Abstract: This invention relates to the fabrication of veneer faced panels (10), in particular veneer faced panels (10) for mounting in the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle. A blank (14) is shaped and trimmed by placing it in a first press (20) having a tool with a flat peripheral pressing surface (30) and then placed in a second press (40) also having a flat peripheral pressing surface (31) following which a layer of veneer (16) is placed over the blank (14) before being pressed against the blank (14), so that a veneered panel (10) is formed with flat and parallel end face (18).

Abstract: A motor vehicle having a plurality of road engaging wheels (7-10), a braking system (3, 14-18) linked to the wheels (7-10) by which a driver of the vehicle (1) may brake the vehicle, a motive means (50) linked to one or more of the wheels (7-10) by which a driver of the vehicle may control vehicle speed, and a dynamic stability control system that includes a means (12-17, 20-22, 24) for deducing the position and orientation of the vehicle system (12-17, 20-22, 24) for predicting the trajectory (TP) of the motor vehicle (1) with respect to the roadway (4) and for identifying when the predicted trajectory (TP) would place the vehicle in danger, and a wheel slip detection system (14-18, 51) for detecting loss of traction of one or more of the wheels (12-17).

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for aligning the elevation of an automotive radar unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to measurement of the trajectory of a motor vehicle with respect to a roadway. A trajectory measurement system for a motor vehicle (1), comprises a sensing system (20, 21) for sensing the positions of roadway edges (5), a memory (24) that stores data relating to the width, and optionally lane width, of different types of road (4) on which the vehicle (1) may travel, and a data processor means (2) linked (26, 29) to the sensing system (20, 21) and memory (24). The processor means (2) compares the sensed positions of roadway edges (5) with the road width data in order to deduce the type of road (4) on which the vehicle (1) travels, and optionally also the lane in which the vehicle travels. The system may also include a vehicle speed sensor (13, 15) linked (33, 35) to the data processor means (2).

Abstract: A motor vehicle (1) with a grab handle (6), for a passenger compartment (12). The grab handle (6) is secured to a support, such as a roof panel (14), via a pair of pivot points (16) so that the grab handle (6) may be rotated (3) to extend away from the surrounding surface (10) to an extended position (31) or retracted toward the surrounding surface (10) to a retracted position (11). A proximity sensor (24) senses the presence of a hand when sufficiently near the grab handle (6), and an actuator, responsive to the proximity sensor, is arranged to extend (3) automatically the grab handle (6) when the proximity sensor (24) senses the presence of a hand near the grab handle (6). The actuator may also automatically retract the grab handle (6) when the proximity sensor (24) does not sense the presence of a hand near the grab handle (6) for a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining engine oil temperature without an oil temperature sensor infer the oil temperature at engine start based on the calculated temperature at power down and various other parameters which may include engine coolant temperature, soak time, ambient temperature, and whether an engine block heater has been used. The invention provides a more accurate determination of engine oil temperature to allow more precise engine control particularly during cranking and during the first few minutes of engine operation.

Abstract: A vehicle fuel system has on-board diagnostics for vapor integrity testing. The vapor integrity test includes evacuating the fuel system; closing the system and allowing pressure to rise due to air ingress and vapor generation (bleedup); making a series of pressure measurements at intervals during bleedup to give a series of timed pressure values; and calculating vapor rate from values derived from the pressure values. Vapor integrity may be calculated from the same values representing pressure gradient and the rate of change of pressure gradient or the vapor rate may be used as a correction to vapor integrity derived by other means.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a headway control for an adaptive cruise control system based on a basic headway control law derived from feedback linearization techniques. The usefulness of the linear approximations is demonstrated, and basic attributes of data which are believed important to system response are introduced. Certain modifications to a basic headway controller for enabling system performance to better meet driver expectations under real road conditions are made as a result of empirical information.

Abstract: A vehicle fuel system has on-board diagnostics for leak testing with correction for different temperature variations arising in an evacuation phase. Pressure is measured at intervals during the evacuation phase and a correction is made to the loss of vapor integrity indication based on the values and timing of the pressure measurements made during the evacuation phase.

Abstract: A pedestrian impact sensor system for a motor vehicle comprises sensor (4) for measuring the loads acting simultaneously on different regions across the front of the vehicle to produce pressure patterns (12a and 12b). The system includes a signal processor (14) for monitoring changes in measured pressure patterns over time, and for comparing these changes with data characteristic of pedestrian collisions. If a correspondence is identified, a signal is sent to activate a cushioning device (16).

Abstract: A situational feature suppression system 1 for a vehicle including at least one in-car incidental feature means 3. The suppression system 1 comprises at least one driving condition measuring unit 5, 7, 9, coupled to a control unit 11 for receiving signals from the or each driving condition measuring unit 5, 7, 9, and interpreting the signals to assess whether a relevant condition exists. The control unit 11 is also coupled to the incidental feature means 3. The system operates such that on identification of a relevant condition, the control unit 11 operates to suppress the incidental feature means 3.

Abstract: A method and system for fuel rail compensation in a returnless electronic fuel pump arrangement provides modification of fuel pulsewidth based on measured or inferred rail temperature. The present invention applies fuel pulsewidth control modifiers to enlarge the fuel pulse to increase the quantity of fuel being delivered to at least one fuel injector to offset any drop in fuel density and injector performance caused by fuel rail temperature. The present invention generates these modifiers separate from a vehicle's normal fuel delivery system adaptive control process, thereby eliminating any unnecessary adaptive processing and limiting of adaptive control range.

Abstract: An adaptive cruise control system 1 for a vehicle 3, is capable of operating in at least two modes, a Cruise mode in which the speed of the vehicle 3 is controlled to maintain a set speed, and a Follow mode in which the speed of the vehicle 3 is controlled to maintain a set distance from the preceding target vehicle 5. The system 1 includes means 7 to switch from Cruise mode to Follow mode if a target vehicle 5 is detected within a predetermined distance 9 of the vehicle 3, and a driver display interface 11 for displaying the mode of operation of the adaptive cruise control system 1. A change anticipation system 13 detects when the system operation is about to change mode from Cruise to Follow and causes the display interface 11 to display to the driver that the mode change is about to occur, prior to the system change to allow the driver to take avoiding action.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension has a hub carrier (12) to which a wheel of a vehicle may be rotatably mounted, the hub carrier is connected to a chassis or sub-frame (14) of the vehicle, by means of a pair of vertically separated upper and lower suspension arms (16,18) being pivotally connected at one end to the vehicle chassis or sub-frame and at the other end to the hub carrier. The hub carrier has an arm (40) which extends upwardly from the point of connection of the hub carrier to the upper suspension arm, to an upper end (42) which is aligned substantially vertically above the load application point between the wheel and the ground, the upper end of said arm being connected to a spring (60).

Abstract: A cruise control system for a motor vehicle includes a sensor for monitoring a target vehicle moving in front of the equipped vehicle, a sensor for monitoring the speed of the equipped vehicle and a sensor for monitoring steering manoeuvres of the equipped vehicle, the cruise control system controlling the throttle and brake systems of the vehicle to control the speed of the vehicle. The cruise control system is switchable between a cruise mode in which it will maintain a set cruising speed when the path in front of the vehicle is clear and a follow mode in which it will maintain a preset headway with a target vehicle in front of the equipped vehicle. The system is switched from the cruise mode to the follow mode when a target vehicle moves inside the preset headway, the system switching from the follow mode to the cruise mode when the target vehicle is lost or moves outside a preset headway.

Abstract: Cruise control system for a vehicle includes a sensor for monitoring the speed of the vehicle, a sensor for monitoring the range of vehicles moving in front of the equipped vehicle, switch means for manually selecting a cruising speed, switch means for manually selecting a headway which controls the separation between the equipped vehicle and a vehicle moving in front of the equipped vehicle and means for switching the cruise control system on and off. The switch means for selecting the headway is manually adjustable between a minimum value and a maximum value. Automatic switch means is provided for switching the cruise control system off when the vehicle is stopped, the headway being automatically switched to a maximum value when the cruise control system is switched on.

Abstract: An expanding bush and captive bolt assembly (1), comprising a bolt (2), a generally cylindrical bush (4), and a ring clip (6) that retains the bush on the bolt. The bush (2) has an inner surface with a portion (22) that has a frustoconical taper, a channel (12) that extends circumferentially inside the bush, and an expansion split or slot (7) so that the bush may be expanded radially. The bolt (2) has a threaded portion (10) for engaging with a socket that has a matching thread, a head (8) by which the bolt may be rotated to tighten the bolt (2) to the socket and to squeeze axially the bush (4), a shaft (18,20,23) between the head (8) and the threaded portion (10), said shaft having a portion (20) with a taper that engages with the tapering portion (22) of the bush to expand the bush (4) as it is squeezed axially between the taper (20) and the socket, and a channel (16) that extends circumferentially around the shaft and which opposes the channel (12) of the bush.

Abstract: A vehicle immobilization system has an electronically controlled locking mechanism which requires interconnection with an electrical supply for it to be switched between a locked state and an unlocked state. The locking mechanism remains in the state to which it is switched when disconnected from the electrical supply. The immobilization system includes control means which operates to connect the locking mechanism to the electrical supply to switch it from one state to the other, and to disconnect the locking mechanism from the electrical supply when the vehicle engine is running or the vehicle is moving. The immobilization system also includes means to prevent cranking of the engine when the locking mechanism is in it's locked state.

Abstract: A radiator grille assembly for an automotive vehicle includes a radiator grille having an upper edge, a lower edge, and an upper portion, the upper edge engaging the hood and the lower edge engaging and adjacent to the vehicle bumper and resilient arms securing the upper portion to the vehicle, the resilient means biasing the upper edge of the radiator grille into engagement with the hood when the hood is in a latched position.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling a heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system of a vehicle to prevent fogging of a windshield of the automotive vehicle is provided. The method and system include a determination of whether the vehicle has been recently turned "off", and upon determining the vehicle has been recently turned "off", commanding the HVAC system to a floor mode.