Abstract: The improved steering apparatus is an invention that increases vehicular operational safety by providing means for a vehicle operator to control various vehicle functions and accessories while keeping both hands on the steering apparatus. The apparatus also automatically provides for the display of a variety of driver relevant information including automatic live video (160) feed of blind spots, rear vehicle cabin area, and road sign information (320), by displaying the information on the steering apparatus mounted video screen. The apparatus includes a built-in speaker (170) and is controlled by either voice commands or by a touching of the touch activatable video display screen (160).

Abstract: A system and method for maintaining operational states of vehicle remote actuators during failure conditions is described. The system controller determines if the actuator controller is operating properly by monitoring an enable line and initiates a safe mode of operation if the actuator is not operating properly.

Abstract: Determining distance and relative speed includes a transmitter transmitting electromagnetic signals defined by a plurality of sections, a first section comprising a continuous-wave (CW) signal, a second section comprising a chirp electromagnetic signal, the chirp electromagnetic signal comprising a plurality of subsections. A detector detects reflected signals being the transmitted electromagnetic signals reflected from an object, and comprising a reflected CW signal and a reflected chirp signal. The detector detects the reflected signals by: (i) generating a plurality of samples of the reflected CW signal, and (ii) generating a plurality of samples of the reflected chirp signal. A processor determines a first set of phase differences among the plurality of samples of the reflected CW signal and a second set of phase differences among the plurality of samples of the reflected chirp signal, and processes the first and second sets of phase differences to determine the distance, relative speed and bearing.

Abstract: A restraint system for a mobile platform is provided and may include a first belt portion and a second belt portion each having a first end secured to the mobile platform and a second end movable relative to the mobile platform. A latch plate may be fixed to the second end of one of the first belt portion and the second belt portion and a buckle may be secured to the second end of the other of the first belt portion and the second belt portion. The buckle may be selectively connected to the latch plate in a latched state and may include a housing having an opening receiving the latch plate in the latched state and at least one aperture disposed adjacent to the opening and formed through a surface of the housing opposing a user when in the latched state.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems for coupling an airbag inflator with a housing, such as an airbag module housing or an adapter housing configured to be coupled with an airbag module housing. In some implementations, a housing comprising an opening may be provided. An inflator comprising a collar may be positioned in the housing such that the collar of the inflator extends into, or in some cases through, the opening of the housing. The inflator may be fixedly coupled with the housing by engaging an exterior surface of the inflator collar with at least one engagement structure, such as a retainer clip or crimp formed in a collar sleeve of the housing.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems for packing or deploying airbag cushions, such as driver side airbag cushions, to improve unfolding kinematics and/or otherwise improve performance. In some implementations of methods for packing an airbag cushion, a first portion of an airbag cushion may be compressed and then secured in a compressed configuration using a first wrap. A second portion of the airbag cushion may then be compressed and secured in a second compressed configuration using a second wrap. The resulting airbag cushion assembly may be configured to separate the wraps sequentially, rather than simultaneously, during inflation of the airbag cushion.

Abstract: An airbag assembly may include an inflatable curtain airbag with a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration. The inflatable curtain may have a first chamber and a second chamber that inflates forward of the first chamber. The second chamber may have a height above the height of the first chamber so that a bottom of the second chamber is pressed downward adjacent to a door of the vehicle. A plurality of airbag assembly components may be integrally formed with a non-inflating peripheral region surrounding the first and second chambers. Such components may include a front or rear tether cut from the front or rear of the non-inflating peripheral region, a top tether cut from the top of the non-inflating peripheral region to control deployment of the second chamber, and a fabric shield cut from the top to at least partially wrap around the stowed inflatable curtain airbag.

Abstract: A dual-mode retractor for an automotive seat belt webbing is configured to switch between a first mode and a second mode, the first mode being one of an ELR mode and an ALR mode, and the second mode being the other one of the ELR mode and the ALR mode. The retractor switches between the first mode and the second mode via a relative movement between a first part and a second part of the retractor. The magnetic field of a permanent magnet mounted on the first part is picked up by a Hall effect sensor. An interrupter plate is mounted on the second part in a position relative to the magnet, in which the interrupter plate, in which the interrupter plate exposes the HED to the original magnetic field in the first mode and to a modified magnetic field in the second mode.

Abstract: An airbag can include a panel that defines at least a portion of an inflatable chamber. The airbag can also include a slit vent that is at least partially defined by the panel. One or more seams can encompass the slit vent and can permit the slit vent to naturally be in a closed orientation.

Abstract: Airbag assemblies and active vents for airbag assemblies are disclosed. An airbag assembly may include an airbag cushion, an active vent having an aperture and a patch configured to plug the aperture, a depth-delimiting tether, a cross tether, and a control tether. The control tether may be coupled to the patch and the depth-delimiting tether. The depth-delimiting tether and the control tether may be drawn taut as the airbag cushion expands during deployment to draw the patch toward the aperture from a first position that allows unobstructed venting to a second position that obstructs venting through the aperture. The depth-delimiting tether and the control tether can be in or transition to a slack state due to occupant impact with the airbag cushion. These tethers may also be in a slack state during the early stage of deployment.

Abstract: Airbag systems comprising at least one energy-absorbing component configured to absorb energy generated during the deployment of an airbag cushion. In some embodiments, a system may include a steering wheel assembly and an airbag assembly. The airbag assembly may comprise a housing configured to couple to the steering wheel assembly, an inflator coupled to the housing, and an airbag cushion coupled with the inflator. A first gap may be disposed between the inflator and at least one energy-absorbing component. A force from a deployment of the airbag cushion may cause the first gap to close and may result in contact between the inflator and at least one energy-absorbing component. The contact between the inflator and one or more of the energy-absorbing components transfers energy from the deployment of the airbag to one or more of the energy-absorbing components.

Abstract: A motor vehicle seat belt retractor having load limiting features for controlling seat belt restraint loads for a retractor having a spool for storing belt webbing and rotatable with respect to a retractor frame, and a locking mechanism for locking the spool to provide vehicle occupant restraint. A load limiting element coupled with the spool limits restraint loading of the seat belt webbing upon locking of the spool. A rotational displacement limiting mechanism limits the displacement of the load limiting element, the limiting mechanism having a cam forming a spiral flight rotatable with the load limiting element and a cam follower engaging the spiral flight. The cam and the cam follower interengage to reach an end position preventing further relative angular displacement beyond a predetermined angular displacement of the load limiting element. Embodiments provide various configurations for the cam and cam follower elements.

Abstract: A guide that can be included as part of a pretensioner for a motor vehicle belt restraint system. The pretensioner includes a frame having walls that define an interior compartment. Located within the interior compartment is a piston assembly having a gas generator in communication with a piston. The gas generator creates an expanding gas that causes movement of the piston and applies tension to a seatbelt of the belt restraint system. The guide includes an opening through which the seatbelt passes and that causes the seatbelt to form a reduced width configuration upon exiting the guide.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining the position of a target object using a two-channel monopulse radar. The radar may include two transmitting antennas and one common receiving antenna disposed in a coplanar arrangement. The transmitting antennas may be positioned on the focal plane of the radar along a focal plane axis that extends through, and that is perpendicular with, a boresight axis of the radar. The transmitting antennas may be spaced apart from one another in a first dimension a distance equal to about one half of one wavelength of the radar's center operating frequency. One of the transmitting antennas may be squinted at an angle of ?1 relative to the boresight axis and the other transmitting antenna may be squinted at an angle of ?2 relative to the boresight axis in a second dimension. The transmitting antennas are not squinted relative to one another in the first dimension.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved method and system for compensation of inertial sensors. In one implementation a modified moving average is applied to provide dynamic offset compensation for an inertial sensor output that is calculated when a vehicle is in motion.

Abstract: A low profile antenna array for UWB radar antenna applications is disclosed. It may be used as a mid-range receiving antenna array (RXM) or as a mid-range transmitting antenna array (TXM). In some embodiments, the RXM or the TXM may include a plurality of radiation patch elements formed on a top layer of a printed circuit board (PCB), a distribution feeding network in the mid-layer of the PCB having a patch array, and a serial feeding arrangement from a ?/4 coupling slot to each feeding patch. This antenna may have a desirable large frequency bandwidth with relatively flat antenna gain over a frequency range from 22 GHz to 26.5 GHz. In addition, sidelobe levels for the elevation patterns may be below ?20 dB. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: Airbag assemblies and active vents for airbag assemblies are disclosed. An airbag assembly can include an airbag cushion that defines an inflatable chamber and an active vent that comprises an aperture and a patch configured to plug the aperture. A first control tether is coupled to the patch and coupled to the airbag cushion. The first control tether is drawn taut as the cushion expands during deployment to draw the patch toward the aperture from a first position that allows unobstructed venting through the aperture to a second position that obstructs venting through the aperture. The first control tether, or a second control tether, is configured to be drawn taut to close the active vent. Responsive to impact with the airbag cushion, a control tether is configured to slacken to open the active vent.

Abstract: An airbag assembly can include an airbag cushion and a protective flap. In some arrangements, the protective flap is positioned over at least a portion of an inflatable region of the airbag cushion to prevent the inflatable region of the airbag cushion from being pinched due to securement of the airbag cushion to a mounting member via which the airbag assembly can be secured to a vehicle.

Abstract: An airbag assembly may include an airbag with a first fabric panel, a second fabric panel attached to the first fabric panel, and a third fabric panel attached to the second fabric panel. The first and second fabric panels may define a first inflatable cushion and the second and third fabric panels may define a C-shaped second inflatable cushion. Upon deployment, the first inflatable cushion may have a first pressure and the second inflatable cushion may have a second pressure greater than the first pressure. Further, the first inflatable cushion may be positioned directly outboard of the thoracic region and the second inflatable cushion may be positioned directly outboard of the acromial region and the coxal region, but not the thoracic region, to provide gentler cushioning for the thoracic region.

Abstract: A seatbelt clamping device includes a U shaped housing configured for being mounted to vehicle structure and a shackle that is pivotally attached to the housing. The shackle can pivot between an open position for receiving a loop of seatbelt webbing and a closed position for retaining the seatbelt webbing. The housing includes a locking surface, and the shackle and locking surface define a gap therebetween through which the seatbelt webbing can slide. The shackle includes a shaft and a cam cover rotatable about the shaft. The cam cover includes an increased radius locking portion that can rotate toward the locking surface to clamp the seatbelt webbing in response to a load exerted thereon.