Abstract: Systems and methods provide infrared camera techniques that may improve image quality or infrared camera performance over a range of varying conditions. For example, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a system is disclosed that transforms data provided by an infrared camera based upon environmental conditions at the time the data was obtained. As an example, the image quality provided by the infrared camera may be improved over a range of environmental conditions by the proper transformation of the data based upon the data and/or sensor information.

Abstract: A reversible belt tensioner (1) with a belt roller and an electric motor (3) that drives the belt roller (2) in roll-up direction, has at least two electrical contacts (11) arranged on the electric motor (3). Counter contacts (10) are fixed on the reversible belt tensioner (1), and the electrical contacts (11) of the electric motor (3) are plugged directly onto or into the counter contacts (10).

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, the present invention provides a side airbag apparatus for a vehicle having a seat with a back rest part and a hinge mechanism. The side airbag includes a separation means defining a front airbag chamber and a rear airbag chamber within the side airbag. A connecting passage connects the front and rear airbag chambers adjacent a lower extremity of the separation means. An attaching portion provided on the rear portion of the rear airbag chamber attaches the side airbag to the backrest part. An inflator proximate said attaching portion injects gas into the rear airbag chamber which flows through the connecting passage into the front airbag chamber.

Abstract: A steering wheel assembly, comprising: an insert comprising an armature, a rim portion and at least one spoke connecting the armature to the rim portion; a rim assembly comprising a first rim portion and a second rim portion, the first rim portion and the second rim portion each being configured to be disposed around a periphery of the rim portion of the insert and the first rim portion and the second rim portion are configured to be secured to each other about the rim portion of the insert, the first rim portion and the second rim portion each being separately formed from a polymeric material prior to the securement of the rim assembly to the rim portion of the insert; and a decorative cover disposed about an exterior surface of the rim assembly.

Abstract: A knee airbag for a motor vehicle is described. This knee airbag extends in its installed state along a longitudinal direction (X) from a rear end to a front end. The airbag skin (5) of the knee airbag exhibits a front section (20) and a rear section (22) and a connecting line for contouring of the airbag is located on the rear section (22). In order to simplify the assembly of the knee airbag, the connecting line mainly extends transverse to the longitudinal direction (X) and shortens the rear section (22) in longitudinal direction.

Abstract: Provided is a pretensioner for a seat belt retractor. The pretensioner for a seat belt retractor of a vehicle includes a torsion bar on which a webbing is wound; a gear member connected to the torsion bar; a base member with which the gear member is meshed and through which the torsion bar passes; a cylinder having a movement guide hole formed therein to supply a gas upon rapid deceleration of the vehicle; a piston having a rack formed at a side surface thereof in a longitudinal direction to be meshed with the gear member and moved along the movement guide hole upon supply of a gas, and; a cylindrical sealing operation part integrally formed with a bottom of the piston and projecting therefrom; and a sealing part coupled to an outer periphery of the sealing operation part to seal between the piston and an inner wall of the cylinder, wherein the base member has a hooking means for hooking the piston to a rack.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus including an infrared video camera. The infrared video camera includes a sensor array operable to produce successive video images in the form of pixelated two-dimensional images. The imaging apparatus further comprises a processing arrangement operable to reduce or increase the overall brightness of an image in dependence upon the overall brightness of the pre-enhanced image and the overall brightness of the preceding enhanced image, so that the change in the overall brightness (DC-level) between the enhanced image and the preceding enhanced image is decreased.

Abstract: Described is a gas bag for a motor vehicle with a gas bag envelope surrounding a gas space, wherein the gas bag envelope comprises a front section (12) having an impact area (12a) and a rear section (14) directly connected with the front section (12) via a circumferential edge (11) having a support area (14a). Here, the rear section (14) has a folding for the contouring of the gas bag. In order to achieve that the gas bag adapts to a convexly bent surface shape of a part of the vehicle interior structure against which it rests without external catching bands or the like the folding consists of at least one first fold (18) extending parallel to the rear section and at least a second fold (20), wherein the second fold (20) is arranged in the first fold (18) and substantially stands perpendicularly to the rear section (14).

Abstract: A method is provided for filling an enclosure with an ignitable mixture of gases. The enclosure has an outer wall comprising an exterior surface, an interior surface, and a fill aperture extending therethrough. The method comprises delivering a predetermined amount of pressurized combustible gas into the enclosure through the fill aperture, delivering a first predetermined amount of pressurized inert gas into the enclosure through the fill aperture at a first pressurization rate, delivering a second predetermined amount of pressurized inert gas into the enclosure through the fill aperture at a second pressurization rate, welding a sealing member to the outer wall of the enclosure by a welding process to form a weld operable to seal the fill aperture and to permit the enclosure to store pressurized gas therein. The first pressurization rate allows the first predetermined amount of pressurized inert gas to mix with the predetermined amount of pressurized combustible gas to form an ignitable mixture.

Abstract: An airbag module may include an inflator, an air bag, and an air bag case housing. The air bag case housing may be attached to the air bag and attached to the inflator. The inflator supplies a gas to the air bag housed in the air bag case. The air bag case may include an engagement member having an opening and a hook disposed on two opposing sides of thereof, and a lower surface plate member that is attached to the engagement member by a bridge member. The hooks may be shaped to engage an instrument panel, thereby attaching the air bag case to the instrument panel. The air bag module may also include a fabric housing disposed around the air bag housed. The fabric housing may have a box-like shape with a bottom portion, an open ceiling portion, and a connecting hole disposed in the bottom portion.

Abstract: A combination of belt retractor and belt pre-tensioner in which the pre-tensioning device is coupled to the belt shaft by means of the vehicle-sensitive or belt strap sensitive locking system of the belt retractor, is characterized in that a lever (16) entrained by the drive wheel (10) on its rotation in the pre-tensioning direction is mounted pivotally on the housing and on its pivoting movement effected by the rotation of the drive wheel (10) its free end (18) comes into engagement with the control disc (12) and in so doing, over part of its pivoting movement, drives the control disc (12) for its relative rotation relatively to the belt shaft and after the lever (16) has passed through its pivoting path serving to drive the control disc (12) it is released from the control disc (12) and the drive wheel (10).

Abstract: A control device for modifying the deployment characteristics of an inflatable cushion of an airbag module is disclosed herein, the control device having a releasable retention device releasably secured to an inner surface of the inflatable cushion at a first location and an actuator at a second location, the releasable retention device being configured to limit deployment of the inflatable cushion in a first direction when the releasable retention device is secured to the first location of the inflatable cushion and the actuator; and a venting system disposed within and comprising a portion of the inflatable cushion, the venting system providing at least one vent opening in the inflatable cushion when the releasable retention device is secured to the first location of the inflatable cushion and the actuator and the inflatable cushion is inflated by an inflation gas.

Abstract: An inflatable safety belt has a belt webbing (3) with at least two belt webbing layers (3a, 3b) put on top of each other and forming a hollow space in between, a gas generator (12) having a flow connection to the hollow space, and an anchor fitting (6) for fastening the belt webbing (3) and the gas generator (12) to a motor vehicle. The ends of the belt webbing layers (3a, 3b) are connected to the anchor fitting (6) in such a way that the flow connection to the gas generator (12) is free of tensile forces.

Abstract: A pre-tensioning device for a seat belt with a piston which is guided in a bent tube, and which in case of triggering is influenced by gas generated by a gas generator located in one section of the tube, to which a cable led into the tube by a cable opening is attached. The gas generator section (12) of tube (10) which accommodates gas generator (16) is offset from the piston path section (11) of tube (10) which accommodates piston (17) by creation of a narrowed cross-section inside the tube with a defined gas flow path (29, 41).

Abstract: The present invention related to a pyrotechnic gas generator intended for motor vehicle safety, comprising a sealed housing (1), which contains: —at least one combustion chamber (C) containing a pyrotechnic charge (3), the combustion of which is initiated by an initiator (2) associated with the chamber; —at least one plenum chamber (T) for receiving the gases generated by the combustion of the charge (3) for removing them to the exterior, via at least one discharge aperture (10) formed in said housing (1). It is characterized in that said housing (1) also contains means (R) for temporarily storing at least some of the combustion gases.

Abstract: A woven airbag fabric includes a first type of filament yarn, at least a second type of filament yarn and a silicone-based coating. The first type of filament yarn is chosen from the group of polyolefin filament yarns. The at least a second type of filament yarn is chosen from the group of polyamide and polyester filament yarns.

Abstract: A movable or removable seat for a motor vehicle is disclosed which preferably takes the form of a re-movable vehicle seat (1). The removable seat incorporates a first inductor (17) which forms part of an inductive coupling between the removable seat and a second inductor (21) which is mounted on the motor vehicle. The first inductor forms part of a resonant circuit which incorporates at least one capacitor. The resonant frequency of the resonant circuit is variable in response to a sensed parameter such as, for example, the position of a head-rest of the seat, the inclination of the back-rest of the seat and such like. A central unit (23) generates a square wave which excites the resonant circuit. A signal is transmitted from the resonant circuit to the central unit (23) which analyses the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit.

Abstract: A structure reduces impact force incurred when a structural body located forward of the vehicle interior comes toward the vehicle interior. The structure includes a pressing mechanism arranged forward of the vehicle interior. The pressing mechanism applies a pressure downwardly to the structure in order to restrict the structure from entering into the vehicle interior. The structure further includes a drive member to drive the pressing mechanism in the case of emergency.

Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing an emblem of an automobile part in which the emblem and the part are formed integrally. The method includes printing an emblem on a film wound up in a roll at predetermined intervals (S1), three-dimensionally forming the emblem-printed film (S2), cutting the three-dimensionally formed film using a cutter to obtain an emblem film (S3), inserting the cut emblem film into upper and lower halves of a mold (S4), and injecting a melted resin into the mold to integrally form the resin with the emblem film (S5).

Abstract: A steering wheel arrangement includes a steering wheel frame and an airbag unit positioned at the hub region of the steering wheel frame. The airbag unit includes an airbag housing and an airbag cover. The airbag cover covers the airbag housing and incorporating opaque cover portion projecting outwardly beyond a side of the airbag housing. The arrangement further includes a light source shielded behind the cover portion and positioned outside the airbag housing such that light emitted from the light source passes outwardly from beneath the opaque cover portion and is incident on, and illuminates, part of the steering wheel frame.