Abstract: A vehicle monitoring system monitors a vehicle characteristic and, from the monitoring, determines the state of a vehicle component. The system may set an alert and may communicate that alert to a user or supervisory authority. The state of the vehicle component may relate to a vehicle tire and to the potential delamination of a tire.

Abstract: A vehicular monitoring system includes a plurality of wheel-end units, each of which is attachable to the wheel-end of a wheeled vehicle. The system monitors sensor readings and may analyze the readings to diagnose conditions related to vehicle components, including tires, axles, bearings or components of the monitoring system. The system may analyze readings to predict, or prognosticate, conditions related to vehicle components or to components of the monitoring system. Each wheel-end unit includes a communications interface for communications among wheel-end units associated with a vehicle monitored by the system.

Abstract: A vehicle control system may include a wheel end unit attachable to the wheel-end of a wheeled vehicle. The system may employ a plurality of pumps to supply compressed air to a tire associated with the wheel-end. The pumps may be supplied with energy transferred from torque generated by a pendulum, the energy transmitted through a non-circular gearing system.

Abstract: An energy harvesting system is attachable to the wheel-end of a wheeled vehicle. The system generates usable mechanical or electrical energy from the relative motion between a rotating component that rotates with the rotation of a vehicle wheel and a component that does not rotate with the rotation of the vehicle wheel. The usable energy may be employed by a monitor, analysis and control system that monitors sensor readings and may analyze the readings to diagnose conditions related to vehicle components, including tires, axles, bearings or components of the monitoring system.

Abstract: An electronic monitoring system is attachable to the wheel-end of a wheeled vehicle. The system monitors sensor readings and may analyze the readings to diagnose conditions related to vehicle components, including tires, axles, bearings or components of the monitoring system. The system may analyze readings to predict, or prognosticate, conditions related to vehicle components or to components of the monitoring system.

Abstract: A vehicle control system may include a wheel end unit attachable to the wheel-end of a wheeled vehicle. The system may employ one or more sensors to adjust wheel-end parameters and analyze sensor readings to diagnose conditions related to vehicle components, including tires, axles, bearings or components of the monitoring system. The system may analyze readings to predict conditions related to vehicle components or to components of the monitoring system. Wheel-end systems may be modular, allowing different implementations to include varying degrees of mechanical or electrical monitoring, analysis and control.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device with a camera unit, serving to take pictures of the outside of a motor vehicle, and a lid element movable via a drive between a closed position, in which the lid element covers an opening of the device and an open position, in which the lid element exposes the opening, wherein in the closed position of the lid element the camera unit is inaccessible from the outside behind the lid element and in the open position of the lid element pictures can be taken. According to the invention provision is made for the lid element to be an actuating element for the camera unit in order to move the camera unit between an idle position and an operating position.

Abstract: In a first aspect, the invention is directed to a closure latch for a vehicle closure panel, having at least three lock states all of which are achieved using a single control member. The control member may be movable to at least three positions to achieve the lock states. A single motor may be used to move the control member between the positions. In a second aspect, the invention is directed to a closure latch that is movable to a safety locking position, wherein the inside and outside door levers are disabled and wherein the pawl is prevented from releasing the ratchet. The safety locking position may be used when the vehicle controller senses an impending crash or that a crash is occurring as a way of inhibiting inadvertent opening of the vehicle closure panel (eg. a vehicle door).

Abstract: In a vehicle door latch, a motion restriction device is coupled to an auxiliary pawl that is connected to the pawl of a ratchet and pawl combination. The auxiliary pawl must be actuated by one or more release levers in order to actuate the pawl and release the ratchet from a striker-containing position and open the latch. Because the only criterion for selectively prohibiting movement of the auxiliary pawl is its speed, it is possible to prevent the latch from unintentionally opening in a crash situation regardless of the direction the inertial forces of the crash are applied to the latch or the release levers therein or the outside or inside handles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device with a camera unit, serving to take pictures of the outside of a motor vehicle, and a lid element movable via a drive between a closed position, in which the lid element covers an opening of the device and an open position, in which the lid element exposes the opening, wherein in the closed position of the lid element the camera unit is inaccessible from the outside behind the lid element and in the open position of the lid element pictures can be taken. According to the invention provision is made for the lid element to be an actuating element for the camera unit in order to move the camera unit between an idle position and an operating position.

Abstract: In a first aspect, the invention is directed to a closure latch for a vehicle closure panel, having at least three lock states all of which are achieved using a single control member. The control member may be movable to at least three positions to achieve the lock states. A single motor may be used to move the control member between the positions. In a second aspect, the invention is directed to a closure latch that is movable to a safety locking position, wherein the inside and outside door levers are disabled and wherein the pawl is prevented from releasing the ratchet. The safety locking position may be used when the vehicle controller senses an impending crash or that a crash is occurring as a way of inhibiting inadvertent opening of the vehicle closure panel (e.g. a vehicle door).

Abstract: A motion restriction device is provided for selectively preventing movement of a structural member. The motion restriction device includes a container abutting against the structural member. The container is at least partially filled with a velocity-dependent material that transitions between a fluid-like state when the structural member moves at a velocity below a predetermined threshold to permit movement thereof and a solid-like state when the structural member moves at a velocity above a predetermined threshold to block movement thereof.

Abstract: A motion restriction device is provided for selectively preventing movement of a structural member. The motion restriction device includes a container abutting against the structural member. The container is at least partially filled with a velocity-dependent material that transitions between a fluid-like state when the structural member moves at a velocity below a predetermined threshold to permit movement thereof and a solid-like state when the structural member moves at a velocity above a predetermined threshold to block movement thereof.

Abstract: A motion restriction device is provided for selectively preventing movement of a structural member. The motion restriction device includes a container abutting against the structural member. The container is at least partially filled with a velocity-dependent material that transitions between a fluid-like state when the structural member moves at a velocity below a predetermined threshold to permit movement thereof and a solid-like state when the structural member moves at a velocity above a predetermined threshold to block movement thereof.

Abstract: In a first aspect, the invention is directed to a closure latch for a vehicle closure panel, having at least three lock states all of which are achieved using a single control member. The control member may be movable to at least three positions to achieve the lock states. A single motor may be used to move the control member between the positions. In a second aspect, the invention is directed to a closure latch that is movable to a safety locking position, wherein the inside and outside door levers are disabled and wherein the pawl is prevented from releasing the ratchet. The safety locking position may be used when the vehicle controller senses an impending crash or that a crash is occurring as a way of inhibiting inadvertent opening of the vehicle closure panel (e.g. a vehicle door).

Abstract: In a vehicle door latch, a motion restriction device is coupled to an auxiliary pawl that is connected to the pawl of a ratchet and pawl combination. The auxiliary pawl must be actuated by one or more release levers in order to actuate the pawl and release the ratchet from a striker-containing position and open the latch. Because the only criterion for selectively prohibiting movement of the auxiliary pawl is its speed, it is possible to prevent the latch from unintentionally opening in a crash situation regardless of the direction the inertial forces of the crash are applied to the latch or the release levers therein or the outside or inside handles.

Abstract: A motion restriction device is provided for selectively preventing movement of a structural member. The motion restriction device includes a container abutting against the structural member. The container is at least partially filled with a velocity-dependent material that transitions between a fluid-like state when the structural member moves at a velocity below a predetermined threshold to permit movement thereof and a solid-like state when the structural member moves at a velocity above a predetermined threshold to block movement thereof.