Abstract: A roll angular velocity sensor and a lateral velocity sensor are operatively coupled to a processor, which generates a signal for controlling a safety restraint system responsive to measures of roll angular velocity and lateral velocity. In one embodiment, the processor delays or inhibits the deployment of the safety restraint system responsive to a measure responsive to the measure of lateral velocity, either alone or in combination with a measure of longitudinal velocity. In another embodiment, a deployment threshold is responsive to the measure of lateral velocity. The lateral velocity may be measured by a lateral velocity sensor, or estimated responsive to measures of lateral acceleration, vehicle turn radius, and either longitudinal velocity or yaw angular velocity, wherein the turn radius is estimated from either a measure of steering angle, a measure of front tire angle, or measures of forward velocity from separate front wheel speed sensors.

Abstract: A gas generator 10 and a gas generant packet 30 for use in an inflatable vehicle occupant protection system. The gas generator includes a housing 12, an igniter 18, and one or more gas generants 23 and/or 40 are positioned in a combustion chamber 24 defined by the housing 12. One or more of the gas generants 23 and/or 40 are enclosed in a substantially gas-and-moisture-impermeable container 30 disconnected from the housing 12, or suspended within the chamber 24, thereby forming pocket of gas generant therein. The container 30 may be formed from a polymer or polyester film. The gas generant packet may be variably positionable within the combustion chamber 24 prior to activation of the igniter 18. A method for manufacturing a gas generator 10 and a method for activating a gas generator 10 are also disclosed.

Abstract: A multi-beam antenna comprises at least one curved surface, at least one dielectric substrate, and a plurality of end-fire antenna feed elements on the dielectric substrate. The at least one curved surface may be either reflective, refractive or diffractive. |Electromagnetic waves launched from the antenna feed elements are directed at the at least one curved surface, and are either reflected, refracted or diffracted thereby. n one embodiment, the substraFigureste is located within a light assembly, e.g. a vehicle headlight, wherein at least one source of light is operatively associated with the dielectric substrate, and the at least one curved surface comprises the concave optical reflector of the light assembly.

Abstract: A first Kalman filter estimates true measures of yaw rate and vehicle speed from associated noisy measures thereof generated by respective sensors in a host vehicle, and a second Kalman filter estimates therefrom parameters of a clothoid model of road curvature. Measures of range, range rate, and azimuth angle from a target state estimation subsystem, e.g. a radar system, are processed by an extended Kalman filter to provide an unconstrained estimate of the state of a target vehicle. Associated road constrained target state estimates are generated for one or more roadway lanes, and are compared—either individually or in combination—with the unconstrained estimate. If a constrained target state estimate corresponds to the unconstrained estimate, then the state of the target vehicle is generated by fusing the unconstrained and constrained estimates; and otherwise is given by the unconstrained estimate alone.

Abstract: A multiple-chamber inflator (10) for a vehicle occupant protection system. The inflator (10) includes a housing (12) having a first end and a second end, and a divider disc (18) positioned in an interior of the housing (12) intermediate the housing ends to form a first (primary) propellant chamber (20) and a second (secondary) propellant chamber (22) within the interior of the housing (12). The divider (18) has a first surface (59) in communication with the first propellant chamber (20), a second surface (57) in communication with the second propellant chamber (22), and at least one aperture (60) extending between the first and second surfaces to provide fluid communication between the first propellant chamber (20) and the second propellant chamber (22). A pressure-resistant shim (62) fabricated from a low-melting point material is fixed on the divider first surface (59) over the at least one aperture (60) to block the aperture.

Abstract: A dual stage inflator 10 utilizes a housing 12 having two laterally oriented propellant chambers 20 and 22. A perforated divider 18 provides lateral separation between chambers 20 and 22, and facilitates fluid communication between chambers 20 and 22 when both chambers are operated. Upon inflator 10 operation, the first chamber 20 is activated operatively independent of the second chamber 22, and if desired, the second chamber 22 may be activated simultaneously or sequentially with chamber 20. A perforated divider 18 provides lateral separation between chambers 20 and 22, and facilitates fluid communication between chambers 20 and 22 when both chambers are activated. The aforementioned design provides simplified manufacturing with equivalent or enhanced structural integrity relative to known inflators.

Abstract: A gas generator 10 for an inflatable occupant restraint system is provided. The gas generator 10 includes a projectile firing barrel 20 having a touch hole 26 on a side thereof for ignition of a propellant 24 within the barrel 20. Ignition of the propellant 24 drives a projectile 50 through the barrel 20 and into a rupturable seal 36 on a stored gas canister 32. After rupturing the seal 36, the projectile 50 is positively retained between a base end 21 of the barrel 20 and the gas canister 32.

Abstract: An eye-safe light curtain is generated by a plurality of LED's illuminating a cylindrical lens having a corrugated cylindrical surface. A camera generates a first image of an avoidance zone boundary of an air bag inflator with the light curtain off, and a second image of with the light curtain on along the avoidance zone boundary. The first image is subtracted from the second image, and the resulting difference image is binned to enhance signal strength. A penetration of the avoidance zone is classified from features of the leading edge of the binned image, and the air bag inflator is disabled if the avoidance zone is penetrated by an occupant at risk of injury from the deployment thereof. An image of the light curtain may be recovered for high ambient lighting conditions by adapting the exposure time of the camera responsive to the percentage of pixels in a mask region of the first image having values exceeding a threshold.

Abstract: An inflator (10) is provided for supplying gas to a vehicle airbag from the combustion of pyrotechnic materials. The inflator (10) has a two-piece inflator body (12) held together by crimping the body components, rather than welding. An igniter assembly (18) is positioned in a bore (22) in an upper piece (14) of the inflator body and is held in place with a press-fit interface and an adhesive seal. The upper piece (14) of the inflator body is rounded, increasing its strength, and fits partially into the lower piece (16). A booster tube is unnecessary, making the inflator lighter in weight and increasing available volume for propellant.

Abstract: An occupant sensor incorporates a 3-D imaging system that acquires a 3-D image of an object. The image is segmented to remove unwanted portions and to identify a region-of-interest, and the content thereof is classified responsive to a plurality of 3-D features. In one embodiment, the 3-D image is transformed to a second 3-D image from a second viewing perspective. A two-dimensional projection of the second 3-D image is classified, and a presence, size and position of occupant can be identified from features thereof. A safety restraint system is controlled responsive to the detected scenario, including the presence, position and size of an occupant.

Abstract: A plurality of antenna elements on a dielectric substrate are adapted to launch or receive electromagnetic waves in or from a direction substantially away from either a convex or concave edge of the dielectric substrate, wherein at least two of the antenna elements operate in different directions. Slotlines of tapered-slot endfire antennas in a first conductive layer of a first side of the dielectric substrate are coupled to microstrip lines of a second conductive layer on the second side of the dielectric substrate. A bi-conical reflector, conformal cylindrical dielectric lens, or planar lens improves the H-plane radiation pattern. Dipole or Yagi-Uda antenna elements on the conductive layer of the dielectric substrate can be used in cooperation with associated reflective elements, either alone or in combination with a corner-reflector of conductive plates attached to the conductive layers proximate to the endfire antenna elements.

Abstract: A magnetic flux is sensed within a gap at a first location between two portions of a vehicle body/structure and a signal generated responsive thereto controls an element of the vehicle, wherein the magnetic flux is responsive to a disturbance of the vehicle body/structure. In one embodiment, the first location is proximate to the A-pillar, B-pillar or C-pillar. In another embodiment, at least a portion of the magnetic flux is generated by a coil at a different second location. A gap coil is located within a gap between portions of the vehicle body/structure for generating or sensing magnetic flux. A plurality of gap coils of various orientations provide for multi-axis sensitivity. In another aspect, a magnetic crash sensing system comprises a first coil at a first location, and a plurality of magnetic sensors at a plurality of corresponding second locations.

Abstract: High nitrogen nonazide gas compositions, useful in inflating passenger restraint gas inflator bags, contain a high energy substituted tetrazole or bitetrazole that forms a naturally occurring hydrate and phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) as a primary oxidizer. The combination results in gas generants that are relatively more stable and less explosive, have improved ignitability and burn rates, and generate more gas and less solids at lower operating pressures than known gas generant compositions.

Abstract: A plurality of gas generators provide for controllably inflating a plurality of inflatable confinements responsive to a prediction by a predictive collision sensor of both a size of an expected collision object and an expected location of the collision. The inflatable confinements are associated with different zones across a door of a vehicle, each zone having an associated structural stiffness and level of proximity to the occupant. For a pole-like object expected to impact a relatively less-stiff zone of the vehicle, the inflatable confinements are controlled so as to deflect the point of impact towards a stiffer zone away from the occupant. For a barrier-like object, inflatable confinements associated with relatively stiff zones are inflated relatively higher than those associated with relatively less stiff zones so as to transfer impact energy to the relatively stiff zones.

Abstract: A multi-beam antenna comprises at least one curved surface, at least one dielectric substrate, and a plurality of end-fire antenna feed elements on the dielectric substrate. The at least one curved surface may be either reflective, refractive or diffractive. Ielectromagnetic waves launched from the antenna feed elements are directed at the at least one curved surface, and are either reflected, refracted or diffracted thereby. n one embodiment, the sub-straFigureste is located within a light assembly, e.g. a vehicle headlight, wherein at least one source of light is operatively associated with the dielectric substrate, and the at least one curved surface comprises the concave optical reflector of the light assembly.

Abstract: The present invention is best described as a gas generator including an inflator housing 12 containing an initiator assembly 18 and a propellant bed 44 in ignitable communication with the initiator assembly 18. The gas generator 10 further contains a filter body 14 fixed to the inflator housing 12 and coaxially aligned therewith, wherein the filter body 14 at least contains a first filter 56 and a second filter 62 such that the second filter 62 is in coaxial and linear relation with the first filter 56. If desired, the filter body 14 may additionally contain at least one perforated disc 50, at least one spacer member 54, and at least one additional filter member 62. Design requirements or specific applications determine the arrangement and addition of these components in the filter body 14.

Abstract: A dual stage inflator 10 utilizes a housing 12 having two supplemental propellant combustion chambers 16 and 26, both symmetrically oriented within a primary propellant combustion chamber 34. Chambers 16 and 26 are formed to be substantially equivalent in dimensions and volume thereby simplifying the assembly and manufacturing process.

Abstract: An airbelt inflator (10) is provided for supplying and directing gas from the combustion of pyrotechnic materials into an inflatable safety belt or airbag. The airbelt inflator (10) includes a substantially cylindrical body (12). One or more ledges (26, 42) are defined by the junctions of inner walls (34, 36, and 38) wherein each ledge (26, 42) functions to retain an inner inflator component. In another aspect of the invention, an enhancer disc (56) features a metallic density greater than an associated filter (48) whereby tailoring of the density of the metallic disc (56) facilitates a quick and easy method of modifying the gas flow exiting the inflator (10).

Abstract: A lever is adapted to rotate about a first pivot at a first location responsive to a tension load from a webbing applied to an attachment pivoted or arcuately slotted about a second location. Tension load is reacted by a spring against a reaction element, and is sensed by either a displacement sensor or a force sensor. The sensed load range can be limited by a stop that engages the lever. The anchor bolt can be utilized as a stop in cooperation with a slot in the lever, wherein the lever is adapted to rotate about a stud depending from the reaction element. A tang portion of the lever engages a slot of a slide, and the displacement of the slide caused by a rotation of the tang reacted by springs at the ends of the slide is measured by a magnetic field sensor on the reaction element in cooperation with a pair of magnets on the slide.

Abstract: An anchor plate operatively coupled to a seat belt incorporates a slot that slideably engages an anchor bolt, which is biased therein by a spring. A tension in the seat belt causes a deflection of the spring and an associated motion of the anchor bolt in the slot, which is sensed by a proximity sensor on the anchor plate. In another aspect, a carriage is adapted to slide relative to a bracket, and a first spring is operative between the carriage and the bracket so as to bias the carriage relative to the bracket in a direction opposite to a first direction. Either the bracket is operatively coupled to a vehicle frame with an anchor bolt and the seat belt operatively engages the carriage, or vice versa. A tension in the seat belt, when reacted by the anchor bolt, causes an associated motion of the carriage in the first direction, which is sensed by a displacement sensor.