Abstract: A system (10) for helping to protect a vehicle occupant includes a crash sensor (32) operative to sense a vehicle crash event and provide a crash signal having a characteristic indicative of the sensed crash event. An acoustic safing sensor (34) is operative to sense acoustic waves of the vehicle during a vehicle crash event and provide a safing signal having a characteristic indicative of the sensed acoustic waves. The system (10) also includes an occupant protection device (18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28) for, when actuated, helping to protect the vehicle occupant during a vehicle crash event. A controller (30) controls actuation of the occupant protection device (18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28) in response to the crash signal and the safing signal.

Abstract: A communication system (10) includes a communication bus (16) through which a power/voltage transmitter (44) conveys electrical energy and messages to a plurality of units (18, 20). The power/voltage transmitter (44) includes components for adjusting voltage of the electrical energy past a first predetermined threshold to provide a first type message frame and modulating the voltage of the electrical energy during the first type message frame to convey a first type message. The power/voltage transmitter (44) also includes components for adjusting the voltage past a second predetermined threshold to provide a second type message frame and modulating the voltage of the electrical energy during the second type message frame to convey a second type message.

Abstract: A system (10) includes a vehicle-based controller (30) for automatically controlling a throttle (32) of a vehicle (14) to maintain a desired cruise speed of the vehicle. The system also includes a tire-based unit (20) for monitoring an operating condition of a vehicle tire (12) of the vehicle (14). The tire-based unit (20) provides a signal (22) indicative of a sensed operating condition of the vehicle tire (12) to the controller (30). The controller (30) determines an abnormal condition of the vehicle tire (12) when the sensed operating condition reaches a predetermined level. The controller (30) limits the vehicle cruise speed to a predetermined maximum cruise speed when the vehicle tire (12) is in the abnormal condition.

Abstract: A system (10) includes a vehicle-based controller (30) for automatically controlling a throttle (32) of a vehicle (14) to maintain a desired cruise speed of the vehicle. The system also includes a tire-based unit (20) for monitoring an operating condition of a vehicle tire (12) of the vehicle (14). The tire-based unit (20) provides a signal (22) indicative of a sensed operating condition of the vehicle tire (12) to the controller (30). The controller (30) determines an abnormal condition of the vehicle tire (12) when the sensed operating condition reaches a predetermined level. The controller (30) limits the vehicle cruise speed to a predetermined maximum cruise speed when the vehicle tire (12) is in the abnormal condition.

Abstract: An emergency assistance system (10) that transmits vehicle and occupant information to an emergency station (26) in the event of a vehicle crash condition. The system (10) includes a vehicle crash sensing system (40) that senses the vehicle crash condition and transmits a crash signal through a first port (42) using Bluetooth™ technology. A cellular phone (12) having GPS (30) receives the crash signal through a second port (32) using Bluetooth™ technology, which in turn is coupled to a controller (16) within the cellular phone (12). In response to receipt of the crash signal, the controller (16) enables the cellular phone (12) to initialize a telephone call to the emergency station (26) and to transmit a signal to the emergency station (26) identifying the current location of the vehicle and the vehicle condition.

Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection system (10) for a vehicle (12) includes a plurality of occupant protection modules (20-26). Each protection module (e.g., 20) has actuatable components (e.g., 40) for protecting a vehicle occupant. A central control processing module (18) determines whether a vehicle crash condition is occurring and outputs a signal indicative of the crash determination. A sensor module (e.g., 28) senses a condition present at the vehicle and for outputs a signal indicative of the sensed condition. A communication bus (14) is connected to the central control module (18), the sensor module (28), and the plurality of protection modules (20-26), and conveys the crash determination signal and the sensed condition signal to the plurality of protection modules. Each of the plurality of protection modules (e.g., 20) includes an actuation control portion (e.g., 42) for controlling actuation of the actuatable components (e.g.

Abstract: A vehicle arrangement (10) includes a power seat system (14) and an occupant protection system (40). The power seat system (14) includes a seat (18) provided for an occupant (16) and movable relative to a vehicle chassis (20). A motor (24) moves the seat (18) and a sensor (28) senses location of the seat. A seat controller (26) controls the motor (24), and contains a memory (34) for retaining an occupant predefined seat location. A recall switch (e.g., 30) causes movement to the predefined seat location. The protection system (14) includes an actuatable protection device (42), wherein location of the occupant (16) relative to the device is related to seat location. An override portion (72) of a protection system controller (52) automatically positions the seat (18) out of a range of seat locations that places the occupant (16) out of an optimum protection zone.

Abstract: A system (10) conveys energy and communication between a master (16) and a plurality of slaves (18, 20), via a bus (14). A power/voltage transmitter (44) of the master (16) provides electrical energy, having a voltage, onto the bus (14) to power the slaves (18, 20). The power/voltage transmitter (44) adjusts voltage past a predetermined threshold to provide a message frame and modulating voltage during the message frame to convey messages to the slaves (18,20). Voltage receivers (58, 64), at each slave (18, 20), detect the voltage modulations to discern messages from the master (16) during the message frame. Current transmitters (56, 62), at each slave (18, 20), modulate current during the message frame to convey messages to the master (16). The current transmitters (18, 20) utilize the modulation of voltage of the electrical energy to clock modulation of current. A current receiver (48) of the master (16) detects current modulations to discern messages from the slaves (18, 20).

Abstract: An integrated occupant protection system (10) for a vehicle comprises a vehicle seat (12), which may be mounted in the vehicle. The seat (12) has a lower seat portion (14) and a seat back portion (16). An electrical communications bus (26) is mounted to the vehicle seat (12). A crash sensor (44) also is mounted to the vehicle seat (12) and electrically coupled to the communications bus (26). The crash sensor (44) senses a crash event and provides a signal indicative thereof to the communications bus (26). An actuatable occupant protection device (46, 48, 50 or 64) is mounted to the vehicle seat (12) and electrically coupled to the communications bus (26). When the protection device (46, 48, 50 or 64) is actuated, it helps to protect a vehicle occupant. The occupant protection device (46, 48, 50 or 64) is controlled over the communications bus (26) by a controller (47, 34).

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for controlling actuation of a first actuatable restraint (18) and a second actuatable restraint (20) includes a first crash accelerometer (22) for providing a discriminating crash acceleration signal when a crash event is sensed in a first direction and a safing crash acceleration signal when a crash event is sensed in a second direction. A second crash accelerometer (34) provides a safing crash acceleration signal when a crash event is sensed in the first direction and a discriminating crash acceleration signal when a crash event is sensed in the second direction. A third crash accelerometer (90) provides another safing crash signal when a crash event is sensed in either the first or second directions. The first actuatable restraint (18) is actuated when the first accelerometer (22) provides the discriminating crash acceleration signal and either the second or third accelerometers provide a safing crash signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for sensing a vehicle crash condition includes an accelerometer (20) for sensing a vehicle crash condition and for providing a signal having a characteristic indicative of the vehicle crash condition. A crash velocity determining circuit (74) determines a crash velocity value (78) from the accelerometer. Crash metric determining circuits (80, 82, 94, 96, 104, 108) determine crash metric values functionally related to acceleration. Threshold determining circuits (88, 98, 112) determining associated threshold values functionally related to the determined crash velocity value (78). Comparators (90, 100, 116) compare the determined crash metric values against associated threshold values. A controller (34) provides a control signal to control actuation of a restraining device in response to the comparison. A shape monitoring circuit (120) determines if the shape of the acceleration signal matches a predetermined shape. If the shape matches, the controller provides the control signal.

Abstract: A test circuit for an airbag restraint system is disclosed and provides an accurate determination of the operativeness of a storage capacitor and calculates the resistance of inertia switch resistors. The capacitor is tested by discharging and charging the capacitor. The values of the inertia switch resistors are determined by switching known resistive values in parallel with the inertia switch resistors. Based on the monitored voltage values during the switching, resistance values are calculated.

Abstract: The apparatus for driving and monitoring a lamp includes a main drive circuit, a backup drive circuit, a monitoring circuit, all connected to a controller. If the controller determines that the main drive circuit cannot energize the lamp, the backup circuit is enabled to energize the lamp. For purposes of energizing the lamp, the lamp is connectable to one of two electrical ground references. If one of the ground references becomes open circuited from the remainder of the circuitry, then the lamp is energized through the other ground reference.

Abstract: A test circuit for an airbag restraint system provides an accurate determination of the operativeness of a storage capacitor and calculates the resistance of inertia switch resistors. The test circuit provides for parallel testing of the storage capacitor and inertia resistors. The capacitor is tested by discharging and charging the capacitor. The values of the inertia switch resistors are determined by switching known resistive values in parallel with the inertia switch resistors. Based on the monitored voltage values during the switching, resistance values are calculated.

Abstract: An impedance measurement circuit and method is disclosed that uses a differential amplifier to amplify a DC voltage value developed across a device being measured. The device is biased between potentials of a source of electrical energy by first and second bias resistors. A switchable current source is connected to the device to, when actuated ON, connect the device to the source of electrical energy through first and second associated resistors. The ratio of the values of the first to second bias resistors is substantially equal to the ratio of the values of the first to second resistors associated with the switchable current source. A microcomputer calculates the resistance of the device by subtracting the value of the output signal from the differential amplifier when the switchable current source is OFF from the value when the switchable current source is ON.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for extending the Vout/Vin ratio of a commercially available DC-to-DC converter. The DC-to-DC converter is connected to a first DC voltage, Vin. An inductor is connected to the first DC voltage and to a rectifier which provides the output voltage Vout. A first switching circuit is connected to the junction of the inductor and rectifier and to electrical ground. An oscillator provides a control signal for controlling actuation of the first switching circuit. The output signal from the oscillator has a duty cycle. A timing capacitor is connected to the oscillator and controls the duty cycle of the control signal output to the first switching circuit. A second switching circuit is connected to the output of the inductor/rectifier junction and is connected across the capacitor to provide a second discharge path for the capacitor in response to the first switching device disconnecting the junction of the inductor and rectifier from electrical ground.