Abstract: The invention relates to a combustion chamber (10) comprising an opening device for a compressed gas tank (21) of a hybrid inflator (20), wherein the combustion chamber (30) comprises a sleeve-type combustion chamber sidewall (34) confining a combustion chamber interior (31) and a combustion chamber bottom (10), wherein the opening device is arranged on a surface (11) of the combustion chamber bottom (10) facing away from the combustion chamber interior (31) and faces away from the combustion chamber interior (31). In accordance with the invention, the combustion chamber bottom (10) is tightly connected to the combustion chamber sidewall (34) so that in the case of operation the combustion chamber bottom (10) is bendable.

Abstract: Apparatus for use with a camera module having an imager and adapted for mounting on the inside surface of a vehicle window. The apparatus comprising structures sized and positioned to block reflections that might otherwise impinge on the imager from below the module, while still permitting the flow of air onto the window surface within the imager's field of view.

Abstract: A steering column assembly comprises a shroud having a first part that is fixed in position axially relative to the vehicle and a second part that can in use can move relative to the first part for adjustment of the length of the shroud, a support bracket that in use is secured to a part of the vehicle, and a clamp mechanism that has a locked position in which it locks the position of the moving part of the shroud relative to the first part of the shroud and an unlocked position in which it permits movement between the first and second parts of the shroud.

Abstract: An air bag module includes an inflatable air bag, an inflator for inflating the air bag, a housing for supporting the air bag and inflator, and a cover for enclosing the air bag in the housing. The cover includes a fabric panel and a steering panel. The fabric panel has a main portion that at least partially envelops the air bag in a deflated and stowed condition and includes a tear seam that is rupturable upon inflation of the air bag to permit the air to deploy from the housing. The steering panel is for directing the air bag to deploy from the housing along a predetermined trajectory. The steering panel includes a panel of reinforcing material that overlies a portion of the fabric panel and is connected to the fabric panel. In a closed condition of the cover, the steering panel is fastened to the housing.

Abstract: An adaptive deployable restraint element (10) for a vehicle safety system comprising at least two leg elements (11, 12) at least in portions arranged in V-shape relative to each other between which at least one cross brace (13, 14, 15) connecting the leg elements (11, 12) is arranged, wherein the leg elements and/or the cross brace (13, 14, 15) are/is inflatable. The invention further relates to an airbag module and an occupant safety system comprising such restraint element as well as to the use of the fin ray effect in an adaptive restraint element.

Abstract: A printed circuit board comprises an optically readable code with product information. The information is encoded in code locations which are distributed over the printed circuit board at different positions.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in turning steerable vehicle wheels includes an axially movable steering member. The steering member turns the steerable vehicle wheels upon axial movement of the steering member, A connector arm connected to the steering member is movable with the steering member. A first fastener connects the connector arm to the steering member and prevents relative movement between the steering member and the connector arm. A second fastener connects the connector arm to the steering member.

Abstract: A pyrotechnical igniter (100) for an inflator of a vehicle safety system comprises at least two contact pins (102) physically separated from each other by an electrically insulating compound and a bridge wire (110) connected to both contact pins (102) in an electrically conducting manner. A fastening portion (112) in which the bridge wire (110) is welded to the contact pins (102) is provided at each of the contact pins (102).

Abstract: A method of controlling disturbances associated with electric power steering (EPS) systems maintains an original assist torque to feedback signal in the EPS, such as a column torque, and further minimizes the impact from the disturbance source to the feedback signal so that the disturbance is rejected while the original steering feel is maintained. The method further considers interaction of the rejection feature with other functions of the EPS. In one embodiment, relationships for isolating the disturbance are achieved by utilizing a combined feedback and feed-forward compensator.

Abstract: A telescopic steering column assembly comprising an upper shroud portion and a lower shroud portion is supported by the shroud portions through a support bearing assembly that acts between an upper portion of the telescopic steering shaft and a lower portion of the shroud that move relative to one another axially during telescopic adjustment, in which the support bearing assembly comprises: a set of bearings elements, a bearing cage comprising a sleeve that is located between an outer face of the upper shaft and an inner face of the lower shroud portion and is free to move axially relative to one of the upper shaft and the lower shroud, the cage including pockets that extend through the sleeve, each pocket loosely locating a bearing element such that a portion of the bearing element extends through the cage to engage with a first bearing race surface defined by one of the upper shaft and the shroud, an annular bearing race having a tapered second bearing race surface that engages the bearing elements located

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 a method of controlling an interior lighting (25) in a vehicle (18), having a plurality of separately drivable lamps (26a-26g), provision is made that a motion light pattern, in particular a wave light pattern, is generated as a function of vehicle operating data by separately driving the individual lamps (26a-26g), the vehicle operating data including ambient data picked up by means of a light sensor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for hand-free opening and/or closing of a vehicle door. The method includes the steps of detecting when an authorized person is in the vicinity of a vehicle door, opening that vehicle door after the authorized person has been in the vicinity of the vehicle door for a least a first time interval, the opening being performed automatically and without action by the authorized person, and providing a perceptible warning of impending opening of the vehicle door, the warning being provided after the authorized person has been detected in the vicinity of the vehicle door and before the vehicle door is opened. An analogous door closing process is performed when the authorized person leaves the vicinity of the vehicle door.

Abstract: A magnet is fixed to an output shaft of a motor. The output shaft is rotated such that a magnetic field emitted by the magnet also rotates. A voltage pulse is generated from a passive sensor when the magnetic field rotates past the passive sensor. The voltage pulse is generated using a Wiegand wire. An active sensor is activated, from an unpowered state, in response to the voltage pulse. The active sensor detects a position of the magnet that correlates to a position of the output shaft.

Abstract: A power supply architecture provides for the efficient distribution and failsafe monitoring of power in a microcontroller system. The power supply architecture incorporates various components with high integrity and diverse monitoring schemes that allow the associated control processors to operate with high safety standards. The various embodiments provide an integrated method or apparatus for an electronic module safety architecture which includes diversity, time and space independence for power supplies for the various microprocessors and control communication buses.

Abstract: A force limiting device for a belt retractor is reversible from a higher restraining force level to a lower restraining force level by means of a reversing means during a force limiting phase, wherein the second restraining force level is largely determined by a performance of at least one force limiting element. The reversing means is arranged so that it accomplishes a significant work share upon reversing which is added to the performance of the force limiting element and thus temporarily increases the restraining force of the force limiting device. In this manner undershooting of the characteristic line of the force limiting device upon reversing to the lower restraining force level is compensated.

Abstract: An electronic assembly comprises a housing, a cover for the housing, a printed circuit board receivable in the housing, and a compliant pin header assembly. The compliant pin header assembly is mountable in the housing by inter-engaging features on the header assembly and the housing. The compliant pin header assembly has compliant pins for engaging corresponding features on the printed circuit board to connect the compliant pin header assembly electrically to the printed circuit board. The cover, when the electronic assembly is assembled, engages the housing and also engages the printed circuit board at a location spaced from an outer periphery of the printed circuit board.

Abstract: A belt tensioner (10) for a vehicle occupant restraint system comprises a tube (12) containing gas in the trigger case and an igniter unit (14) arranged in the tube (12) which igniter unit is inserted in an open end face (16) of the tube (12) and includes a base (18) and a cap (20) fastened to the base (18) for accommodating a propelling charge, wherein the cap (20) is arranged at least pertly inside the tube. The igniter unit (14) is welded to the tube (12).

Abstract: A radar apparatus includes a signal generation unit and a temperature sensing means. The signal generation unit is arranged to generate radar signals at an output power and has an output for the radar signals. The temperature sensing means has an output and is arranged to produce an output signal indicative of a temperature of at least part of the radar apparatus. The output of the temperature sensor is coupled to the signal generation unit. The signal generation unit is configured so the output power is a first power when the output signal is indicative of a temperature within a first temperature range and is a second power lower than the first power when the output signal is indicative of a temperature within a second temperature range higher than the first temperature range.

Abstract: A control device for a land vehicle is described. The control device is set up to control at least one actuator of the land vehicle on the basis of an avoidance trajectory calculated by the control device in order to support a driver of the land vehicle during an evasive maneuver. The control device is also set up to receive sensor signals of at least one sensor; to generate an environmental model from the received sensor signals; to determine the position of an object relative to a current position of the land vehicle in the generated environmental model; and to calculate a preliminary avoidance trajectory. In the calculation of the preliminary avoidance trajectory, the current position of the land vehicle in the generated environmental model constitutes the starting point of the preliminary avoidance trajectory. A preliminary end point of the preliminary avoidance trajectory is determined on the basis of the determined position of the object.