Abstract: A powered panel moving system includes a motor, electronic drive circuitry, mechanics, a coupler, and electronic anti-entrapment circuitry. The drive circuitry drives a rotor of the motor such that the rotor has a rotational output in response to being driven. The mechanics moves a panel upon being driven. The coupler couples the rotational output of the rotor to the mechanics in order drive the mechanics for the mechanics to move the panel. The anti-entrapment circuitry controls the drive circuitry to prevent the panel from entrapping an object. The drive circuitry drives the motor based on measurements indicative of at least one of motor current, motor speed, and panel position. The drive circuitry and the anti-entrapment circuitry are integrated with one another such that the anti-entrapment circuitry controls the drive circuitry based on the same measurements.

Abstract: A powered panel moving system includes a motor, electronic drive circuitry, a mechanism, a coupler, and electronic function circuitry. The drive circuitry drives a rotor of the motor. The coupler couples rotational output of the rotor to the mechanism to drive the mechanism in order to move the panel. The function circuitry is integrated with the drive circuitry for providing additional functionality beyond driving the motor for panel movement. The drive circuitry includes a current sensor for determining rotor position based on motor current, a back emf sensor for determining rotor position based on back emf of the motor, and an impedance sensor for determining rotor position based on motor impedance. The function circuitry may include an analyzer to determine presence of an obstruction to the motion of the panel based on at least one of the rotor position, the motor current, and the back emf of the motor.

Abstract: A misfire detection system is provided including an internal combustion engine having a combustion chamber and an exhaust system in fluid communication with the combustion chamber. An acoustic sensor is associated with either the combustion chamber or the exhaust system for sensing noise. The controller receives a signal from the acoustic sensor for determining whether the noise is indicative of misfire. One or more acoustic sensors may be fluidly and/or mechanically coupled to the engine or other portion of the powertrain system. The acoustic sensor generates a signal having a frequency that may be compared to engine temperatures, speeds, and loads to determine whether a misfire event has occurred in one of the cylinders. The signature of the frequency may be determined and compared with a known set of frequencies for desired engine operation to determine whether a misfire has occurred.

Abstract: An apparatus (34) and associated method are provided for vehicle occupant sensing. An EM energy driver component (36) and associated EM energy source (40) provide a modulated beam (44, e.g., IR light), and a movable reflection component (46) scans the beam onto an occupant location. A detector (92) detects beam reflection and a phase determination component (96) processes phase information that is provided to a controller (24). Within the controller (24) processing (114, 116, and 118) provides mapping of occupant contours and determination of an occupant characteristic.

Abstract: A particulate filter system is provided including an exhaust system transporting emissions from an engine. A filter such as a diesel particulate filter is disposed in the exhaust system. An acoustic sensor is associated with the exhaust system for detecting one or more frequencies passing through the filter. The frequency corresponds to a filter state indicative of a clean, full, loading, or failed filter. One or more acoustic sensors may fluidly or mechanically coupled to portions of the exhaust system to determine the frequency caused by the exhaust flow through the filter. The acoustic emissions from the filter may be used to compare to a known filter state to determine the present filter state. Alternatively, more sophisticated mathematical approaches may be used in which processed filter information is compared to a known filter state to determine the present filter state.

Abstract: An apparatus (30) and associated method determine a vehicle occupant characteristic. An imager (32) collects a first image of an occupant location while the occupant location is subject to a first lighting condition. A light source (38) provides light onto the occupant location. The imager (32) collects a second image of the occupant location while the occupant location is subject to the first lighting condition and the provided light. A subtractor device (50) generates a third image of the occupant location indicative of the difference between the first and second images. An image processing device (52) processes the third image to determine the vehicle occupant characteristic.

Abstract: A vehicle intrusion detection system (10) for detecting an intrusion condition of a vehicle (12) having an occupant compartment (14) partially defined by an outer structure (30) of the vehicle, comprises an actuatable illuminator (40) mounted in the vehicle and having a limited field of illumination (52) extending within the vehicle occupant compartment adjacent the vehicle outer structure. A linear imager (60) mounted in the vehicle (12) has a field of view (62) that substantially coincides with the field of illumination (52) of the illuminator (40). A controller (70) compares a first image taken by the imager (60) when the illuminator (40) is actuated and a second image taken by the imager when the illuminator is unactuated to help determine the existence of an intrusion condition of the vehicle.

Abstract: An arrangement (14) is used in a vehicle (10), and contains an occupant characteristic sensor (36), a filter (62) and a controller (24). The sensor (36) senses an occupant characteristic and outputs a signal indicative thereof. The filter (62) and the controller (24) operate to monitor the signal for a frequency component indicative of a vehicle crash event. In one example, the arrangement (14) is part of an occupant protection system (12) that includes an actuatable protection device (16). The controller (24) controlling actuation of the protection device (16) in response to the filtered frequency component.

Abstract: An occupant sensing system (12) and an associated method provide for the sensing of an occupant (14). An illuminating element (46) of the system (12)selectively illuminates the interior of a vehicle (8). An image sensor (50) acquires a first image of the interior of the vehicle (8) when the interior of the vehicle is illuminated by ambient sources only and acquires a second image of the interior of the vehicle when the interior of the vehicle is illuminated by ambient sources and the illuminating element (46). A controller (34) removes the effect of ambient sources by comparing the first and second images to produce a third image of the interior of the vehicle (8) as illuminated by the illuminating element (46) only. The controller (34) determines the presence of an occupant (14) by comparing the third image to a produced map of the interior of the vehicle (8).

Abstract: An apparatus (12) for determining the location of a vehicle occupant (20) in a vehicle interior includes a light source (40) for projecting at least one structured light beam (42) onto an area of interest (44) to form a light pattern on the area of interest. A beam divergence control device (50) alters the apparent location of the light source (40) with respect to the area of interest (44). An imager (60) detects the light reflected from the area of interest (44). A characteristic of the reflected light is measured, and the distance between the imager (60) and the area of interest (44) is measured, based on the measured characteristic of the reflected light.

Abstract: An apparatus (12) for determining the location of a vehicle occupant (20) in a vehicle interior includes a light source (40) for projecting at least one structured light beam (42) onto an area of interest (44) to form a light pattern on the area of interest. A beam divergence control device (50) alters the apparent location of the light source (40) with respect to the area of interest (44). An imager (60) detects the light reflected from the area of interest (44). A characteristic of the reflected light is measured, and the distance between the imager (60) and the area of interest (44) is measured, based on the measured characteristic of the reflected light.

Abstract: A particulate filter system is provided including an exhaust system transporting emissions from an engine. A filter such as a diesel particulate filter is disposed in the exhaust system. An acoustic sensor is associated with the exhaust system for detecting one or more frequencies passing through the filter. The frequency corresponds to a filter state indicative of a clean, full, loading, or failed filter. One or more acoustic sensors may fluidly or mechanically coupled to portions of the exhaust system to determine the frequency caused by the exhaust flow through the filter. The acoustic emissions from the filter may be used to compare to a known filter state to determine the present filter state. Alternatively, more sophisticated mathematical approaches may be used in which processed filter information is compared to a known filter state to determine the present filter state.

Abstract: A misfire detection system is provided including an internal combustion engine having a combustion chamber and an exhaust system in fluid communication with the combustion chamber. An acoustic sensor is associated with either the combustion chamber or the exhaust system for sensing noise. The controller receives a signal from the acoustic sensor for determining whether the noise is indicative of misfire. One or more acoustic sensors may be fluidly and/or mechanically coupled to the engine or other portion of the powertrain system. The acoustic sensor generates a signal having a frequency that may be compared to engine temperatures, speeds, and loads to determine whether a misfire event has occurred in one of the cylinders. The signature of the frequency may be determined and compared with a known set of frequencies for desired engine operation to determine whether a misfire has occurred.

Abstract: An intrusion detection system that differentiates between a vehicle intrusion event and a non-intrusion event includes transmitter (16) for transmitting a continuous wave signal that is reflected of surfaces within the vehicle's interior and/or a moving object (i.e., an intruder). The associated reflected signals subsequently return to a receiver (18). An ECU (26) demodulates the return signal into frequency and amplitude components. The ECU (26) further determines a waveform envelope of the demodulated return signals and monitors the envelope waveform during time windows to determine whether their corresponding envelope waveform is indicative of an intrusion event or an non-intrusion event. When an intrusion event is detected, the ECU (26) outputs a control signal to actuate an alarm (34).

Abstract: A vehicle intrusion detection system (10) for detecting an intrusion condition of a vehicle (12) having an occupant compartment (14) partially defined by an outer structure (30) of the vehicle, comprises an actuatable illuminator (40) mounted in the vehicle and having a limited field of illumination (52) extending within the vehicle occupant compartment adjacent the vehicle outer structure. A linear imager (60) mounted in the vehicle (12) has a field of view (62) that substantially coincides with the field of illumination (52) of the illuminator (40). A controller (70) compares a first image taken by the imager (60) when the illuminator (40) is actuated and a second image taken by the imager when the illuminator is unactuated to help determine the existence of an intrusion condition of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle occupant sensor apparatus (34) has an imager (36) that gathers an image of an occupant (12). The image has focus attributes. A focal plane associated with the imager (36) is at a distance from the imager. A 2D high-pass filter (42), a multiple frame temporal filter (46), and a position determination component (52) operate to determine position of the occupant (12) relative to the focal plane (38) via use of the focus attributes.

Abstract: An apparatus (20) determines a vehicle occupant location characteristic. The apparatus (20) includes at least one sensor (e.g., 46) for echo ranging at first and second ultrasonic frequencies. A timer function portion (84) of a microcomputer (66) determines a time-of-flight for each frequency signal. The microcomputer (66) determines the occupant location characteristic using at least one of the determined times-of-flight.

Abstract: An apparatus (42) determines distance to an object (12), and preferably the object is a vehicle occupant. A sensor (40) of the apparatus (42) senses distance to the occupant (12) at a sensor rate. A rate determination function portion (74) of a controller (30) varies the sensor rate as a function of the sensed distance. Preferably, the sensor (40) emits signals (46) at the sensor rate toward the occupant (12) and receives reflected signals from the occupant. A time between emission of a signal and reception of an associated reflected signal is used to determine a distance to the occupant (12) at a distance determination function portion (54) of the controller (30). Change in the rate of signal emission is in response to each change in determined distance and is continuous with the change in determined distance. Preferably, the apparatus is part of an occupant protection system (10) for a vehicle (16).

Abstract: A system (10) has a portion (e.g., 30, 42 and 44) for sensing the presence of a person in a vehicle interior compartment (e.g., 20). The system (10) also has a portion (e.g., 34 and 50) for determining if the temperature in the vehicle interior compartment (20) is potentially dangerous to the person. The system (10) further has a portion (e.g., 60, and 66, 68, 70, or 72) responsive to the determination of potentially dangerous temperature for providing aid to the person in the vehicle interior compartment (20). An associated method includes sensing the presence of a person in a vehicle interior compartment, determining if a temperature condition exists in the vehicle interior compartment that is potentially dangerous to the person, and providing aid to the person in the vehicle interior compartment in response to the determination.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) and method for detecting an intrusion into a predetermined area. The apparatus (10) includes a transmitter (28) and a receiver (30). The receiver (30) generates an output signal indicative of reflected return signals received. The apparatus (10) also includes a controller (38). The controller (38) receives the output signal from the receiver (30) and determines a peak value of the output signal during a first time window. The first time window continues no longer than a first maximum duration when the peak value of the output signal during the first maximum duration is at least a predetermined value. The first time window continues no longer than a second maximum duration when the peak value of the output signal during the first maximum duration is less than the predetermined value.