Abstract: A seat belt retractor comprises (a) a rotatable spool on which seat belt webbing is wound and (b) a load-limiting system to limit a load applied to a vehicle occupant by the webbing. The load-limiting system includes a flow control orifice through which fluid is forced when a load in excess of a predetermined load is applied to the rotatable spool by the webbing. The cross-sectional flow area of the flow control orifice is adjustable in response to unwinding of webbing from the rotatable spool prior to a vehicle crash event and ceases to be adjustable after the crash event is in progress. The load-limiting system also includes a piston in a cylinder. The piston and cylinder are operatively coupled to the spool such that rotation of the spool causes the piston to move relative to the cylinder, which movement causes fluid to be forced through the flow control orifice.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor comprises (a) a rotatable spool on which seat belt webbing is wound and (b) a load-limiting system to limit a load applied to a vehicle occupant by the webbing. The load-limiting system includes a flow control orifice through which fluid is forced when a load in excess of a predetermined load is applied to the rotatable spool by the webbing. The cross-sectional flow area of the flow control orifice is adjustable in response to unwinding of webbing from the rotatable spool prior to a vehicle crash event and ceases to be adjustable after the crash event is in progress. The load-limiting system also includes a piston in a cylinder. The piston and cylinder are operatively coupled to the spool such that rotation of the spool causes the piston to move relative to the cylinder, which movement causes fluid to be forced through the flow control orifice.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor comprises (a) a rotatable spool on which seat belt webbing is wound and (b) a load-limiting system to limit a load applied to a vehicle occupant by the webbing. The load-limiting system includes a flow control orifice through which fluid is forced when a load in excess of a predetermined load is applied to the rotatable spool by the webbing. The cross-sectional flow area of the flow control orifice is adjustable in response to unwinding of webbing from the rotatable spool prior to a vehicle crash event and ceases to be adjustable after the crash event is in progress. The load-limiting system also includes a piston in a cylinder. The piston and cylinder are operatively coupled to the spool such that rotation of the spool causes the piston to move relative to the cylinder, which movement causes fluid to be forced through the flow control orifice.

Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection device (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a seat of a vehicle includes an inertia member (66) that engages an element (54). The inertia member (66) is movable relative to the element (54) from an unactuated position to an actuated position in response to at least one sensed vehicle condition for activating the occupant protection device (10). A vertical axis (83) extends through the center of mass of the inertia member (66) when the inertia member (66) is in the unactuated position. At least one of the element (54) and the inertia member (66) has at least one planar surface (80) that extends at an angle relative to the vertical axis (54). The inertia member (66) and element (54) are movable relative to one another along the at least one planar surface (80) to place the inertia member (66) in the actuated position to activate the occupant protection device.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor comprises (a) a rotatable spool on which seat belt webbing is wound and (b) a load-limiting system to limit a load applied to a vehicle occupant by the webbing. The load-limiting system includes a flow control orifice through which fluid is forced when a load in excess of a predetermined load is applied to the rotatable spool by the webbing. The cross-sectional flow area of the flow control orifice is adjustable in response to unwinding of webbing from the rotatable spool prior to a vehicle crash event and ceases to be adjustable after the crash event is in progress. The load-limiting system also includes a piston in a cylinder. The piston and cylinder are operatively coupled to the spool such that rotation of the spool causes the piston to move relative to the cylinder, which movement causes fluid to be forced through the flow control orifice.

Abstract: A seatbelt latch circuit can include an illumination source configured to illuminate a seatbelt latch in response to a signal. The seatbelt latch circuit can also include a status sensor configured to output a first current if the seatbelt latch is in a removed state, output a second current if the seatbelt latch is in an inserted state and output a third current if the seatbelt latch has a fault. The seatbelt latch circuit communicates with a vehicle electrical system through only two conductors.

Abstract: A seatbelt latch circuit can include an illumination source configured to illuminate a seatbelt latch in response to a signal. The seatbelt latch circuit can also include a status sensor configured to output a first current if the seatbelt latch is in a removed state, output a second current if the seatbelt latch is in an inserted state and output a third current if the seatbelt latch has a fault. The seatbelt latch circuit communicates with a vehicle electrical system through only two conductors.

Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection device (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a seat of a vehicle includes an inertia member (66) that engages an element (54). The inertia member (66) is movable relative to the element (54) from an unactuated position to an actuated position in response to at least one sensed vehicle condition for activating the occupant protection device (10). A vertical axis (83) extends through the center of mass of the inertia member (66) when the inertia member (66) is in the unactuated position. At least one of the element (54) and the inertia member (66) has at least one planar surface (80) that extends at an angle relative to the vertical axis (54). The inertia member (66) and element (54) are movable relative to one another along the at least one planar surface (80) to place the inertia member (66) in the actuated position to activate the occupant protection device.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor (10) includes a spool (104) about which seat belt webbing (18) is wound. The spool (104) is supported for rotation in a belt withdrawal direction and in an opposite belt retraction direction. A vehicle sensitive sensor (180) is responsive to at least one sensed vehicle condition for preventing rotation of the spool (104) in the belt withdrawal direction. The retractor (10) also includes a mechanism (200) for controlling the vehicle sensitive sensor (180). The mechanism (200) includes a ring gear (212) and a control lever (246). The ring gear (212) has internal gear teeth (234) and an external surface (236) having a cam profile. The external surface (236) of the ring gear (212) actuates the control lever (246) to enable and disable the vehicle sensitive sensor (180).

Abstract: A buckle (10) for a vehicle seat belt system (12) comprises a latch mechanism (26) for connection with a tongue assembly (14) of the seat belt system. The latch mechanism (26) has a latched condition and a released condition. The buckle (10) also comprises a manually engageable pushbutton (40) connected with the latch mechanism (26). The pushbutton (40) is movable between a first position in which the latch mechanism is in the latched condition and a second position in which the latch mechanism is in the released condition. The buckle (10) contains an illumination mechanism (46) comprising an electroluminescent panel (50) which may or may not be movable with the pushbutton when the pushbutton moves between the first and second positions.

Abstract: A buckle (10) for a vehicle seat belt system (12) comprises a latch mechanism (26) for connection with a tongue assembly (14) of the seat belt system. The latch mechanism (26) has a latched condition and a released condition. The buckle (10) also comprises a manually engageable pushbutton (40) connected with the latch mechanism (26). The pushbutton (40) is movable between a first position in which the latch mechanism is in the latched condition and a second position in which the latch mechanism is in the released condition. The buckle (10) contains an illumination mechanism (46) comprising an electroluminescent panel (50) which may or may not be movable with the pushbutton when the pushbutton moves between the first and second positions.

Abstract: A hollow flexible vinyl or other plastic tube having a shiny inner wall is disposed along a boundary where intrusion detection is desired. A beam of infrared radiation from an LED at one end of the tube is passed through the tube by reflections from the wall to a detector at the other end. The radiation is conducted along curved paths as well as straight paths. An object intruding into the protected space with sufficient force to deform the tube wall attenuates the radiation. A detection circuit senses the attenuation and produces an intrusion signal. The detection circuit includes logic which detects a failure in the radiation source or a light leak in the tube.

Abstract: A pneumatically cushioned vehicle seat and apparatus and method to adjust the same is provided by the present invention. A novel switching and pumping arrangement for the pneumatic seat and/or seating combination allows the pump to inflate the pneumatic cushion and also deflate the pneumatic cushion. Use of the pump for deflation of the pneumatic cushion eliminates the need of the chair occupant pushing against the same cushion when adjusting the seat to a less firm position.

Abstract: A power window control for a motor vehicle provides express or one-touch movement in response to short activations of a control element and traditional power window movement during activation of the control element for longer periods. The control provides for automatic window closing with activation of a power door lock element, as long as the ignition is off unless the ignition key is in the ignition switch and the driver's door is open. This allows single touch vehicle locking but helps prevents the operator from locking himself out of the vehicle with the key still inside. Window movement, once initiated in the open or close direction, is stopped in response to motor stall when the open or closed limit is reached.

Abstract: A motor vehicle daytime running light circuit is disclosed in which the high beam headlights are energized at a reduced intensity in response to a predetermined vehicle operating condition including, for example, the headlight switch being in the off position. Power to the high beam headlights is supplied through a field-effect transistor that is modulated by an oscillator operating at a frequency sufficient to maintain the headlights at a constant intensity. Circuitry that senses the predetermined vehicle operating condition enables the oscillator and disables a high beam indicator.