Abstract: An optical fiber sensor can be interposed between a bumper reinforcement and a load transmitting plate to extend in the direction of width of a vehicle along with the bumper reinforcement. In this case, when a change does not occur substantially in an immediately previous predetermined period in an output voltage of a light emission amount of the optical fiber sensor, a feedback control is performed in such a way that the change becomes a level of zero of the output voltage of the optical fiber sensor. In contrast, when a change in the output voltage is not substantially zero, the immediately previous state of emission of light is maintained. Accordingly, it is possible to effectively compensate a zero point shift caused by a temperature change or/and an aging degradation of the optical fiber sensor.

Abstract: An optical fiber sensor in which the insertion efficiency of a plastic fiber is improved, the potential danger of rupture of a mold member is decreased, the operation of the sensor in a low load area and the linearity of output of the sensor are improved. Plastic fiber for detection is inserted in insertion hole of molded member, and filler is filled in a gap between the plastic fiber for detection and the molded member.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an optical fiber impulse sensor having an optical fiber and a molded portion molded around the perimeter of the optical fiber. The method forms, in the molded portion, an optical fiber insertion hole and an optical fiber insertion slit for inserting the optical fiber into the optical fiber insertion hole. The method inserts the optical fiber from the slit into the optical fiber insertion hole.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an optical fiber impulse sensor having an optical fiber and a molded portion molded around the perimeter of the optical fiber. The method forms, in the molded portion, an optical fiber insertion hole and an optical fiber insertion slit for inserting the optical fiber into the optical fiber insertion hole. The method inserts the optical fiber from the slit into the optical fiber insertion hole.

Abstract: A collision detection sensor for detecting a collision of a vehicle and a collision object by converting the collision into a change in optical transmission characteristics of an optical fiber. The collision detection sensor has the optical fiber, a molding material formed on the periphery of the optical fiber, and a convex portion formed on the surface of the molding material.

Abstract: An optical fiber sensor in which the insertion efficiency of a plastic fiber is improved, the potential danger of rupture of a mold member is decreased, the operation of the sensor in a low load area and the linearity of output of the sensor are improved. Plastic fiber for detection is inserted in insertion hole of molded member, and filler is filled in a gap between the plastic fiber for detection and the molded member.

Abstract: Upon detecting a collision with a pedestrian, a rear side of a vehicle hood which is hinged at its front side is quickly lifted in order to alleviate a secondary impact on the pedestrian who is first hit by a front bumper. To detect the collision with a pedestrian without fail, a plurality of load sensors are mounted on the bumper, and the detection of the collision is made based on an output signal from each one of the load sensors. Thus, the collision with a pedestrian can be accurately distinguished from a collision with obstacles other than a pedestrian.

Abstract: An air bag is folded in such a manner that a first fold-portion of the air bag is folded along a first fold-line approximately parallel to an expanding direction, and then, a second fold-portion thereof is folded along a second fold-line approximately perpendicular to the expanding direction. Accordingly, when the air bag expands, the second fold-portion is stretched out prior to the first fold-portion. As a result, the air bag can expand promptly to securely protect a passenger.

Abstract: An inflater and a control unit are integrally formed so that connector cables for electrically connecting the inflater and the control unit can be shortened to the minimum required length. In some cases, the inflater and the control unit are directly connected by soldering their terminals, and a space for disposing the connector cables is not provided in a steering wheel. Thus, the cone depth can be made as small as possible.

Abstract: An airbag safety module for automotive vehicles is provided. This module includes a box-like cover and a housing. The cover incorporates therein an airbag, an inflator, and an airbag control unit and has a plurality of openings formed in its side wall. The housing includes a base wall on which the airbag and the inflator are mounted and a side wall having thereon a plurality of protrusions engageble with the openings of the cover, respectively to complete the airbag safety module. Each of the protrusions is shaped to allow the housing to be inserted into the cover in an assembling direction of completing the airbag safety module to engage one of the openings of the cover while restricting the cover from being disengaged from the housing in a disassembling direction opposite to the assembling direction.

Abstract: First and second aligning portions each having a plurality of parallel downwardly sloped grooves, are inclinedly arranged to communicate with a chip box containing a plurality of chip parts at random. The chip box and the first aligning portion are supplied with vibration, to serially align the chip parts in the grooves of the first aligning portion. The chip parts are then received in the grooves of the second aligning portion. The first of the chip parts thus received in the second aligning portion are received in a plurality of receiving cavities provided in a separable portion respectively, so that the chip parts received in the receiving cavities are simultaneously discharged by a suction chuck.

Abstract: A work to be exposed to light beams in an exposing section is fitted to an alignment table in an automatic aligning apparatus under the effect of suction caused by a suction unit. Then, cameras for optically recognizing alignment marks in the form of images are displaced to positions where the alignment marks can optically be read through wide transparent windows on an alignment table so that positions representative of displacement of the cameras are taken into position representative of the alignment marks on the work within image receiving regions recognizable by the respective cameras. The alignment table is then displaced in such a manner that the positions assumed by the alignment marks on the work are located in correspondence to preset positions in the exposing section. The apparatus is preferably used for automatically aligning a copper-plated laminar plate to be exposed with a mask film when wiring patterns on a printed wiring board are to be exposed.