Abstract: A method of deploying a passenger side airbag as a function of the actual mass of the occupant on the passenger seat. This is accomplished by providing force sensors at one or more of the anchor pieces at which a seat belt is connected to the vehicle. The sensors may be strain gauges that measure the deflection of bolts connecting the ends of the seat belt to the anchor pieces. By sizing the nominal resistance of strain gauges at two anchor pieces, the two resistors can be put in a series circuit such that only the sum of the two resistances need be measured. The measurements obtained are then used to obtain the vertical components of force due to the seat belt. This value is then be subtracted from the total vertical force measured by a seat cushion weight sensor to determine the mass of the seat occupant.

Abstract: A restraint system for a motor vehicle includes a plurality of sensors for sensing vehicle conditions of restraint deployment thresholds. The restraint system also includes an electronic controller electrically connected to the sensors for determining whether one of the sensors experiences sufficient deceleration. The restraint system further includes at least one inflatable restraint operatively connected to the electronic controller for deployment thereby in a first stage if the deceleration warrants a first stage deployment and in a second stage if the deceleration warrants a second stage deployment when the sensors sense vehicle conditions achieving the restraint deployment thresholds to restrain an occupant in a seat of the motor vehicle.

Abstract: A side impact collision sensing system 10 for use on a vehicle 12. System 10 includes several door mounted impact sensors 18-24 and a sensor 26 which is disposed in relative close proximity to the center of the vehicle's passenger compartment 52. System 10 determines whether a side impact collision has occurred or is occurring and selectively activates one or more restraint assemblies 28-34 if such a determination is made. System 10 reduces the likelihood of a false and/or unnecessary activation of restraint assemblies 28-34 by using sensors 18-24 and sensor 26 in a distributed algorithm to detect side impact collisions.

Abstract: A method of deploying a passenger side airbag as a function of the actual mass of the occupant on the passenger seat. This is accomplished by providing force sensors at one or more of the anchor pieces at which a seat belt is connected to the vehicle. The sensors may be strain gauges that measure the deflection of bolts connecting the ends of the seat belt to the anchor pieces. By sizing the nominal resistance of strain gauges at two anchor pieces, the two resistors can be put in a series circuit such that only the sum of the two resistances need be measured. The measurements obtained are then used to obtain the vertical components of force due to the seat belt. This value is then be subtracted from the total vertical force measured by a seat cushion weight sensor to determine the mass of the seat occupant.

Abstract: A secondary seat belt warning system for alerting a vehicle occupant when a seat belt is unbuckled. The secondary seat belt warning system includes an ignition switch for generating a signal indicating an ignition in an on position, a seat belt sensor for generating a signal indicating that the seat belt is unbuckled, and a seat belt indicator for producing an audible and visible indicator to the vehicle occupant. The secondary seat belt warning system also includes a control module to activate the seat belt indicator in response to the input from the ignition switch and seat belt sensor. The secondary seat belt warning system further includes a vehicle speed sensor to activate the secondary seat belt warning system when the control module receives a signal above a predetermined threshold from the speed sensor indicative of the vehicle speed.

Abstract: An impact system employs an accelerometer (40), which produces an acceleration signal (70), and communicates it with a restraints control module (38) that, in turn, determines when switches (58) for passive restraint actuation will be activated. The restraints control module (38) decomposes the acceleration signal (70) via low (44) and high (46) pass filters into a high frequency signal (74), which is used for impact mode determination (78), and a low frequency signal (76), which is used for impact severity determination (80). The results of the two determinations are then used to make a deployment decision (82) for one or more of the passive restraints (30, 32, 34) in the vehicle (20).

Abstract: An airbag deactivation system for the airbags mounted in a motor vehicle. The system provides a switch and circuitry to allow for selective deactivation of driver and/or passenger airbags in a motor vehicle via a conventional ignition key inserted into a key cylinder. The switch includes interchangeable key cylinders to allow for limited selective deactivation and a key stop to limit the amount of insertion of the ignition key into the key cylinder. LED's emit light from the deactivation module when indicating a deactivation condition, which is viewable by both a driver and a front seat passenger. Alternatively, LED's are mounted in a remote indicator assembly, separate from the deactivation module, to provide improved visual indication to the driver and front seat passenger of the state of airbag deactivation.

Abstract: A sensing system and method for automatically deactivating an airbag (46) in a vehicle (10). The sensing system includes a seat weight sensor (52) mounted, for example, in a front passenger seat (16), and an ALR sensor (34) for detecting if an automatic locking retractor (32) is active. Signals from these sensors are received by a seat weight sensor module (50). If the automatic locking retractor (32) is active, then a predetermined weight is subtracted from the weight reading detected by the seat weight sensor (52) to produce a weight value prior to comparing the weight value to a predetermined threshold value. If the threshold value is larger, then the sensor module (50) signals the airbag module (48) to deactivate the airbag (46).

Abstract: An airbag deactivation system for the airbags mounted in a motor vehicle. The system provides a switch and circuitry to allow for selective deactivation of driver and/or passenger airbags in a motor vehicle via a conventional ignition key inserted into a key cylinder. The switch includes interchangeable key cylinders to allow for limited selective deactivation and a key stop to limit the amount of insertion of the ignition key into the key cylinder. LED's emit light from the deactivation module when indicating a deactivation condition, which is viewable by both a driver and a front seat passenger. Alternatively, LED's are mounted in a remote indicator assembly, separate from the deactivation module, to povide improved visual indication to the driver and font seat passenger of the state of airbag deactivation.

Abstract: An airbag deactivation system for the airbags mounted in a motor vehicle. The system provides a switch and circuitry to allow for selective deactivation of driver and/or passenger airbags in a motor vehicle via a conventional ignition key inserted into a key cylinder. The switch includes interchangeable key cylinders to allow for limited selective deactivation and a key stop to limit the amount of insertion of the ignition key into the key cylinder. LED's emit light from the deactivation module when indicating a deactivation condition, which is viewable by both a driver and a front seat passenger. Alternatively, LED's are mounted in a remote indicator assembly, separate from the deactivation module, to provide improved visual indication to the driver and front seat passenger of the state of airbag deactivation.

Abstract: An airbag deactivation system for the airbags mounted in a motor vehicle. The system provides a switch and circuitry to allow for selective deactivation of driver and/or passenger airbags in a motor vehicle via a conventional ignition key inserted into a key cylinder. The switch includes interchangeable key cylinders to allow for limited selective deactivation and a key stop to limit the amount of insertion of the ignition key into the key cylinder. LED's emit light from the deactivation module when indicating a deactivation condition, which is viewable by both a driver and a front seat passenger.