Abstract: A pressure sensor for being mounted in a vehicle door includes a housing, a pressure transducer, an elastomeric connector, and electrical conductors for facilitating an electrical connection to the pressure sensor. The pressure transducer is mounted in the housing adjacent the elastomeric connector. The housing is configured to exert a force that presses the pressure transducer against the elastomeric connector. The elastomeric connector comprises electrically conductive regions configured to be pressed against electrical contacts of the pressure transducer and the electrical conductors to establish and maintain an electrical connection between the pressure transducer and the electrical conductors.

Abstract: A mounting structure for mounting an electrolytic capacitor on a printed circuit board (PCB) of an airbag electronic control unit (ECU) includes a cap for receiving a lead end of the capacitor. The cap includes openings for receiving electrical leads of the capacitor. The cap supports electrical connectors, which electrically contact the electrical leads when a lead end of the capacitor is installed in the cap. The electrical connectors include portions for interfacing with the PCB to electrically connect the electrical connectors to the PCB. The cap also includes a vent that provides fluid communication from inside the cap to outside the cap. The vent is configured to vent dielectric liquids and gases discharged from the lead end of the capacitor during thermal cycles and/or charging cycles of the capacitor.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring vehicle acceleration includes a housing comprising an interior space and one or more contacts supported in the housing. Each of the contacts includes a pin portion that extends outside the housing and a spring contact portion positioned above an ASIC receptacle inside the housing. The apparatus also includes an accelerometer ASIC positioned the ASIC receptacle in the housing. The accelerometer ASIC includes contact pads that engage the spring contact portions of the one or more contacts and cause the spring contact portions to deflect. The resilient spring characteristics of the spring contact portions applying a retention force on the accelerometer ASIC. The apparatus further includes a retention clip connected to the housing and having a portion extending into the interior space. The retention clip includes a portion that engages the housing to secure the retention clip in an installed condition in the housing.

Abstract: A mounting structure for mounting an electrolytic capacitor on a printed circuit board (PCB) of an airbag electronic control unit (ECU) includes a cap for receiving a lead end of the capacitor. The cap includes openings for receiving electrical leads of the capacitor. The cap supports electrical connectors, which electrically contact the electrical leads when a lead end of the capacitor is installed in the cap. The electrical connectors include portions for interfacing with the PCB to electrically connect the electrical connectors to the PCB. The cap also includes a vent that provides fluid communication from inside the cap to outside the cap. The vent is configured to vent dielectric liquids and gases discharged from the lead end of the capacitor during thermal cycles and/or charging cycles of the capacitor.

Abstract: A vehicle safety system for a vehicle includes an electronic control unit (ECU) and at least one remote crash sensor mounted in the vehicle at a location remote from the ECU and operatively connected to the ECU. The remote crash sensor is configured to sense vehicle crash conditions and to provide data related to the sensed vehicle crash conditions to the ECU. An ECU remote sensor is mounted in the vehicle at a location remote from the ECU and near a vehicle center-of-gravity (COG). The ECU remote sensor includes an inertial measurement unit (IMU), and is configured to sense vehicle roll conditions and to provide data related to the sensed vehicle roll conditions to the ECU. The ECU is operative to receive the data provided by the at least one remote crash sensor and the ECU remote sensor, perform calculations to determine whether the data is indicative of a vehicle crash condition, and to provide a signal for actuating a vehicle occupant protection device.

Abstract: A vehicle safety system for a vehicle includes an electronic control unit (ECU) and at least one remote crash sensor mounted in the vehicle at a location remote from the ECU and operatively connected to the ECU. The remote crash sensor is configured to sense vehicle crash conditions and to provide data related to the sensed vehicle crash conditions to the ECU. An ECU remote sensor is mounted in the vehicle at a location remote from the ECU and near a vehicle center-of-gravity (COG). The ECU remote sensor includes an inertial measurement unit (IMU), and is configured to sense vehicle roll conditions and to provide data related to the sensed vehicle roll conditions to the ECU. The ECU is operative to receive the data provided by the at least one remote crash sensor and the ECU remote sensor, perform calculations to determine whether the data is indicative of a vehicle crash condition, and to provide a signal for actuating a vehicle occupant protection device.

Abstract: An apparatus detects a vehicle/pedestrian impact event by sensing impact events near a forward location of a vehicle using a multi-port pressure sensor and acceleration sensors. The multi-port pressure sensor includes multiple pressure sensors in a unified housing, connected via individual pressure ports to multiple impact-sensing hoses mounted along the vehicle bumper. An acceleration sensor may also be installed in the same housing. A single electrical connector provides connection to the multiple pressure sensors and also the acceleration sensors.

Abstract: An apparatus detects a vehicle/pedestrian impact event by sensing impact events near a forward location of a vehicle using a multi-port pressure sensor and acceleration sensors. The multi-port pressure sensor includes multiple pressure sensors in a unified housing, connected via individual pressure ports to multiple impact-sensing hoses mounted along the vehicle bumper. An acceleration sensor may also be installed in the same housing. A single electrical connector provides connection to the multiple pressure sensors and also the acceleration sensors.

Abstract: A tire pressure monitoring apparatus includes a valve assembly mountable in a vehicle wheel and a housing securable to the end of the valve assembly. A pressure sensor assembly is securable in the housing for monitoring tire pressure and providing an electrical signal indicative thereof. The pressure sensor assembly includes a flexible circuit board, and a battery held within a fold of the flexible circuit board, wherein the flexible circuit board is overmolded.

Abstract: A tire pressure monitoring apparatus includes a valve assembly mountable in a vehicle wheel and a housing securable to the end of the valve assembly. A pressure sensor assembly is securable in the housing for monitoring tire pressure and providing an electrical signal indicative thereof. The pressure sensor assembly includes a flexible circuit board, and a battery held within a fold of the flexible circuit board, wherein the flexible circuit board is overmolded.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for a vehicle includes a steering wheel (12) and a vehicle occupant protection device (14) that is mounted to the steering wheel (12) and is actuatable for helping to protect an occupant of the vehicle. At least a portion of the vehicle occupant protection device (14) is movable relative to the steering wheel (12) for actuating an electric device (108) associated with the vehicle when a force is applied to any one of various locations on the vehicle occupant protection device (14). The apparatus (10) also includes a mechanism (104) for substantially blocking tilt of the movable portion of the vehicle occupant protection device (14) relative to the steering wheel (12) during movement for actuating the electric device (108).

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer (10) comprises a housing (12) having an axis (52) and a diaphragm (60) centered on the axis (52) at one end (62) of the housing (12). A cylindrical vibratable mass (74) is disposed in the housing (12) and centered on the axis (52). The vibratable mass (74) has a first end (76) secured to and centered relative to an inner surface (80) of the diaphragm (60) and an opposite second end (84). The vibratable mass (74) can be vibrated in a direction along the axis (52). A second cylindrical mass (90) is disposed in the housing (12) and centered on the axis (52). The second mass (90) has a third end (92) with a recess (100) centered on the axis (52). The second end (84) of the vibratable mass (74) extends into the recess (100) and is secured to the second mass (90). The second mass (90) resists the vibration of the vibratable mass (74) toward the second mass (90). An electrode (110) is fixed to a fourth end (94) of the second mass (90) opposite the third end (92).

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer (10) includes a housing (12) having a main section (14) and a base section (16). Retainer elements (20) on the main and base sections (14 and 16) of the housing (12) are engageable only when the main and base sections of the housing are in a predetermined orientation relative to each other. The retainer elements (20) press the main and base sections (14 and 16) of the housing (12) together and securely interconnect the main and base sections of the housing. A diaphragm (82) is formed in an end portion of the main section (14) of the housing (12) opposite from the retainer elements (20). A ridge (88) projects axially outward from the diaphragm (82) to protect the diaphragm and decouple the diaphragm from a side wall (74) of the housing (12). Acoustically absorptive material (114 and 116) is disposed in the housing.