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: The invention relates to an airbag module (16) for an occupant restraint system, comprising a module cap (28) which in the mounted condition of the airbag module (16) faces an occupant and comprising a module bottom (30) which includes a latch means for securing the airbag module (16) to a vehicle component, wherein the module cap (28) and the module bottom (30) are movable toward each other along a mounting axis (A) until they reach at first an axial pre-mounting position and then an axial final mounting position, the module cap (28) and the module bottom (30) including interacting pre-fixing elements which captively secure the module cap (28) and the module bottom (30) to each other in the pre-mounting position, the module cap (28) and the module bottom (30) including interacting resistance contours which during an axial relative movement of the module cap (28) and the module bottom (30) from the pre-mounting position to the final mounting position have a predetermined mounting resistance.

Abstract: A method of operating an electric power assisted steering system of the kind in which an electric motor applies an assistance torque to a part of the steering system as a function of an assistance torque signal, the assistance torque reducing the force required by the driver to turn a steering wheel, comprises during normal operation generating an assistance torque signal that is dependent on the torque applied by the driver, and during a fault operation in which the torque applied by the driver is not reliably known to the system generating an assistance torque signal that is derived from a first term that has a value that varies as a function of the angular position of the steering relative to a changeable datum, the angular position of the changeable datum being updated in the event that the direction of rotation of the steering changes.

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 method of detecting objects located in an environment around a vehicle, comprises the steps of obtaining a 2D image of a scene from an image capture device fitted to the vehicle, generating a set of particles that each comprise a set of parameters that define the state of at least one object that may be present in the scene, calculating an edge strength and edge direction for each pixel of the captured 2D image; and for each particle in the set: generating a 3D probabilistic model of the object that is associated with the particle, the model defining a set of edges of the object, each edge in the model defined by at least one likelihood function defining a probabilistic distribution of at least one characteristic of the edge, mapping the likelihood functions of the probabilistic model into the 2D plane of the captured image as a function of the parameters of the particle; and processing the edge strength and edge direction values with the probability values to determine the likelihood that the particle defi

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: The invention relates to a gas generator (10), particularly a pyrotechnical tube gas generator, with an axial longitudinal direction (L), comprising an ignition unit (20), a combustion chamber (30) axially mounted downstream from the ignition unit (20) and comprising a combustion chamber bottom (35) forming a combustion chamber outlet (36), and a filter chamber (70) that is axially mounted downstream of the combustion chamber (30). According to the invention, at least one guiding sleeve (50) and a front-side baffle plate (80) are formed in the filter chamber, a first end (51) of the guiding sleeve (50), on the side of the combustion chamber, being axially mounted downstream from the combustion chamber bottom (35), and a second end (53) of the guiding sleeve (50) being associated with the baffle plate (80), a first deflection section being formed on the baffle plate (80) and the guiding sleeve (50) which allows a gas flow to an outer side of the guiding sleeve (50) into an annular first discharge chamber (75).

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: A method for introducing electric conductors into an overmolding of a steering wheel frame is provided. The electric conductors are used for heating and shielding purposes and for sensing contact on a steering wheel. In a first step, at least one cut is introduced into the overmolding using a cutting tool. In a second step, both a first layer of an electric conductor and a second layer of an electric conductor are simultaneously introduced into the cut that has been created. The first layer forms both a heating layer for heating the steering wheel and a guard layer which, together with the second layer acting as a sensor layer, allows the capacitive sensing of hand contact.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hybrid inflator especially for a vehicle safety system, comprising an igniter (10), a combustion chamber (16) including a propellant charge (18) which is separated from the igniter (10) by a first bursting element (14) held by a bursting element holder (13), and comprising a compressed gas tank (20) filled with compressed gas and having at feast one discharge opening, the discharge opening being closed by a second bursting element (24) and the compressed gas tank (20) being fluid-communicated with the combustion chamber (16) so that the compressed gas surrounds the propellant charge (18). The invention excels by the fact that the bursting element holder (13) at least in portions delimits an ignition chamber (30) containing a booster charge (15), wherein a shock wave (SW) for opening the second bursting element (24) can be formed only when both the igniter (10) and the booster charge (15) have been ignited and, respectively, activated.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus (10) for fastening a gas generator (11) in an oscillatory manner as a vibration damping mass inside an airbag module. A fastening ring (12) provided for fastening the gas generator (11) has at least one elastic section (14) and at least one reinforcement insert (15) for reinforcing the fastening ring (12) and securing the fastening ring (12) to the gas generator. A surface of the reinforcement insert (15) is made at least in part of plastic.

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: An apparatus for heating a steering wheel and for detecting a steering wheel contact comprises a steering wheel armature (10) made from electrically conductive material and an electric heating conductor (12) arranged outside of the steering wheel armature (10). The apparatus further comprises a control and evaluation device (18) connected to the steering wheel armature (10) and the electric heating conductor (10) by means of which control and evaluation device the electric heating conductor (12) is repeatedly operated temporarily during a heating operation as a heating element for heating the steering wheel and temporarily during a measuring operation as a sensor element for detecting a steering wheel contact. The control and evaluation device (18) is configured so as to maintain the steering wheel armature (10) on a predetermined and especially constant potential at least during each measuring operation.

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: The invention relates to a vibration absorber ring (10) for fastening a gas generator (12) to a vehicle steering wheel (14), in a manner capable of vibrating, with a ring axis (A), a support portion (18) for fastening the vibration absorber ring (10) to a holding element, and an absorber portion (22) for fastening the gas generator (16) to the vibration absorber ring (10), wherein an elastic damping element (24) is provided, which extends in the axial direction from the absorber portion (22) towards a free end (26) and, between the absorber portion (22) and the free end (26), has a fastening element (28) for the gas generator (12), wherein the support portion (18) and the absorber portion (22) are spaced apart from each other in the axial direction.

Abstract: A method of processing a signal representative of at least one physical property of a physical system comprising generating a set of predicted signals, the set of predicted signals comprising at least one member, each member representing a physical state of the physical system, generating a predicted waveform or the signal for each member dependent upon the physical state, and comparing each predicted waveform with the signal to determine the accuracy with which the physical state represented by the member for which the predicted signal was generated matches an actual physical state of the physical system. In an example embodiment, the physical system is a tyre and the state includes the air pressure within the tyre.

Abstract: The invention relates to a coupling device (16) for mounting an airbag module (14) to be oscillating on a steering wheel structure (12) of a vehicle steering wheel (10), comprising a mounting member (18) which includes, relative to a steering wheel axis (A), an axial bottom side (20) which in the assembled state of the vehicle steering wheel (10) faces the steering wheel structure (12) as well as an opposite axial top side (22) which in the assembled state of the vehicle steering wheel (10) faces the airbag module (14), a contact face (24) for a damping element (26) provided on the axial bottom side (20) for oscillating coupling of the mounting member (18) to the steering wheel structure (12), and comprising a locking element (28) disposed on the top side (22) of the mounting member (18) for locking with the prefabricated airbag module (14), wherein the locking element (28) is configured so that the airbag module (14) can be coupled to the mounting member (18) by a locking connection substantially in an axial