Abstract: A vehicle seatbelt apparatus includes a seatbelt web wrapped in a reel around a motor-rotated shaft. A latch is selectively engageable with the reel to lock a seatbelt retractor from movement in one direction while allowing movement of the retractor under motor rotation of the shaft in response to pre-crash vehicle braking deceleration, a vehicle downhill angle or a vehicle lateral “g” force exceeding a threshold. When a retractor locked position is detected, the motor is activated to retract the seatbelt web for a predetermined time period to urge the passenger toward a center upright position in a vehicle seat.

Abstract: An airbag deployment control apparatus and method utilizes an output of a pre-collision sensor mounted on the vehicle as a first airbag safing signal, and an output of a vehicle mounted impact sensor, when the impact sensor output exceeds a predetermined level corresponding to an actual vehicle collision, as a second airbag safing signal. A control, after determining the occurrence of the two consecutive safing signals, checks airbag arming and deployment criteria for deployment of the airbag. The pre-impact sensor can be a camera, radar, or Lidar sensor mounted on the vehicle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the deployment of a passive inflatable restraint system wherein driver and passenger air bags are employed each having two independently actuatable gas generators of the same or different sizes which are activated in a fixed time sequence. The sequence is timed to provide an initial low inflation rate to just open the airbag container and initially deploy the airbag followed by a higher gas flow rate to complete filling of the cushion. An electronic control unit containing a control algorithm and connected to external sensors monitors vehicle decelerations, detects impacts, and determines if impact severity warrants deployment of an airbag for occupant protection.

Abstract: A vehicle seatbelt apparatus includes a seatbelt web wrapped in a reel around a motor-rotated shaft. A latch is selectively engageable with the reel to lock a seatbelt retractor from movement in one direction while allowing movement of the retractor under motor rotation of the shaft in response to pre-crash vehicle braking deceleration, a vehicle downhill angle or a vehicle lateral “g” force exceeding a threshold. When a retractor locked position is detected, the motor is activated to retract the seatbelt web for a predetermined time period to urge the passenger toward a center upright position in a vehicle seat.

Abstract: A seat belt tension sensing assembly fixedly secured to a vehicle. The seat belt tension sensing assembly has a housing and a slider slidably received within the housing, the slider being capable of movement between a first position and a second position within the housing, the second position corresponding to a tension in the seat belt consummate with a child safety seat being secured by the seat belt, the slider having a first opening for a portion of the seat belt to pass therethrough. A first magnet and a second magnet are secured in a second opening in the slider, the first and second magnet being in a facing spaced relationship. A Hall effect device is fixedly secured to the housing and protrudes into the second opening of the slider. The Hall effect device is closer to the first magnet when the slider is in the first position and the Hall effect device is closer to the second magnet when the slider is in the second position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the deployment of a passive inflatable restraint system wherein driver and passenger air bags are employed each having two independently actuatable gas generators of the same or different sizes which are activated in a fixed time sequence. The sequence is timed to provide an initial low inflation rate to just open the airbag container and initially deploy the airbag followed by a higher gas flow rate to complete filling of the cushion. An electronic control unit containing a control algorithm and connected to external sensors monitors vehicle decelerations, detects impacts, and determines if impact severity warrants deployment of an airbag for occupant protection.

Abstract: A seat belt tension sensing assembly fixedly secured to a vehicle. The seat belt tension sensing assembly has a housing and a slider slidably received within the housing, the slider being capable of movement between a first position and a second position within the housing, the second position corresponding to a tension in the seat belt consummate with a child safety seat being secured by the seat belt, the slider having a first opening for a portion of the seat belt to pass therethrough. A first magnet and a second magnet are secured in a second opening in the slider, the first and second magnet being in a facing spaced relationship. A Hall effect device is fixedly secured to the housing and protrudes into the second opening of the slider. The Hall effect device is closer to the first magnet when the slider is in the first position and the Hall effect device is closer to the second magnet when the slider is in the second position.