Abstract: Autonomous driving techniques comprise determining a Form of Way (FOW) classification of a road along which a vehicle is traveling and when the determined FOW classification is FOW 1 or FOW 9, permitting level 2 autonomous driving of the vehicle. When the determined FOW classification is FOW 2, the techniques determine whether a set of operating conditions relating to autonomous driving satisfies a set of criteria that assesses a set of upcoming stubs along a future section of the road along which the vehicle will potentially travel are satisfied and when the set of criteria are satisfied, permitting level 2 autonomous driving of the vehicle and when the set of criteria are not initially satisfied or are subsequently no longer satisfied, not permitting or at least temporarily interrupting level 2 autonomous driving of the vehicle.

Abstract: Autonomous driving techniques comprise determining a Form of Way (FOW) classification of a road along which a vehicle is traveling and when the determined FOW classification is FOW 1 or FOW 9, permitting level 2 autonomous driving of the vehicle. When the determined FOW classification is FOW 2, the techniques determine whether a set of operating conditions relating to autonomous driving satisfies a set of criteria that assesses a set of upcoming stubs along a future section of the road along which the vehicle will potentially travel are satisfied and when the set of criteria are satisfied, permitting level 2 autonomous driving of the vehicle and when the set of criteria are not initially satisfied or are subsequently no longer satisfied, not permitting or at least temporarily interrupting level 2 autonomous driving of the vehicle.

Abstract: A predictive collision radar system in a vehicle incorporates a first antenna and a guard antenna, the associated radiation patterns of which overlap with one another, but the radiation pattern of the guard antenna is broader than that of the first antenna. A comparison of signals from the first and guard antennas provides for rejecting targets that are not likely a threat to the vehicle. In one embodiment the first antenna is a multi-beam antenna with an electromagnetic lens, for example, either dielectric or planar, and a signal from a forward looking element thereof is compared with the signal from the guard antenna aligned therewith. In another embodiment, an electromagnetic lens is adapted to cooperate with the guard antenna so as to provide for forming the associated radiation pattern.

Abstract: A camera (32) captures successive images of light stripes (22) projected onto an object by a light curtain (18) positioned by a light source positioner (28). A background image is subtracted (616) therefrom, and the resulting image is boosted by binning (618), binarized with a thresholding algorithm (620), skeletonized (622), interpolated (624) and stored (626). Interpolated images are acquired for a plurality of light stripes (22). A processor (30) generates (1604) a 3-D surface model from Cartesian coordinates computed for non-zero camera pixels. A volumetric representation is determined (1610) from the offset of the object surface model relative to a model of a proximate surface, e.g. a seating surface (24). The object is classified (1614), e.g. by a trainable pattern recognitions system, responsive to 3-D shape descriptors (1606) of the 3-D surface model and to the volumetric representation (1610) or portions (1612) thereof.

Abstract: An eye-safe light curtain is generated by a plurality of LED's illuminating a cylindrical lens having a corrugated cylindrical surface. A camera generates a first image of an avoidance zone boundary of an air bag inflator with the light curtain off, and a second image of with the light curtain on along the avoidance zone boundary. The first image is subtracted from the second image, and the resulting difference image is binned to enhance signal strength. A penetration of the avoidance zone is classified from features of the leading edge of the binned image, and the air bag inflator is disabled if the avoidance zone is penetrated by an occupant at risk of injury from the deployment thereof. An image of the light curtain may be recovered for high ambient lighting conditions by adapting the exposure time of the camera responsive to the percentage of pixels in a mask region of the first image having values exceeding a threshold.

Abstract: A Villari effect seatbelt tension sensor 10 comprises a sensor housing 30 having a sensor chamber 32 therein. A first end 34 of the sensor housing 30 has a plurality of pull rod holes 36 therein for acceptance of a plurality of pull rods 60. A Villari effect sensor 20 comprising a magnetostrictive sensor rod 22 is disposed axially within the sensor chamber 32 and abuts the first end 34 of the sensor housing 30. A plunger 40 is disposed within the sensor chamber 32 and is slidably movable therein. One end of the pull rods 60 is secured to the plunger 40. A spring 50 is disposed between the plunger 40 and a second end 26 of the sensor rod 22 to bias the sensor rod 22 toward the first end 34 of the sensor housing 30.

Abstract: A Villari effect seatbelt tension sensor 10 comprises a sensor housing 30 having a sensor chamber 32 therein. A first end 34 of the sensor housing 30 has a plurality of pull rod holes 36 therein for acceptance of a plurality of pull rods 60. A Villari effect sensor 20 comprising a magnetostrictive sensor rod 22 is disposed axially within the sensor chamber 32 and abuts the first end 34 of the sensor housing 30. A plunger 40 is disposed within the sensor chamber 32 and is slidably movable therein. One end of the pull rods 60 is secured to the plunger 40. A spring 50 is disposed between the plunger 40 and a second end 26 of the sensor rod 22 to bias the sensor rod 22 toward the first end 34 of the sensor housing 30.

Abstract: A Villari effect seatbelt tension sensor 10 comprises a sensor housing 50 having a plunger chamber 52 and a tongue head flange chamber 54 therein. The two chambers 52 and 54 are separated by a radial flange 58 extending therebetween defining a passage connecting the chambers. A Villari effect sensor 12 is disposed axially within the sensor housing 50 and is secured on one end 16 to a plunger 40 disposed within the plunger chamber 52 and secured on the opposite end 14 to a tongue head flange 20 disposed within the tongue head flange chamber 54. A tongue 24 connected by a shaft 28 to the tongue head flange 20 has a slot 26 therein for securing a seatbelt 80 thereto.

Abstract: A plurality of hydrostatic weight sensors, each incorporating a fluid and a pressure sensor for sensing the pressure thereof, are incorporated in a vehicle seat to sense occupant weight, position, and stature. In one aspect, a hydrostatic weight sensor is located in the seat back and a separate hydrostatic weight sensor is located in the seat bottom. In another aspect, a plurality of laterally or longitudinally proximate hydrostatic weight sensors, or a single bladder with a plurality of chambers, is incorporated in the seat bottom to sense occupant position. In another aspect, a hydrostatic seat weight sensor is provided by forming a fluid filled cavity within a seat cushion and sensing the pressure of the fluid therein. A signal processor calculates the occupant weight, position, and stature from the respective pressure sensor output signals and controls a safety restraint system responsive thereto.

Abstract: A Villari effect sensor comprises a sensing rod constructed from a magnetostrictive material. An alternating current signal applied to an overlapping drive coil is inductively coupled by the sensing rod to the sensing coils and generates a signal thereon, responsive to the permeability of the magnetostrictive sensing rod which decreases responsive to the applied load. The sensing rod comprises one or more sections, each having a distinct cross-sectional area, and a sensing coil is associated with each section. A signal processor calculates the magnitude of the applied force from either the maximum flux density, or by differencing the first and third harmonics of the signal from the sensing coil. The weight of an occupant on a vehicle seat is measured by either incorporating a tensile force measuring Villari effect sensor in series with the seat springs, or incorporating a compressive force measuring Villari effect sensor in series with seat posts.