Abstract: A device for determining position information includes a detector that is configured to detect a position of the device and a processor that is configured to determine the position information based on a primary position indication from the detector and a secondary position indication from a second detector that is distinct from the detector. The processor determines the position information by aligning the primary position indication with the secondary position indication based on identifying a pattern of the primary position indication that corresponds with a pattern of the secondary position indication.

Abstract: An illustrative example embodiment of a method of processing information regarding movement of a first vehicle based on information regarding movement of at least one second vehicle includes: receiving a communication from the second vehicle that includes information regarding movement of the second vehicle, determining that the movement of the second vehicle corresponds to movement of the first vehicle, identifying at least one feature of the movement of the second vehicle that indicates an environmental condition that affects the movement of the second vehicle, identifying a sensor indication of movement of the first vehicle that corresponds to the feature of the movement of the second vehicle, and excluding the identified sensor indication from information used to determine movement of the first vehicle.

Abstract: A system for determining vehicle location information includes a receiver supported on a first vehicle for receiving a communication from a second vehicle and a signal from each of a plurality of satellites. A detector is configured to detect a positional relationship between the first vehicle and the second vehicle. A processor is configured to determine a location of the first vehicle from received satellite signals, a location of the second vehicle based on the communication received from the second vehicle, a corrected location of the first vehicle based on the location of the second vehicle and the positional relationship between the vehicles, and a corrective mapping of a plurality of sections of a field of view of the receiver. Each section has ad correction factor for correcting a subsequently determined location of the first vehicle based on satellite signals received from satellites appearing in the respective sections.

Abstract: A device for determining position information includes a detector that is configured to detect a position of the device and a processor that is configured to determine the position information based on a primary position indication from the detector and a secondary position indication from a second detector that is distinct from the detector. The processor determines the position information by aligning the primary position indication with the secondary position indication based on identifying a pattern of the primary position indication that corresponds with a pattern of the secondary position indication.

Abstract: A controller for airbags and seat belt pretensioners stores a digital flag for each restraint to enable or disable the corresponding deployment loop. A diagnostic tester is coupled by a communications link to the controller to selectively set the flags as desired. The controller stores a seed and a key and the tester is provided with an algorithm which can calculate the key from the seed. The tester requests the seed, which is supplied, and then calculates the key and sends the key to the controller along with a request to set the status of the deployment loops. If the transmitted key matches the stored key, the controller will comply with the request and set the flags accordingly.

Abstract: An improved automotive supplemental inflatable restraint system featuring a cost-effective approach to driver initiated inhibiting of air bag deployment. A multi-position key-operated switch is coupled to a circuit external to the sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) that is interfaced to the vehicle communications bus. The circuit interprets the switch position, and sends a message to the SDM via the communications bus indicating which, if any, of the air bags are to be inhibited. Since the SDM is normally configured for communications over the communications bus, the only cost impact on the SDM is that of a software modification. Additionally, the external circuitry is simple, and the switch can be low cost since it is not connected in the deployment loop of an air bag, and since one switch can be used to signal multiple inhibit selections.