination-related traveling position.

Abstract: A device, system and method for establishing, determining compliance and ongoing monitoring of a user in the operation of a machine based on predetermined restrictions. The system is useful for a motor vehicle and, more particularly, to comply with user restrictions in teen driving, the presence of passengers, time of day, curfew, range and location, speed, sobriety and the like, An ignition interlock is engaged if one or more sensors that monitor the presence of the vehicle operator, passengers inside the vehicle compartment, and other operational compliance parameters established for the vehicle is out of compliance, and disengaged if compliance is verified.