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.

Abstract: A steering column assembly includes a housing, a shaft, a sensor, a motor, an elongate rod, a nut member, an actuator housing, and end stops. The shaft may be attached to an end of a steering wheel. The sensor may generate an electrical signal in response to rotation of the rotatably mounted shaft. The motor may apply a torque to the rotatably mounted shaft. The elongate rod may be configured to rotate with the rotatably mounted shaft and may include an externally screw-threaded portion having a nut member mounted thereon. The actuator housing may define a chamber to house the motor and a cavity which restricts rotation of the nut member with respect to the housing. The rotation of the elongate rod causes axial displacement of the nut member. The end stops may engage with the nut member.

Abstract: An electric circuit for use in an electric power assisted steering system comprises a motor having a plurality of phases and for each phase at least one stator coil wire that extends from the motor and terminates at a terminal end; a circuit board comprising at least one electrically conductive track supported at least partially by a carrier, the track being electrically connected to at least one drive stage switch; a connector comprising: a base part having a guide hole extending there through that in use is aligned with a corresponding through-hole in the track of the circuit board, a support arm that is connected to the base part and extends away from the base part and a connecting part that is supported by the support arm, the support arm being flexible to permit relative movement between the connecting part and the base part, and securing means for securely fixing the connector to the track of the printed circuit board.

Abstract: A steering apparatus for assisting rotation of a steering shaft in a steering system. The apparatus includes a motor having a drive shaft that rotates about a drive shaft axis and an output shaft that rotates about an output shaft axis. The output shaft axis extends parallel to the drive shaft axis. The output shaft is connected for rotation with the steering shaft. A gear train drivingly connects the motor to the output shaft. The gear train includes a worm screw and a worm wheel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a gas generator (10), in particular for a vehicle occupant protection system, comprising at least an igniter (15) and a combustion chamber (17) containing a pyrotechnic solid fuel bed (18), wherein a spring (30) is arranged in the combustion chamber (17), which spring can be elongated in the direction of an end (22) of the combustion chamber (17) remote from the igniter (16) by a gas flow produced when the gas generator (10) is activated. According to the invention, the spring (30) has a plurality of spring segments (31, 32, 33) having outside diameters (Q1, Q2, Q3) of different size.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for processing received radiation (e.g. RADAR radiation) reflected from a target, the method comprising generating a set of predicted targets, the set of predicted targets comprising at least one member, each member representing a state of the target, generating a predicted waveform for the radiation for each member dependent upon the state of the target, and comparing each predicted waveform with a waveform of the received radiation to determine the accuracy with which the state of the target represented by the member for which the predicted waveform was generated matches an actual state of the target.

Abstract: A method for assisting the operation of a host vehicle traveling on a roadway includes acquiring images around the host vehicle with at least one primary camera assembly having a first field of view. Visibility is detected within the first field of view. The at least one primary camera assembly is deactivated when the detected visibility is below a predetermined value. Images are acquired around the host vehicle with at least one secondary camera assembly having a second field of view until the detected visibility in the first field of view is at or above the predetermined value.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cable conduit device for connection cables of an airbag module, comprising at least one cable duct (10) that includes retaining means (11) for at least one cable (30), and at least one contact plug (20) to be connected to a coil spring on a steering column; the contact plug (20) is or can be coupled in a twist-proof manner to the cable duct (10).

Abstract: The invention describes a method of manufacturing a substantially plate-shaped frame member (10) of a belt retractor including locking teeth (18). A plate-shaped element (24) is provided, wherein said element is plastically reshaped in portions so that a portion (28) thickened into a main portion (12) of the plate-shaped element (24) is formed. Furthermore, locking teeth (18) are produced in the thickened portion (28) so that the locking teeth (18) have a larger thickness than the plate-shaped element (24) prior to reshaping. Moreover, a frame member (10) for a belt retractor is described.

Abstract: A belt retractor for a vehicle seat belt comprises a frame, a belt reel which is rotatably supported within the frame, a shell (16), a sensor (18) for vehicle-sensitive locking which includes a sensor lever (20), and comprising an idler arm (22) contacting a sensor (18) and being adjustable between an initial position in which the sensor lever (20) is locked and an extracting position in which the sensor lever (20) is released. The idler arm (22) is coupled to a damping element (26) having speed-sensitive damping characteristics.

Abstract: An apparatus detects a vehicle/pedestrian impact event by sensing impact events near a forward location of a vehicle using both acceleration sensors and pressure sensors and providing associated signals indicative thereof, determining metric values for each of the sensor signals, and determining if a vehicle/pedestrian impact has occurred in response to the determined metric values.

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 clamp mechanism for a steering column assembly comprises a support bracket; a clamp pin that passes through an elongate slot in the support bracket and an opening in a shroud of the steering column; a fixing member; a toothed rack carried by the support bracket in a position facing the fixing member, the toothed rack comprising a plurality of recesses each spaced from an adjacent recess by a land, the toothed rack extending alongside the elongate slot; a locking pin located in a bore in the fixing member that is biased in a direction towards the toothed rack by a spring; and clamp means that in use causes the fixing member to move between a clamped condition and unclamped condition.

Abstract: An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle comprises an airbag having a primary chamber and a secondary chamber. The primary chamber has a stored condition and is inflatable to a deployed condition to cover a portion of the vehicle. The secondary chamber has a stored condition and is inflatable to a deployed condition to cover portions of the vehicle left uncovered by the primary chamber. At least one passive vent provides fluid communication between the primary and secondary chambers. At least one active vent is actuatable to provide fluid communication between the primary and secondary chambers. An inflator is actuatable to provide inflation fluid to the primary chamber. The at least one passive vent directs inflation fluid from the primary chamber into the secondary chamber. The at least one active vent is actuatable to direct inflation fluid from the primary chamber to the secondary chamber.

Abstract: A vehicle kinematic control circuit for a vehicle adjusts the track of one or more rear wheels of the vehicle through a limited angular range, using an electric motor, connected mechanically to at least one rear wheel. The motor has at least two independently operable sets of phase windings, each set comprising at least two phase windings, each set connected to a motor bridge, controlled by a microcontroller. In normal use the microcontroller generates motor control signals that apply appropriate PWM modulated voltage waveforms to the set of phase windings connected to that bridge to drive the rotor of the motor in a first manner thereby to actively steer the rear wheel.

Abstract: Lateral control of a vehicle, based on surroundings sensor signals of a surroundings sensor system of a host vehicle and/or maps, combined with an instantaneous position determination, wherein the course of the instantaneously traveled roadway and the position of the host vehicle on the roadway are determined, based on the surroundings sensor signals and/or the position determination, autonomous steering interventions are made in the host vehicle, which as a result, approximate or correspond to actuations of a steering wheel of the host vehicle, or provide a driver with information concerning steering interventions, a horizon position on the instantaneously traveled roadway to which the host vehicle is to be oriented is repeatedly determined, in that, starting from an instantaneous position of the host motor vehicle, an inner tangent point situated ahead of the host vehicle on the instantaneously traveled roadway is determined, and, starting from a point on the host motor vehicle, a tangent through this inner

Abstract: Method for detecting the presence of a drivers hands on the steering wheel is described. By means of a mathematical model, at least one part of a steering system of the motor vehicle is modeled. In addition, a rotational angle of a lower end and/or an upper end of a torsion bar of the steering system is determined. A torque acting on the torsion bar is determined by means of a measuring device. A sum of a torque with which the driver acts on the steering wheel and a counter-torque generated by friction in the upper part of the steering system is estimated by means of a Kalman Filter. In addition, the counter-torque is estimated, and the estimated sum of the torque and the counter-torque are used to determine whether the drivers hands are on the steering wheel.

Abstract: A locking device for an adjustable steering column assembly of a motor vehicle is described, comprising an operating unit which has at least one closed and one open position, a control element coupled to the operating unit, and at least one eccentric part which is actuated by the control element. A retaining part is provided, which interacts with the eccentric part in the closed position, wherein a locking portion of the eccentric part engages on an engaging portion of the retaining part in the closed position. The eccentric part has a force transmission portion which is substantially opposite to the locking portion, wherein the force transmission portion in the closed position rests against a support surface lying substantially opposite to the engaging portion. Furthermore, a steering column assembly is described.

Abstract: The invention relates to an inflatable airbag (1) for protecting a person (5), comprising a flexible cover (10) which includes at least two finger-type extensions (11), wherein the flexible cover (10) delimits a closed gas expansion compartment (12) by the finger-type extensions (11). The invention excels by the fact that the finger-type extensions (11) are arranged relative to each other such that in an inflated state the airbag (1) takes a three-dimensional shape and in the inflated state the finger-type extensions (11) at least in portions delimit a clearance (13), wherein the cover (10) is deferrable for absorbing impact energy while deforming, especially reducing, the clearance (13).

Abstract: A vehicle occupant safety system helps protect front seat occupants of a vehicle in the event of a collision that results in oblique forward occupant movement. The safety system includes a frontal air bag inflatable between on instrument panel end the front seat vehicle occupant, and a central air bag inflatable adjacent and inboard of the frontal air bag. The frontal air bag can be configured and positioned to receive and cushion the vehicle occupant moving in an oblique direction in the vehicle as the result of a vehicle collision. The central air bag can be configured and positioned to support an inboard portion of the frontal airbag against flattening out in response to receiving the obliquely moving occupant, and to engage the obliquely moving occupant's head and resist rotation of the vehicle occupant's head resulting from moving obliquely into engagement with the frontal air bag.