Abstract: A device and system for purifying a fluid is provided. The system includes a tank having an interior space and a media container disposed within the interior space. A valve is provided that cooperates with an element within the interior, the valve being movable between an open and a closed position. The valve being biased to the open position when the element is not positioned within the interior space, wherein the interior space is fluidly coupled to the atmosphere in the open position. The valve further being configured to move to a closed position when the element is positioned within the interior space.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a swab device, system, and method are provided for measuring and assessing saliva flow in the mouth of a person. In one embodiment, a system includes a swab device and a measuring device. The swab device includes a handle portion and a swab portion, the handle portion being elongated to extend between a proximal end and a distal end. The swab portion is coupled to a distal portion of the handle portion and is sized and configured to collect saliva from the mouth. The measuring device is sized and configured to measure an amount of the saliva collected with the swab portion, the measuring device including a nesting portion integrated therewith. Such nesting portion of the measuring device is sized and configured to receive the proximal end of the handle portion of the swab device to measure the saliva collected therewith.

Abstract: A device and system for purifying a fluid is provided. The system includes a tank having an interior space and a media container disposed within the interior space. A valve is provided that cooperates with an element within the interior, the valve being movable between an open and a closed position. The valve being biased to the open position when the element is not positioned within the interior space, wherein the interior space is fluidly coupled to the atmosphere in the open position. The valve further being configured to move to a closed position when the element is positioned within the interior space.

Abstract: A seat belt assembly includes a webbing, a resistive film attached to the webbing, and a connector. The connector further includes a first contact connected to first contact point on the resistive film and a second contact connected to a second contact point on the resistive film. The electrical resistance of the film between the first contact point and the second contact point is proportional to tension applied axially to the webbing. The first contact and the second contact are electrically connected to an electrical resistance measuring device.

Abstract: A seat belt assembly includes a webbing, a resistive film attached to the webbing, and a connector. The connector further includes a first contact connected to first contact point on the resistive film and a second contact connected to a second contact point on the resistive film. The electrical resistance of the film between the first contact point and the second contact point is proportional to tension applied axially to the webbing. The first contact and the second contact are electrically connected to an electrical resistance measuring device.

Abstract: An anti-rollover system including a processor, a side impact sensor in communication with the processor, and a controllable suspension-based system and/or a controllable brake-based system in communication with the processor, wherein the controllable suspension-based system and/or the controllable brake-based system is actuated when the side impact sensor detects a side impact.

Abstract: A child restraint system and a method for monitoring installation of the child restraint system are provided. The child restraint system includes a child seat configured to receive a child occupant. The child restraint system further includes a first sensor coupled to the child seat. The first sensor is configured to output a first signal indicative of positional angle of the child seat relative to a first axis. The child restraint system further includes a controller coupled to the child seat configured to receive the first signal and to calculate a first angle value based on the first signal. The controller is further configured to induce a first device disposed on the child seat to indicate when the first angle value is not within a predetermined angular range from the first axis.

Abstract: A child restraint system and a method for monitoring installation of the child restraint system are provided. The child restraint system includes a child seat configured to receive a child occupant. The child seat has at least a first seat belt guide member configured to engage a vehicle seat belt webbing for securing the child seat to a vehicle seat. The child restraint system further includes a first sensor coupled to the first seat belt guide member. The first sensor is configured to output a first signal indicative of an amount of tension being applied to the vehicle seat belt webbing. The child restraint system further includes a controller coupled to the child seat configured to receive the first signal and to compute a first tension value based on the first signal. The controller further is configured to induce a first device disposed on the child seat to indicate when the first tension value is less than a predetermined tension value.

Abstract: A child seat monitoring system for a child seat and a method for determining a type of child seat are provided. The child seat has a first region and an opposite second region. The child seat has first and second patterns disposed on the first and second regions, respectively, both indicating whether the child seat is a forward-facing child seat or a rearward-facing child seat relative to a vehicle seat. The system includes a first detection apparatus configured to detect either the first pattern on the first region of the child seat or the second pattern on the second region of the child seat. The system further includes a controller operably communicating with the first detection apparatus. The controller is configured to generate a first signal when the child seat is a forward-facing child seat.

Abstract: A child restraint system for transporting a child within an automotive vehicle includes a weight sensor for determining the weight of the child and compares the child's weight to a recommended weight range. The weight sensor is disposed within a cushion that lines a shell and provides an electrical signal to a control unit. The control unit processes the electrical signal and provides an alert signal when the weight is not within the recommended range. Also, the child restraint system may include a second sensor for sensing a condition that depends upon the child's weight such as directional orientation or angular orientation of the child restraint system, or location or tension of a vehicle seat belt or tether that secures the child restraint system within the vehicle, or the location or tension of a harness for restraining the child occupant within the child restraint system.

Abstract: A child seat adapted for use in a vehicle, the child seat comprising: a shell portion; a harness for securing a child to the child seat, the harness comprising adjustable harness tether(s) secured to the shell portion at one end and having a latch plate at the other, the latch plate being configured to releasably engage a buckle of the harness; a tension sensor(s) for providing a signal indicative of a tension of the adjustable harness tether(s); and an electronic control unit secured to the shell portion, the electronic control unit being operably coupled to the tension sensor(s) to receive the signal, the electronic control unit being capable of processing the signal to compare the signal to a signal indicative of a predetermined range of acceptable tension, wherein the electronic control unit provides an output indicating whether the tension of the adjustable harness tether(s) is(are) within the predetermined range.

Abstract: The child restraint system comprises a harness that extends through one of a plurality of slots in the shell for restraining a child occupant within the child restraint system, and a control unit for determining whether the harness is properly adjusted based upon the size of the child. Belt location sensors are disposed at the slots to detect the presence of a harness belt. The child restraint system also includes temperature sensors responsive to body temperature of the child. The control unit processes the signals from the belt location sensors and the proximity sensors and issues an alert signal if the belt location is not the recommended belt location based upon the size of the child.

Abstract: A module is mounted to a object with a fastener and a special washer. The fastener engages the object through a mounting opening in mounting portion of a module case. The washer has a first portion extending obliquely outward and downward to be deformed between the fastener head and an electrically non-conducting surface of the mounting portion and thus increase a mounting force on the module with mounting advancement of the fastener. The washer has a second portion extending axially into the internal opening to contact an electrically conducting insert therein and thus create a series electrical circuit from the typically grounded object through the fastener, washer and insert to a detecting circuit, which verifies that the module is securely mounted with a predetermined mounting force.

Abstract: A weight-based occupant characterization method reliably distinguishes between large and small adult occupants by dynamically adjusting a threshold used to distinguish between large and small adult occupants. The threshold adjustments effectively increase the separation between the detected weight and the threshold, minimizing oscillation of the determined characterization following an initial occupant characterization. A learning routine gradually adjusts the threshold up to a predefined maximum adjustment so long as the detected weight is within a tolerance or hysteresis band, or a locking routine produces a step change adjustment of the threshold when the detected weight is outside the tolerance or hysteresis band for at least a predefined time.

Abstract: A multiple sensor, vehicle seat occupant status determination system uses dynamic variations in occupant responsive sensor output due to accelerations of the vehicle seat to discriminate via a statistical method between sensors that are failed and those that are operating correctly and eliminates the contribution of signals detected as not valid from the status determination. If and only if the maximum and minimum sampled signal values of at least one of the received signals span upper and lower control reference values derived from the sampled signal values, a variance value for each of the signals is derived; and one or both of the greatest two or the smallest two variance values are checked against a relative size factor to detect an outlier signal value. If an outlier signal value is detected more than a predetermined number of consecutive times, the status classification is performed without signal values from the outlier sensor.

Abstract: A vehicle seat belt is provided with multiple seat belt tension sensors providing output signals that are received and averaged. Signals having values outside a band around the average are dynamically tested against a signal from an occupant weight sensor, vertical seat accelerometer or other sensor indicating expected vertical acceleration of an occupant restrained by the seat belt. This test provides variance values and time-averaged values of each signal, derives a reference value for each signal and compares the variance value for each signal to its reference value. If the comparisons indicate that the dynamic variance of the signals is significantly different, the signal is declared invalid and the average value is recalculated without the invalid signal. The final average signal after removal of all invalid signals determines the belt tension value, which may be used to compensate a weight sensor signal in an occupant characterization system to help control deployment of a vehicle airbag.

Abstract: A seat restraint buckle and tension sensing assembly for a seat restraint system in a vehicle includes a buckle assembly having a housing for receiving a portion of a latch plate of the seat restraint system. The buckle assembly senses latching of the latch plate. The seat restraint buckle and tension sensing assembly also includes a tension sensing assembly disposed in the housing and cooperating with belt webbing of the seat restraint system for sensing a tension level in the seat restraint system.

Abstract: A vehicle seat occupant classification system uses a pressure responsive, fluid filled bladder and pressure sensor adapted for engagement with an underside of a foam seat cushion so as to generate a pressure signal corresponding to the weight of an occupant on an upper side of the foam seat cushion. A humidity sensor responds to relative humidity of air adjacent the pressure sensor and/or foam seat cushion to generate a humidity signal that is used to compensate at least one of the pressure signal, a stored reference pressure value and a stored threshold value, from which at least in part; an occupant classification is determined.

Abstract: A vehicle seat occupant classification system uses a pressure responsive, fluid filled bladder and pressure sensor adapted for engagement with an underside of a foam seat cushion so as to generate a pressure signal corresponding to the weight of an occupant on an upper side of the foam seat cushion. A humidity sensor responds to relative humidity of air adjacent the pressure sensor and/or foam seat cushion to generate a humidity signal that is used to compensate at least one of the pressure signal, a stored reference pressure value and a stored threshold value, from which at least in part; an occupant classification is determined.

Abstract: A vehicle seat belt is provided with multiple seat belt tension sensors providing output signals that are received and averaged. Signals having values outside a band around the average are dynamically tested against a signal from an occupant weight sensor, vertical seat accelerometer or other sensor indicating expected vertical acceleration of an occupant restrained by the seat belt. This test provides variance values and time-averaged values of each signal, derives a reference value for each signal and compares the variance value for each signal to its reference value. If the comparisons indicate that the dynamic variance of the signals is significantly different, the signal is declared invalid and the average value is recalculated without the invalid signal. The final average signal after removal of all invalid signals determines the belt tension value, which may be used to compensate a weight sensor signal in an occupant characterization system to help control deployment of a vehicle airbag.