Abstract: A method suitable for characterizing a motor, for instance a permanent magnet synchronous motor, includes obtaining a plurality of winding flux linkage values or terminal voltages of the motor, each corresponding to a different combination of phase current magnitude and phase advance. The resultant flux-linkage values or terminal voltages are transformed into the rotor dq reference frame. The flux linkage model is fitted to the one or more dq-axis flux-linkage values or terminal voltages and their linked phase current magnitude and phase advance using a process of parametric optimisation.

Abstract: An airbag (10) for a vehicle occupant restraint system comprises at least two opposite fabric layers (12, 14) which delimit at least one chamber (18) adapted to be filled with gas and comprises at least two spacers (20a, 20b, 20c, 20d) which, in the inflated state of the airbag (10), delimit the distance of the fabric layers (12, 14) from each other, wherein the spacers (20a, 20b, 20c, 20d) are formed by threads which in a connecting area (22a, 22b, 22c, 22d, 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d) are connected to a fabric layer (12, 14), extend in the direction of the opposite fabric layer (14, 12) and in a further connecting area (24a, 24b, 24c, 24d, 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d) are connected to the original or the opposite fabric layer (14, 12).

Abstract: A belt retractor comprises a frame (10), a belt reel (12) rotatably arranged in the frame (10) and having a first end (16) and an opposite second end (17) as well as comprising a blocking mechanism (18) arranged at an end face of the belt reel (12) by which the belt reel (12) can be blocked within the frame (10). The belt retractor further comprises an axially extending first load limiter which is releasably coupled to the belt reel (12) by means of a disconnecting clutch (24), a second load limiter which is coupled to be rotationally fixed to the first load limiter or a hub, and a third load limiter which can be coupled to be rotationally fixed to the belt reel (12) by means of a connecting clutch (38). Moreover, a method for controlling such belt retractor is provided.

Abstract: A front head/torso airbag (10) of a vehicle occupant restraint system includes a cover surface (12) and a baffle surface (14) forming a contact face for the vehicle occupant (22) which merges Into the cover surface (12). In the inflated state of the airbag (10) being in the mounted position, the baffle surface (14) includes a central surface portion and laterally adjacent thereto at feast one bulge (20) projecting from the central surface portion for laterally protecting the head (24).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of folding an airbag (10), especially an airbag (10) to be arranged beneath a vehicle roof (50), comprising an injection orifice (11), a guiding portion (13) arranged adjacent thereto in the longitudinal direction and an inflating portion (12) arranged adjacent to the guiding portion (13) in the longitudinal direction, the method including flatly spreading the airbag (10); laterally folding, especially zigzag folding, at least in portions at least one side part (30; 30?) of the airbag (10) in the direction of the longitudinal axis (L) of the airbag (10); furling the inflating portion (12) at least in portions starting from a trailing edge (26) of the airbag (10) that is maximally spaced from the injection orifice (11) in a first furling direction (AR) in the direction to the injection orifice (11); and forming the guiding portion (13) by laying at least one folding including a first folding bend (14) against the first furling direction (AR) so that the deployment behavior of

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant (20) of a vehicle (12) having a seat (16 or 22) for receiving the occupant (20) includes an inflatable protection device (14) inflatable from a stored condition in the vehicle (12) adjacent a reaction surface (19, 23, 36) to a deployed condition between the reaction surface and the vehicle occupant (20). The protection device (14) includes a front portion (62) presented toward the seat (22) and an inflatable volume for receiving a penetrating occupant (20?) when the protection device (14) is in the deployed condition. A rear portion (64) connected to the front portion (62) has an inflatable volume spaced from the front portion (62) by a space (110). The front portion (62) is positioned between the vehicle occupant (20) and the rear portion (64) when the protection device (14) is in the deployed condition.

Abstract: A method is presented for controlling a motor vehicle (10). Initially, driving maneuver data containing information concerning multiple possible, different driving maneuvers of the motor vehicle (10) are generated and/or received. Traffic data containing information concerning at least one undisturbed predicted trajectory of at least one further road user (20, 22, 24) are generated and/or received. An influence of the at least one driving maneuver on the trajectory of the at least one further road user (20, 22, 24) is determined, based on the driving maneuver data and the traffic data, and a characteristic variable is ascertained that describes the influence of the at least one driving maneuver on the at least one further road user (20, 22, 24). In addition, a system (34) for controlling a motor vehicle (10) is proposed.

Abstract: A control system for the autonomous control of a motor vehicle comprises an environmental sensor system, which is arranged and configured to acquire environmental data for the autonomous control of a motor vehicle. The control system further comprises at least one actuator controller, which is configured to control at least one actuator of the motor vehicle. A first control unit is configured to determine control commands for the at least one actuator controller with the environmental data and to transmit these to the actuator controller.

Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint device comprises a control unit and a group of at least two matched airbags (20, 24; 22, 26) for the protection of a vehicle occupant (10; 16) on a particular vehicle seat (12; 16). The control unit is arranged and the airbags (20, 24; 22, 26) are disposed and designed so that, in a collision case, the control unit differentiates between a first situation in which the vehicle occupant (10; 16) is located in a standard distance area relative to a first airbag (20; 22) and a second situation in which the vehicle occupant (10; 16) is located in a rear area which is further distant from the first airbag (20; 22) than the standard distance area. When the first situation is given, the control unit activates the first airbag (20; 22) only. In contrast, when the second situation is given, the control unit activates the first airbag (20; 22) and additionally at least a second airbag (24; 26) of the group, with the first airbag (20; 22) backing the second airbag (24; 26).

Abstract: An elongate airbag module (10) of a vehicle occupant restraint system includes a folded airbag (12) and an envelope (14) receiving the folded airbag (12) and at least one elongate flexible fixing tab (16) via which the airbag module (10) can be fastened to a vehicle. The fixing tab (16) has at least one opening (24b) for receiving a fastening clip (18) through which an engaging portion (20) of the fastening clip (18) serving for locking to the vehicle extends. Portions of the fastening clip (18) are wrapped in the fixing tab (16), with the fixing tab (16) extending toward a free end (34) of the fixing tab (16), relating to the not yet folded state, substantially in parallel to a longitudinal direction (L) of the airbag module (10).

Abstract: The invention relates to a belt rectractor (10) for a seatbelt of a motor vehicle. The belt retractor (10) comprises a belt spool (14) which is rotationally connected to a belt spool-side end of a torsioning rod, said torsioning rod being operatively connected to a locking mechanism (20) at a locking mechanism-side end. In a locked state, the locking mechanism-side end of the torsioning rod is rotationally fixed to a frame (12). The belt spool-side end can then be rotated relative to the locking mechanism-side end in an unwinding direction (16) under the effect of torsion from the torsioning rod. The belt spool (14) is additionally rotationally fixed to the frame (12) in the unwinding direction (16) in a stopped state of a stopping mechanism (22). The stopped state is set of the belt spool-side end is rotated by a specified number of rotations relative to the locking mechanism-side end in the locked state of the locking mechanism (20).

Abstract: The invention relates to an airbag module (16) of a vehicle safety system as well as to a method of mounting an actuator assembly (10) for activating a tensile means (12) on a module casing (14) of the airbag module (16), comprising the following steps: a) the tensile means (12) is connected to the actuator assembly (10) and is fixed to a mounting element (18) together with the actuator assembly (10) so that the tensile means (12), the actuator assembly (10) and the mounting element (18) constitute a pre-mounted unit (20); the pre-mounted unit (20) is arranged inside the module casing (14) and is fastened to the module casing (14) by means of the mounting element (18).

Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint device for the protection of a vehicle occupant in a vehicle seat comprises plural restraining elements and a controller. The controller differentiates between a first situation in which the vehicle seat is in a position within the range of a standard position, and a second situation in which the vehicle seat with the vehicle occupant is in a position beyond the standard position. When the first situation is given, the controller activates a tensioning unit for tensioning a seat belt of the second restraining element and an airbag of the first restraining element. When the second situation is given, a third restraining element integrated in the vehicle seat and/or operatively connected with the vehicle seat can be activated and/or connected by the controller so that the vehicle seat is moved initially via the third restraining element to a position within the range of the standard position.

Abstract: In a method of folding a curtain-type side airbag (10) into an elongate airbag package (12) defining a longitudinal direction (L), wherein the side airbag (10) at one longitudinal end includes an elongate inflatable extension (14) having a free end (34), in a first folding step the extension (14) is folded over at a first folding line (30) enclosing an angle (?) <90°, especially between 30° and 60°, with the longitudinal direction (L), and in a second subsequent folding step the free end (34) of the extension (14) is folded over at a second folding line (36), the second folding line (36) enclosing an angle (?) of 0 to 45°, especially 0°, with the longitudinal direction (L).

Abstract: A method of controlling a motor, for example of an electric power steering system, includes receiving a motor torque demand signal indicative of a torque required from the motor. A current demand signal indicative of the currents to be applied to each phase to meet the torque demand is generated from the motor torque demand signal. One or more operational values from the motor are determined. The current demand signal is set as a function of one or more parameters of the motor obtained by fitting a flux linkage model to the measured operational values. A motor circuit having the permanent magnet electric motor includes a control stage arranged to generate the current demand signal in response to a torque demanded of the motor. A modifying means modifies the magnitude and/or the phase of the current demanded for each phase of the motor by the controller.

Abstract: A force-limiting device, especially for a seat belt system (10) in a vehicle, has a force transducer (20) interacting with webbing (14) for which a normal webbing path is provided. The force transducer (20) includes a webbing track (30) that in a non-force-limiting position extends in parallel to the normal webbing path and in a force-limiting position extends inclined relative to the normal webbing path so that the force transducer (20) in the force-limiting position sets a predetermined extension force (F) required to move the webbing (14) vis-à-vis the force transducer (20) in a direction of belt extension (R).

Abstract: The invention relates to a belt retractor (5) for a vehicle seat belt system, comprising a frame (10), a belt reel (14) which is rotatably arranged within the frame (10), and a locking system which can lock the belt reel in a webbing-sensitive manner, wherein the locking system includes an inertia pawl (30) which per se co-rotates with the belt reel (14) and is pivotable from a home position in which the belt reel is freely rotatable about a pivot axis (S) to a locking position, characterized in that a means to trigger pivoting of the inertia pawl (30) is provided which is responsive to exceeding a predetermined centrifugal force.

Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint device (10) comprises a pre-assembled head side airbag module (12) installed in a backrest (14) of a vehicle seat (16) and including an airbag (28) which deploys between two places adjacent transversely to the longitudinal vehicle direction and reduces lateral oscillation of a vehicle occupant toward an adjacent vehicle seat and/or an adjacent vehicle occupant. The head side airbag module (12) comprises a module housing (32) surrounding the airbag (28) at least partially in the installed condition which includes a guiding portion (34) extending on the side of the airbag (28) and exerting a force (F) upon the deploying airbag (28) so that during deployment the latter is pressed in the direction of the vehicle occupant to be restrained.

Abstract: A steering column assembly for a motor vehicle, having a vehicle-fixed mounting dement and a sleeve element which is received within the mounting element and is mounted for displacement in the axial direction in the mounting element for adjustment of the steering column assembly, includes an energy absorption device having two absorption elements, a locking element for locking a steering wheel, and a coupling device. The locking element has an open position, in which the steering wheel is adjustable and a coupling element is movable in the axial direction, and a closed position, in which an absorption dement is firmly coupled to the mounting element. The coupling device has a coupled position and an uncoupled position, both absorption elements being firmly connected to each other in the coupled position. During normal operation of the motor vehicle, the locking element is in the closed position and the coupling device is in the coupled position.

Abstract: The invention describes a belt retractor for a vehicle seat belt comprising a belt reel (12) supported for rotation in a frame, a sensor (16) for vehicle-sensitive blocking of the belt reel (12) and a mechanism (17) for disabling the sensor (16). Via a gear (18) supported for rotation on the frame and a cam follower (22) the belt reel (12) acts on the mechanism (17) for disabling the sensor (16) and can adjust the same.