Abstract: A telescopic steering column assembly comprises a telescopic shroud having an inner shroud portion and an outer shroud portion, and a telescopic steering shaft that passes through the shroud, comprising an inner shaft portion and an outer shaft portion. The telescopic steering shaft is supported by the shroud through a support assembly interposed between the outer shaft portion and the inner shroud portion, which in use, limits or removes free play between the telescopic steering shaft and the shroud that would otherwise occur in at least one direction orthogonal to the telescopic movement.

Abstract: A seatbelt arrangement for restraining an occupant of a vehicle in a seat. The seatbelt arrangement has a latch plate and a buckle to which the latch plate can be locked. The buckle includes a housing having a plurality of sidewalls, a biasing member anchor provided on one of the plurality of sidewalls, and a mounting anchor. A mounting member is connected to the mounting anchor. The mounting member secures the buckle to the vehicle. A biasing member is attached to the biasing member anchor. The biasing member biases the buckle to a stowed position when the seatbelt arrangement is unfastened.

Abstract: A collapsible steering column assembly comprising a telescopic steering shaft that is supported within a steering column shroud, the telescopic steering shaft comprising a first shaft having a hollow end and a second shaft that has an end that is located within the hollow end of the first shaft. A plurality of radially-adjustable pins and a resilient contact member are axially separated along a longitudinal axis of the steering column assembly, each being adjustable for the elimination of free play between the first shaft and the second shaft. The pins transmit torque by rotationally interlocking the first shaft and the second shaft.

Abstract: A method of determining the characteristics of a scene around a vehicle comprises capturing a stereo pair of images of the scene and processing the images to produce a depth map of the scene. Each pixel in the depth map is assigned a value that corresponds to the range of a corresponding region in the scene, the pixels being arranged in a grid of rows and columns with each column of pixels in the grid corresponding to a vertically oriented set of regions in the scene and each row a horizontally oriented set of regions in the scene. The values for one or more columns of pixels in the depth map are binned to form a corresponding histogram, each bin in the histogram having a count value that corresponds to the number of pixels in the column that have a depth within the range assigned to the bin.

Abstract: An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle comprises an airbag inflatable from a stored condition to a deployed condition in which the airbag is positioned between a reaction surface of the vehicle and the occupant. The airbag comprises an upper portion and a lower portion. Each of the upper and lower portions is at least one of rolled and folded. The upper and lower portions are positioned overlying each other when in the stored condition. A deployment flap comprises a sheet of material having a first end portion and an oppositely disposed second end portion. The first end portion is secured to the vehicle. A portion of the deployment flap is positioned between the upper and lower portions. The deployment flap has a notch with opposite side edges converging in a direction toward the first end portion of the deployment flap and terminating at a vertex.

Abstract: A module for a vehicle including a roof and a cabin includes a housing defining a chamber and having an opening in fluid communication with the chamber. The housing is configured for placement in the roof. An airbag is provided in the chamber and is inflatable to a deployed condition extending through the opening into the cabin. A door pivotably connected to the housing closes the opening. The door is pivotable away from the roof in response to deployment of the airbag to provide a reaction surface for the deploying airbag. The door has a first length while closing the opening and a second length greater than the first length when pivoted away from the roof.

Abstract: The invention relates to a belt retractor comprising a frame (10), a belt reel (12) rotatably arranged within the frame (10), a blocking mechanism (18) by which the belt reel (12) can be blocked within the frame (10), and a load limiter which comprises a corrugated disk (36), characterized in that the corrugated disk (36) is disposed between the belt reel (12) and a cover (38) which is laterally attached to the belt reel (12).

Abstract: The invention relates to an actuator (70) for releasing a load limiter (14) of a belt retractor for a vehicle seat belt, comprising a case (72) which is adapted to be attached to a frame (10) of the belt retractor and includes a seat (82) in which a pyrotechnical actor (80) is arranged, characterized in that a retaining clip (90) for locking the actor (80) within the seat (82) is attached to the case (72). The invention further relates to a belt retractor comprising a frame (10), a belt reel (12) rotatably supported in the frame, a load limiter (14) which is detachably connected to the belt reel (12) and an actuator (70) of the afore-mentioned type, characterized in that the retaining clip (90) bears on the frame (10).

Abstract: A method of controlling an electric power assisted steering (EPS) system comprising one or more inverter bridges each connected to a multi-phase motor configured to provide power assist to steering of a vehicle, wherein each inverter comprises a plurality of switching elements each associated with a phase of the motor, the method comprising in response to detecting a predefined event affecting current flow in one or more of the inverter bridges, preventing current flow in said one or more affected inverters by applying a gate-source voltage to one or more of the switching elements of the affected inverter bridge(s), wherein the switching elements are configured to conduct in the off-state when reverse biased beyond a reverse conduction threshold voltage, and wherein applying the gate-source voltage comprises applying a negative gate-source voltage to control the reverse conduction threshold voltage of the switching elements in the off-state only at a time when there is no current flowing in the direction drai

Abstract: An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle includes an airbag, an inflator, a first deployment flap, and fasteners. The airbag includes an upper portion and a lower portion. In a stored condition of the airbag, the lower portion is rolled and/or folded and positioned at least partially overlying the inflator, the upper portion is rolled and/or folded separately from the lower portion and positioned at least partially overlying the lower portion, and the first deployment flap extends from the fasteners and has a portion positioned between the upper and lower portions of the airbag. The first deployment flap is at least one of formed from and coated with a material that provides a frictional engagement between the first deployment flap and the lower portion sufficient to at least partially restrict and delay the initial deployment of the lower portion.

Abstract: A safety belt retractor, a vehicle safety belt with the safety belt retractor and a vehicle with the vehicle safety belt are provided. The safety belt retractor is provided, on an end segment thereof, with a pre-tensioning, force-limiting and decoupling device that comprises a safety belt reel (1), a driving element (2), a sleeve (3) and an energy absorbing disc (4). The safety belt reel (1) is provided with a first recess (10) and a second recess. A first helical surface (9) is arranged in the first recess (10), and the driving element (2) is provided with a first projection (21) having a second helical surface acting together with the first helical surface (9). The sleeve (3) is provided with a second projection (31) mounted in the second recess. Under a predetermined load, the second projection (31) is cut off, such that the energy absorbing disc (4) is plastically deformed due to squeezing.

Abstract: A steering column assembly includes a first elongate guide portion, a second portion movably mounted with respect to the first elongate guide portion and a means for attaching a steering wheel to one of the first and second portions. The first elongate guide portion further includes at least two elongate, parallel guide edges and the second portion further includes at least two rollers spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the elongate guide portion and shaped complementarily to, and engaged with, a first of the elongate guide edges and at least two further rollers, spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the elongate guide portion and shaped complementarily to, and engaged with, a second of the elongate edges.

Abstract: A locking device is presented for an adjustable steering column assembly for a motor vehicle, comprising an actuating element and a damping device. The damping device has a first damping element and a second damping element, wherein the first damping element is attached to the actuating element and the second damping element is attached to a frame part, wherein the first and/or second damping element relative to the other damping element are rotatably mounted. The first and the second damping element each have a coupling section, wherein the coupling sections are engaged at least over a partial section of a movement of the actuating element, and wherein a relative rotation between the two damping elements is damped by deformation of the first and/or second damping element and/or by friction, at least over a partial section of a movement of the actuating element.

Abstract: A thermal interface assembly for transferring heat from a heat generating component to a heat dissipating component. The thermal interface assembly includes a plurality of discrete thermal sheets attached to a resilient pad.

Abstract: An inflatable vehicle occupant protection device includes a curtain airbag having an upper edge portion for securing to an interior of a vehicle for deployment between a side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant. Indicia extends along the length of the curtain airbag for indicating twisting of the curtain airbag when the curtain airbag is rolled up along its length. The indicia includes a bar code printed on the airbag.

Abstract: A driver assist system for a vehicle. The driver assist system includes a bracket having a mounting face. The mounting face is adapted to be attached to a part of the vehicle. The bracket includes a first locating member extending from the mounting face. A module is received in the bracket to secure the module to the part of the vehicle. The module has a camera lens extending from a first face and a first module locating member extending from the first face. One of the first bracket locating member and the first module locating member is linearly received within one other of the first bracket locating member and the first module locating member when the module is received in the bracket to maintain an orientation of the module relative to the bracket.

Abstract: A vehicle power steering assembly includes a housing, a ball nut configured to be operatively disposed in the housing and including an extension portion provided with a convex bearing surface, an insert supported on the housing and provided with a concave bearing surface. The concave bearing surface is complementary to the convex bearing surface. The convex and concave bearing surfaces are a plain bearing configured to provide sliding movement relative to each other. The sliding movement provides relative rotation between the convex and concave bearing surfaces in a first direction on the ball nut axis and a second direction on a rotation axis that is transverse to the ball nut axis.

Abstract: A vehicle steering assembly comprises a steering member with a rack portion having rack teeth, a pinion gear having pinion teeth configured to be engaged with the rack teeth, a yoke support assembly supporting the steering member in a housing, and a ball nut operatively connected to the steering member. The pinion gear divides the steering member into a first side having the yoke support assembly outboard of an area of engagement of the rack and pinion teeth and a second side having the ball nut. The yoke support assembly includes complementary convex and concave bearing surfaces configured to provide relative rotation between the convex and concave bearing surfaces. The yoke assembly also includes a spring member configured to produce a variable rate spring force to maintain an engagement between the rack and pinion teeth.

Abstract: A testing module connectable to a thermal chamber having a wall with an access port for use in evaluating the effects of temperature on a fixed focus camera module. The testing module includes a window housing extending along a central axis between a first and a second end. A passage extends through the housing along the central axis. A window is received in the passage. A collimator mount is secured to the first end of the window housing. The collimator mount is adapted to attach a collimator to the window housing. A camera mount is secured to the second end of the window housing. The camera mount is adapted to attach the fixed focus camera module to the window housing.

Abstract: An electronic control unit for a vehicle, the electronic control unit comprising a processor comprising: a processor core; storage, the storage storing data comprising instructions for the processor core; a tamper-resistant hardware security module which is coupled to the storage for reading and writing; and an external interface; the electronic control unit further comprising further storage connected to the processor through the external interface and containing further data; in which the hardware security module is arranged to cause a determination whether the data in the storage has been tampered with and, on a determination that the data has been tampered with, to cause the further data to be loaded into the storage from the further storage over the external interface. Other apparatus and methods for improving the security of electronic control circuits are disclosed.