Abstract: An inflator (10), especially for a vehicle safety system, includes a combustion chamber (16) in which a solid propellant (18) combustible under the generation of gas is accommodated, and a compressed gas chamber (24) containing compressed gas (26), wherein even in the non-activated state of the inflator (10) a fluid communication exists between the combustion chamber (16) and the compressed gas chamber (24). The compressed gas (26) contains at least one inert gas as well as oxygen and at least one combustible gas, wherein the combustible gas is provided at a concentration at which no self-supporting conversion of the combustible gas with oxygen takes place.

Abstract: A combined angular position and torque sensor assembly for use in an electric power assisted steering system having an input part for connection to an upper column shaft, an output part for connection to a lower column shaft, a torsion bar that interconnects the input shaft and the output shaft, first and second upper column angular position sensors that each produce at least one output signal that is dependent on the angular position of the upper column shaft; and a processing means unit which produces a first torque signal indicative of the torque carried by the torsion bar. The processing unit further includes a component for producing a first absolute angular position signal by processing the output signals of the first and secondary sensors in a first way and a second absolute angular position signal processing the output of the same two sensors in a different way, and further includes a cross checker that performs a cross check between the two absolute position signals.

Abstract: A frame (10) for a vehicle seat belt retractor comprises a back part (12), two side legs (16) extending in parallel to each other starting from the back part (12), with a retaining aperture (18) for a belt reel being provided in each side leg (16), and a mounting structure for mounting the frame (10) fixed to the vehicle, wherein the mounting structure includes a retaining bracket (22) having a mounting hole (36) for a retaining means (50) and at least one deformable deformation element (46). Furthermore, in accordance with the invention a vehicle structure for mounting a belt retractor in a vehicle is provided comprising a body part (52) and a frame (10) according to the invention. Moreover, a sheet metal blank for such frame is provided.

Abstract: A telescopic steering column assembly includes at least one support bearing assembly that comprises an inner bearing race which is located on the steering shaft, an outer bearing race that is located on an inner face of a shroud, and a set of ball bearings that are located between the inner bearing race and the outer bearing race and are free to roll along bearing surfaces defined by the bearing races. Each of the bearing races comprises a pair of annular bearing race parts, defining a circumferentially extending bearing surface arranged coaxially and spaced apart from each other axially such that varying the spacing between the two parts varies the effective radius of the bearing race.

Abstract: An apparatus for securing a camera housing (100) having a central axis (102) to a windshield (22) includes a bracket (20). The bracket (20) has a central axis (30) and extends from a first end (32) to a second end (34). A plurality of centering members (72) on the first end (32) of the bracket (20) is configured to engage the camera housing (100) to align the central axis (102) with the central axis (30). A plurality of locking members (90, 91) on the second end (34) of the bracket (20) is configured to form a snap-fit connection with the camera housing (100) to fasten the bracket (20) to the camera housing (100). The locking members (90, 91) are positioned on opposite sides of the central axis (30) of the bracket (20) with at least one locking member (90, 91) extending at an angle less than 90° to the central axis (30).

Abstract: A steering column assembly comprises a telescopic shroud having an upper shroud portion and a lower shroud portion, a support bracket having at least one arm which extends down from the bracket on one side of the lower shroud portion, a clamp mechanism which comprises a clamp pin that passes through an opening in the arm and an opening in the lower shroud portion or an opening in a rail secured to the lower shroud portion, the clamp mechanism further comprising a primary cam mechanism which is operable by a lever, whereby the clamp mechanism is arranged so that when in the clamped condition the at least one arm is clamped to the lower shroud portion or rail and the lower shroud portion is squeezed onto the upper shroud portion to fix the upper shroud portion relative to the lower shroud portion.

Abstract: A motor drive circuit for use in driving a motor having two or more phases comprising a motor bridge having, for each phase of the motor, a bridge arm comprising an upper switch and a lower switch that in normal operation may be opened and closed to modulate the voltage applied to the respective phases in response to drive signals from a motor control circuit, at least one solid state phase isolation relay that is provided in series in an electrical path connecting a respective phase of the motor to a respective bridge arm, the relay being closed in normal operation so that current can flow in the phase and is held open in a fault mode of operation to prevent the flow of current in the phase.

Abstract: In an airbag comprising at least one aperture (14) which is provided in an airbag shell (12) and to which a closure element (16) is attached a tether (34) via which the closure element (16) can be maintained in a closed position acts on the closure element (16). The invention moreover relates to a method of operating a vehicle occupant protection system.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant (28) of a vehicle (12) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) configured to be inflated and deployed between a side structure (16) of the vehicle and the vehicle occupant. A deployment sleeve (50) encircles a portion of the protection device. The deployment sleeve (50) includes a rupturable tear seam (54) that absorbs the initial break-out forces of the protection device (14) during the initial stages of inflation and deployment. The tear seam (54) is adapted to rupture after the deployment sleeve (50) absorbs the break-out forces and release the protection device (14) to inflate and deploy to a fully inflated and deployed condition.

Abstract: An electric motor of an electric power steering assembly is activated in response to a response signal. The response signal includes a baseline control torque signal generated by a baseline controller and an auxiliary control torque signal generated by a disturbance rejection controller. At least one operating parameter of the electric power steering assembly is estimated as a function of the baseline control torque signal. The at least one operating parameter is also measured. An error amount is determined as a function of the at least one measured operating parameter and the at least one estimated operating parameter. The disturbance rejection controller refines the at least one estimated operating parameter as a function of the error amount. The auxiliary control torque signal is generated to minimize the error amount.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a recirculating ball nut for a ball screw drive, comprising a base body which includes at least one recirculating ball track, the method comprising the following manufacturing steps: manufacturing the base body by precision forging; and finishing the recirculating ball track by a cutting method subsequent to manufacturing the base body.

Abstract: Apparatus for use in a vehicle equipped with a vehicle-to-vehicle communication system. A remote keyless entry fob is provided for remote control of vehicle access. The fob includes a receiver for receiving a message broadcast by the vehicle-to-vehicle communication system and a memory for storing at least some elements of said message.

Abstract: Control system, which is adapted for application in a vehicle and intended to recognize vehicles driving in front on the basis of environmental data which are obtained from at least one environmental sensor (110) disposed on the vehicle. The at least one environmental sensor (110) is adapted to provide an electronic controller (200) of the control system with the environmental data which reflect the area (115) in front of the vehicle. The control system is at least adapted and intended to detect another vehicle (alter) participating in traffic in front of the own vehicle (ego) with the at least one environmental sensor (110) during a predetermined time period or continuously and to recognize a position change of the other vehicle (alter). If a position change of the other vehicle (alter) is recognized, a signal (255) is output, which is suitable to warn a driver of the own vehicle (ego) of an irregularity in the road surface and/or to adjust a speed and/or a vehicle setting of the own vehicle (ego).

Abstract: A gas generator (10) comprises an outer housing, which has at (east two housing parts (12), which are connected to each other, in the form of a diffuser bowl (14) with outflow openings (16) towards the outside and a cover (20) directly connected to the diffuser bowl (14). Inside the gas generator (10), at least one first and one second combustion chamber (30, 36) are provided, wherein the first combustion chamber (30) is delimited by an inner wall (32) and the second combustion chamber (36) is located within the space delimited by the diffuser bowl (14) and the cover (20). The diffuser bowl (14) and/or the cover (20) comprise a section (24) that is shaped, in particular deep-drawn, into an indentation, forming at least partially a circumferential section of the inner wall (32).

Abstract: A locking lever for a clamp mechanism of a steering column assembly comprises a first portion, a second portion that extends from the first portion, and a connecting portion or region located between the first portion to the second portion about which the second portion will preferentially breakaway from the first portion in the event of an impact by an occupant of the vehicle on the second part, the lever further comprising a flexible tether that prevents the second portion fully separating from the first portion after the lever has broken about the connection portion or region.

Abstract: In the case of a locking pin (22) for vertically movable mounting of an airbag module (30) on a frame (12) of a motor vehicle steering wheel (10) and at least in part within a foam structure (20) molded onto the frame (12), the locking pin (22) includes at least one stop for the airbag module (30) which is integrally bonded to the locking pin (22).

Abstract: A transceiver circuit includes a signal generator arranged to generate an output signal; a transmitter coupled to the signal generator so as to transmit the output signal; a receiver arranged to receive a received signal; a mixer coupled to the receiver and to the signal generator so as to mix the output signal and the received signal so as to produce a mixed signal; and at least one filter coupled to the mixer so as to act upon the mixed signal to produce a filtered signal. The filtered signal includes an unwanted portion of the output signal is received at the receiver without having been reflected from a target. The transceiver circuit further includes a correction circuit arranged to generate a simulated waveform that simulates the behavior of the each filter to the unwanted portion of the output signal and applies a correction so as to remove the simulated waveform from the filtered signal.

Abstract: A method of controlling an electric motor of a drive device of a power steering system, in which a temperature sensor senses the temperature of the drive device and transmits information about the temperature of the drive device to an evaluation unit, the evaluation unit estimates the temperature of a gearbox based on the temperature of the drive device, and, based on the estimated temperature of the gearbox, the evaluation unit adjusts a requested torque of the electric motor.

Abstract: A current measuring circuit for an electric motor provides an output indicative of the change in the current di/dt flowing in a phase of the electric motor over a measurement period of time. The circuit includes a current measurement element having a resistance; a switch which in use selectively permits transmission of a voltage dependent upon the instantaneous value of the voltage dropped across the current measurement element to a part of the circuit; and a switch controller which is adapted to operate the switch in response to timing signals supplied by the switch controller so as to define the measurement period of time.