Abstract: Vehicle including a crash sensor system arranged to determine a crash condition involving the vehicle which might cause injury to a vehicular occupant, at least one module each including an occupant protection device actuatable upon determination of a crash condition in order to protect the occupant from injury during the crash, and a vehicle bus to which the crash sensor system and module(s) are connected. The crash sensor system generates a signal upon a determination of a crash condition and directs the signal over the bus. Each module is arranged to actuate its occupant protection device in consideration of the signal. The signal might be directly sent to the module from the crash sensor system or sent to a control module which processes it and in turn generates a signal to be directed via the bus to the module(s).

Abstract: Arrangement and method for monitoring an asset includes a location determining system and a self-powered interior sensor and communication system which data about contents in the interior of the asset and transmits the data and the location of the asset. It includes a transmitter and receiver for communicating directly with a wireless ISP such that the data about the contents and the location of the asset are available to a user having access to the Internet and a user having access to the Internet can direct communications to the interior sensor and communications system. A triggering device is coupled to the interior sensor and communication system and arranged to detect an event which might cause a change in the contents or condition of the asset. The triggering device directs the interior sensor and communication system to obtain data about the contents when such an event is detected.

Abstract: Vehicular seat assembly includes a seat having a bottom portion and a back portion coupled at an angle to a rear portion of the bottom portion, a support structure arranged at least partially under the seat and to support the seat on a substrate at a plurality of locations including two rearward locations on opposite lateral sides of the seat and at least one forward location, and a weight measuring system arranged in connection with the support structure for determining an approximate weight of an occupying item of the seat. The weight measuring system consists of only one or two sensors, e.g., strain gage sensors, arranged at the rearward locations or only one or two sensors arranged at the forward location(s). Each sensor provides data relating to the force or pressure being applied at the respective location which is used to derive the approximate weight of the occupying item.

Abstract: Wheel assembly with a tire pressure monitoring system includes a wheel rim, a tire mounted thereon, a housing having an interior in flow communication with the tire interior such that the same pressure prevails in the tire and in the housing interior, a magnet arranged in the housing and movable in an axial direction of the tire, a Hall effect sensor arranged on a non-rotating part of the vehicle in a position in which it is in a magnetic field generated by the magnet during rotation of the tire relative to the non-rotating part, and a spring arranged to move the magnet in dependence on pressure in the housing interior. The spring is arranged outside of the magnet. The Hall effect sensor senses magnetic field density of the magnet as the magnet rotates which is convertible into an indication of the pressure in the housing and thus the tire pressure.

Abstract: Vehicle including a data generating system which obtains or generates information about the vehicle and a communications system coupled to the data generating system for communicating directly with a wireless Internet service provider (ISP) to enable the information obtained or generated by the data generating system to be transmitted via the Internet. The data generating system may be a diagnostic system which diagnoses the state of the vehicle or the state of a component of the vehicle and generates an output indicative or representative thereof. The data generating system may be arranged to obtain or generate information about the operation of the vehicle. Additionally or alternatively, the data generating system may be arranged to obtain or generate information about the presence of contents in the compartment and/or when contents are present, information about contents in the compartment.

Abstract: Method and system for diagnosing whether vehicular components are operating abnormally based on data obtained from sensors arranged on a vehicle. In a training stage, output from the sensors during normal operation of the components is obtained, each component is adjusted to induce abnormal operation thereof and output from the sensors is obtained during the induced abnormal operation. A determination is made as to which sensors provide data about abnormal operation of each component based on analysis of the output from the sensors during normal operation and during induced abnormal operation of the components. During operation of the vehicle, the output from the sensors is obtained and analyzed, e.g., by inputting it into a pattern recognition algorithm or neural network generated during the training stage, in order to output an indication of abnormal operation of any components being diagnosed.

Abstract: Vehicle including an occupant protection apparatus for protecting an occupant during an impact into a side of the vehicle, and a side impact, electronic crash sensor assembly for detecting impact into the side of the vehicle and controlling the occupant protection apparatus responsive to the detected impact. The sensor assembly includes a sensor housing arranged in a door or between inner and outer side panels along a side of the vehicle, a movable sensing mass arranged within and movable in the lateral direction relative to the sensor housing in response to lateral accelerations thereof, a micro-processor containing an algorithm which generates a time-varying signal representative of lateral movement of the mass, analyzes the signal and generates a deployment signal based thereon, and a control unit for receiving the deployment signal from the micro-processor and controlling deployment of the occupant protection apparatus based thereon.

Abstract: Vehicle including a system for preventing injury to an occupant's head and neck during a rear impact includes a support structure for supporting the occupant including an upper body support portion for supporting the occupant's head and neck, the support structure having a plurality of different positions selectable by the occupant, and a positioning system for adjusting the position of the support structure prior to the rear impact such that the upper body support portion is closer to and preferably in contact with the occupant's head and neck during the rear impact. As a result, motion of the occupant's head and neck relative to the occupant's back is thereby reduced and preferably eliminated during the rear impact. Whiplash injuries are therefore reduced if not eliminated using the invention.

Abstract: Method for in-vehicle communications during use of the vehicle, in which a first, data-processing component is arranged on the vehicle, at least one second component is arranged on a non-rotating part of the vehicle, each second component being a sensor arranged to measure a property of the vehicle or a component thereof or an actuator arranged to control a system, subsystem or other component of the vehicle, and the first and second components wirelessly communicate with one another. When the second component is a sensor, it wirelessly transmits data about the measured property and the first component receives the data wirelessly from the second component and processes the received data. When the first component is an actuator, it processes data relating to control of the second component and generates and wirelessly transmits signals to the second component to control the system, subsystem or other component of the vehicle.

Abstract: Sensor assembly capable of obtaining and providing a measurement of a physical quantity, e.g., measurement of temperature and/or pressure of a vehicular tire, includes an antenna capable of receiving a radio frequency signal, a radio frequency identification (RFID) device coupled to the antenna, a sensor coupled to the RFID device arranged to generate a measurement of the physical quantity or quantities, and a switch coupled to the RFID device and arranged to connect or disconnect the sensor from a circuit with the antenna dependent on whether the antenna receives a particular signal associated with the RFID device. When the antenna receives the particular signal associated with the RFID device, the RFID device causes the switch to close and connect the sensor in the circuit with the antenna to enable the measurement generated by the sensor to be directed to and transmitted by the antenna.

Abstract: Vehicle including a first substructure and a second substructure arranged such that an interior space is defined by or between the first and second substructures, and an arrangement for determining whether an object is present in the interior space. The arrangement includes at least one ultrasonic transducer arranged on the second substructure and to transmit ultrasonic waves toward the first substructure and receive any waves reflected by objects in the interior space and a processor coupled to the ultrasonic transducer(s) and arranged to determine whether an object is present in the interior space based on reception of waves by the ultrasonic transducer(s). If the vehicle is an automobile and the interior space is the passenger compartment therein, the first substructure can be the passenger seat and the second substructure can be the A-pillar, in which case, the processor determines the presence or absence of a passenger in the passenger seat.

Abstract: Information management and monitoring system for a vehicle including a vehicle monitoring system including a plurality of sensors for monitoring vehicular components, a diagnostic module arranged on the vehicle and coupled to the vehicle monitoring system to receive and process data about the components therefrom, and a remote service center capable of servicing the components. A communication system, e.g., a cellular telephone capable of voice communications, is arranged on the vehicle and coupled to the diagnostic module to enable communications of data from the diagnostic module to the remote service center such that the remote service center receives data about the vehicular components. The remote service center can be situated at a dealer which can have its personnel contact the driver, e.g., via the telephone, to schedule service of the vehicle, the service being determined based on the communicated data from the diagnostic module on the vehicle.

Abstract: Methods for reducing clicking of ultrasonic air-coupled transducers in which a mechanical filter that attenuates audible frequencies relative to ultrasonic frequencies is placed in the path of the ultrasonic waves as the travel from the transducer to a target such as an object in the vehicle compartment.

Abstract: Vehicle including a side impact sensor system having a longitudinally extending outer skin arranged on a side of the vehicle, a system housing arranged inward of the outer skin and having an opening facing a portion of a passenger compartment, an inflatable airbag arranged in the system housing, an inflator arranged in connection with the system housing, and a sensor system for detecting an impact into a side of the vehicle. The sensor system includes a sensor housing and a mass arranged therein and movable relative thereto housing in response to acceleration in excess of a threshold value. Movement of the mass relative to the sensor housing provides an indication of a side impact for which deployment of the airbag is desired. The inflator is actuated in response to a side impact by the sensor system in order to expel the airbag through the opening into the passenger compartment.

Abstract: A vehicle including a side impact crash sensor, a transfer structure interposed between the side of the vehicle and the sensor and an occupant restraint system such as a side impact airbag system. When an object strikes the side of the vehicle or vice versa, the transfer structure serves to transfer the lateral force from the side of the vehicle to the sensor and is designed so that it does not distort upon the application of the lateral force. The side impact crash sensor detects the force or acceleration applied to the side of the vehicle, and the airbag system connected to the sensor deploys an airbag based on the detected force or acceleration. The transfer structure may be constructed to account for mismatch between the point of impact of an object on the side of the vehicle and the location of the sensor.

Abstract: Vehicle telematics system including an occupant sensing system arranged to determine one or more properties or characteristics of occupancy of the vehicle, a crash sensor system for determining when the vehicle experiences a crash and a communications device arranged to enable a communications channel to be established between the vehicle and a remote facility after the vehicle is determined to have experienced a crash. Information determined by the occupant sensing system is transmitted via the communications channel to the remote facility, even in the absence of initiation of the communications channel by the occupant. The occupant sensing system may include an image-obtaining sensor for obtaining images of the passenger compartment of the vehicle, a motion sensor, receivers arranged to receive waves, energy or radiation from seating locations in the passenger compartment, heartbeat sensors, weight sensors associated with seats in the vehicle and/or chemical sensors.

Abstract: Arrangement for obtaining information about objects in an environment around a vehicle, e.g., in blind spots of the driver of the vehicle, including one or more light emitting components arranged on the vehicle for emitting infrared light into the environment around the vehicle and receivers arranged on the vehicle for receiving infrared light from the environment around the vehicle. The information about the objects is obtained based on analysis of the received infrared light by a processor, e.g., the distance between the vehicle and the object, the velocity of the object and the identity of the object. Pattern recognition techniques are preferably used to obtain the desired information. Control of the vehicle can be effected based on the detection of particular objects and their position and velocity, e.g., an audio or visual warning device or a steering wheel control device.

Abstract: Steering wheel assembly including a steering column including an inner shaft adapted to be attached to a fixed part of the vehicle and an outer shaft arranged around and rotatable relative to the inner shaft. The outer shaft is connect with a steering mechanism which causes turning of tires of the vehicle. A steering wheel is connected to and for rotation with the outer shaft and an airbag module includes an airbag connected to the inner shaft. The airbag module does not rotate upon rotation of the outer shaft and the steering wheel. The airbag is thus stationary relative to the steering wheel and as a result, its shape is not constrained by any limitations which arise when the airbag must rotate along with the steering wheel as in conventional steering wheel-mounted airbag systems.

Abstract: Side airbag system including an airbag arranged to deploy in the event of an impact into a side of the vehicle, a side impact crash sensor arranged to sense an impact into a side of the vehicle, and an inflator for inflating the airbag. The crash sensor is an electrical sensor which includes a movable sensing mass which moves when the side of the vehicle is impacted and a signal generating mechanism for generating a time-varying signal representative of movement of the sensing mass, analyzing the signal representative of the movement of the sensing mass and generating a deployment signal based thereon. The inflator is coupled to the crash sensor and receives the deployment signal therefrom and inflates the airbag upon receipt of the deployment signal.

Abstract: Method for controlling output of a classification algorithm which classifies an occupant of a seat including initially classifying the occupant and outputting the classification, subsequently periodically classifying the occupant and enabling a change in the classification of the occupant only upon obtaining evidence of a new classification which is greater than evidence of the current classification. The initial classification of the occupant may be conducted based on satisfaction of a condition such as the detection of closure of a door by, e.g., a sensor such as a door closure sensor, the detection of an empty seat by, e.g., an occupant presence sensor, weight sensor, electric field sensor, wave sensor, camera and the like, the detection of the switching on of the vehicle ignition by an appropriate sensor, motion or the absence of motion of the vehicle.