Abstract: A side airbag (14) for a supplemental restraint system (12) of a vehicle (10) includes an inflatable bag comprised of a shoulder-receiving portion (24) and a thorax-receiving portion (26) that extends from the shoulder-receiving portion (24). This airbag (14) is moveable between a deflated configuration and an inflated configuration. In the inflated configuration, the thorax-receiving portion (26) is sized thinner than the shoulder-receiving portion (24) in a lateral direction.

Abstract: A turn signal system includes at least one sensor detecting road markers and generating therefrom road marker signals. A turn signal deactivates in response to a control command generated by a controller. The controller receives the road marker signals, and determines at least one of whether the system is undergoing a turning condition or has completed the turning condition from the road marker signals. The controller generates the control command when the system has completed the turning condition. A redundancy system verifies the control command.

Abstract: A vision system for a vehicle includes a light source generating an illumination beam, a receiver having a pixel array for capturing an image in response to at least a reflected portion of the illumination beam, the image corresponding to a first horizontal field of view (FOV) angle, and a controller coupled to the light source and the receiver. The controller receives a vehicle speed input and, in response, selects a portion of the image as a non-linear function of the vehicle speed to generate a second horizontal FOV angle for displaying to the vehicle operator. The displayed angular FOV decreases, non-linearly, as the vehicle speed increases.

Abstract: A night vision system for a vehicle includes a pulsed light source for illuminating a region proximate the vehicle and a secondary trigger light source operating at a predetermined pulse timing and second wavelength. A light sensor detects light at the second wavelength. The trigger light pulses are used to indicate the pulse timing of each respective vehicle's primary NIR light source. Upon detecting another vehicle's trigger light source, the controller adjusts the pulse phase of the first light source to be exactly out-of-phase with that of the oncoming vehicle since the pulsed timing of the oncoming vehicle's NIR light source is known upon detection of the opposing vehicle's trigger light source. Each vehicle can then adjust its primary light source to be out-of-phase with the other vehicle and, hence, non-interfering.

Abstract: A lighting system for night vision applications including a near infrared light source, a visible light source, a beamsplitter and an optical element. The beamsplitter is arranged to reflect light emitting from either the near infrared light source or the visible light source and transmit light emitting from the other of the near infrared light source or visible light source so as to produce a color-corrected light source. The optical element is disposed a predetermined distance from the color-corrected light source. The optical element includes an input surface for receiving light from the color-corrected light source and an output surface for emitting the received light in a desired emission pattern. In one embodiment, each of the near infrared light source and visible light source is associated with respective first and second optical elements.

Abstract: A collision and injury mitigation system (10) for an automotive vehicle (12) is provided. The system (10) includes two or more object detection sensors (15) that detect an object and generate one or more object detection signals. A controller (16) is electrically coupled to the two or more object detection sensors and performs a fuzzy logic technique to classify the object as a real object or a false object in response to the one or more object detection signals. A method for performing the same is also provided.

Abstract: A sensor system for generating information useful for determining the environment surrounding a vehicle includes multiple sensing zones, with each zone using sensors operating in different electromagnetic bands. The outputs of the sensors are fused to provide more useful information than that obtainable from either sensor, taken alone.

Abstract: A real time stamp synchronization system (14) for an automotive vehicle (12) is provided. The system (14) includes a vehicle clock (52) that stores a current time. A time receiver (50) receives a real time signal from a time center (16). A collision system controller (54) is electrically coupled to the vehicle clock (52) and the time receiver (50) and synchronizes the current time with the real time signal. A collision evaluation system (10) for reconstructing a collision event is also provided along with methods for performing the same stated systems.

Abstract: A method of adaptively controlling the speed of a reference vehicle having a controller is provided. The method includes detecting a target vehicle, setting a reference vehicle headway distance indicative of a desired separation between the reference vehicle and the target vehicle, receiving at the reference vehicle, target vehicle data from the target vehicle, and modifying the reference vehicle headway distance as a function of the target vehicle data. The target vehicle data includes a braking capability value (BCT) of the target vehicle. A braking capability value (BCR) for the reference vehicle is also determined. If the BCR or BCT indicates a less than optimum braking capability for the reference or target vehicles, the reference vehicle headway distance is increased. In this way, the relative braking capability of the two vehicles is used to modify the reference vehicle headway distance during adaptive cruise control operation.

Abstract: A collision warning and countermeasure system (10) for an automotive vehicle (12) is provided. The system (10) includes a transmission gear sensor (20) that generates a transmission gear signal. A multi-mode object detection sensor (28) generates an object detection signal. The multi-mode object detection sensor (28) operates in a detection mode in response to the transmission gear signal. A controller (26) is electrically coupled to the transmission gear sensor (20) and the multi-mode object detection sensor (28) and generates a countermeasure signal in response to the object detection signal. A method of performing the same is also provided.

Abstract: A side impact crash detection system (12) for an automotive vehicle (10) is provided that has a side impact sensor (16) that generates a relative closing velocity signal of an object (18). A side slip sensor (24) is positioned within the vehicle and generates a side slip signal corresponding to the side slip of the vehicle (10). A controller (14) is coupled to the side impact sensor and the side slip sensor. The controller (14) generates an object tracking signal in response to the relative closing velocity signal and the side slip signal of the vehicle.

Abstract: A warning system (12) for a source vehicle (10) is illustrated. A camera (20) generates a plurality of images. A controller (30) is coupled to an indicator (36). The controller (30) generates a size signal and position signal for a rear-approaching vehicle. The controller (30) activates an indicator when a rear-approaching vehicle enters a blind spot (14) in response to the size signal and position signal.

Abstract: A control system (10) for an automotive vehicle (50) coupled to a countermeasure system having a countermeasure includes an object sensor system (18) generating an object signal, an object distance signal, an object azimuth position signal, and object relative velocity signal. The control system (10) further includes an object classifier coupled to the object sensor system (18) generating an object classification signal in response to the object signal and a controller coupled to the object sensor object classifier for activating the countermeasure (42) in response to the object distance, object azimuth position, relative velocity and the object classification signal.

Abstract: A rollover detection system (12) for an automotive vehicle (10) includes a controller (14) that is hooked to various types of sensors. The sensors may include a lateral acceleration sensor and another sensor or combination of sensors that gives an indication to another lateral condition of the vehicle. The controller determines a roll condition in response to comparing the lateral acceleration and the lateral condition other than lateral acceleration to a threshold. When the conditions are above the threshold then a roll condition is indicated. When a roll condition is indicated a safety device (40) may be controlled to prevent rollover and/or deploy a safety device.

Abstract: A vehicle control system (10) including a vehicle motion control subsystem (12) that has an input receiving an intended driving demand (14) and a plurality of coordinator subsystems (16) for coordinating actuators of the vehicle. The vehicle motion control subsystem (12) communicates with the coordinator subsystems (16) to determine whether a single coordinator subsystem (16) can carry out the intended driving demand (14). The vehicle motion control subsystem (12) will distribute demand signals among one or more of the coordinator subsystems (16) to allow the vehicle to implement the intended driving demand (14).

Abstract: A method of performing object detection within a collision warning and countermeasure system (10) is provided. The method includes generating an object detection signal and generating an image detection signal. Centers-of-reflection (56) and centers-of-intensity (59) are determined in response to the object detection signal and the image detection signal. The centers-of-intensity (59) are associated with the center-of-reflection (56). Differences between the centers-of-reflection (56) and the centroids (62) are determined for a plurality of frames (65) and a sensor difference signal is generated. An object (36) is classified in response to the sensor difference signal.

Abstract: A rear collision warning system (10) for a target vehicle (17) and an approaching vehicle (18) is provided. The rear collision warning system (10) includes a first transmitter (54) located on the approaching vehicle (18) and directed at the target vehicle (17). The first transmitter (54) generates a vehicle information signal. A first indicator (16) located on the target vehicle (17). A first receiver (50) electrically coupled to the first indicator (16) receives the vehicle information signal and transmits a warning signal to the approaching vehicle (18) when the vehicle information signal is above a predetermined magnitude. A method of performing the same is also provided.

Abstract: An impact sensor is provided including a counter electrically coupled to the sensor and storing an impact sensor collision number. The impact collision number represents whether the impact sensor has been on a vehicle that has been involved in a collision. A method for indicating that the impact sensor has been on a vehicle that has been involved in a collision is also provided. The method includes sensing a collision and generating a collision signal in response to the collision. An impact sensor collision number is incremented and indicated in response to the collision signal.

Abstract: A night vision system for a vehicle includes a pulsed light source for illuminating a region proximate the vehicle, the light source operating at a predetermined pulse timing. A light sensor generates a light intensity signal in response to detecting light at approximately the same wavelength as light from the light source. A controller receives first and second light intensity signals from the light sensor corresponding to first and second time periods between pulses of the light source, compares the first and second light intensity signals, and modifies the light source pulse timing as a function of a ratio or difference between the first and second light intensity signals, to avoid blinding of the vehicle's night vision system by similarly-equipped vehicle's traveling in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A pre-crash assessment system 1 includes a host vehicle 3 in motion. A remote sensor 4, status monitoring sensors 5, and safety device actuators are coupled to the host object. The remote sensor 4 detects target object dynamics. The status monitoring sensors 5 detect host object dynamics. The safety device actuators activate safety devices. A threshold for each safety device actuator is defined by a safety device activation specification. A safety device controller 10, also coupled to the host object, generates tracking signals based on host object and target object dynamics. The safety device controller 10 also estimates future positions of the host and target objects, and estimates whether the potential for crash between the host and target objects is within the threshold criteria for specific safety device actuation. The controller 10 then controls the safety device actuators when the potential for crash is within the pre-determined threshold criteria.