Abstract: A vehicle rollover sensor (10) includes a rotor (12) having a central rotor axis (14) and which is mountable within a vehicle (18). The rotor (12) is inertially balanced and freely rotatable about the rotor axis (14). The sensor (10) also includes a detector (32) for detecting rotation of the rotor (12) relative to the rotor axis (14). The detector (32) is operative to provide a detector signal (43) indicative of the detected relative rotation. The detector signal (43) is used to determine the occurrence of a vehicle rollover condition.

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 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: An arrangement (10), for a vehicle (12) that has an actuatable occupant protection device (14), includes a vehicle seat (16) for a vehicle occupant (22). The arrangement (10) includes sensors (42 and 44) located within the seat (16) for sensing a characteristic that is indicative of a condition for which the protection device (14) is to be actuated. A controller (32) of the arrangement (10) is located within the seat (16) and processes sensory information from the sensors (42 and 44) to determine the occurrence of the condition for which the protection device (14) is to be actuated. A signal (36) indicative of the determination is output from the controller (32).

Abstract: An apparatus (100) for sensing angular rotation includes a rotor (102) that is rotatable about an axis (104). The rotor (102) has an outer periphery (e.g., cylindrical outer sidewall 106) with a plurality of reflective facets (e.g., 108A-108J). Each juncture between each adjacent pair of the facets (e.g., 108A and 108B) defines a vertex (e.g., 125A). A light source (118) emits a light beam (120) onto the rotor (102). The light beam (120) is reflected by the facets (e.g., 108B) and occasionally bifurcated by the vertices (e.g., 125A). A light detector (126) detects light from the reflected light (124). The light detector (126) provides a detector signal (116) indicative of the angular rotation of the rotor (102). Compensation circuitry (134, 138) compensates for bifurcation of the reflected light (124) and provides a compensated output signal (140) indicative of angular rotation of the rotor (102).

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 (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: An apparatus (20) determines a target (e.g., a vehicle occupant 22) beyond a predetermined distance. In an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus (20) determines a distant target for use in control of air bag deployment. The apparatus (20) includes a sensor (44) for emitting and receiving first (52, 56) and second (54, 58) signals in an interspersed predetermined emission sequence toward the target. A controller (60) successively determines a time interval between the emission of a current signal and the reception of an echo. The controller (60) successively compares at least two time intervals to determine whether a sufficient difference exists to indicate that the target is beyond the predetermined distance and outputs a signal to the air bag actuation system (62).

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: A vehicle has a seat (12) for a vehicle occupant (14) and a vehicle floor pan (16) for supporting the vehicle seat (12). An apparatus (40) includes a vehicle seat frame (42) for supporting a weight load of the vehicle occupant (14) in the vehicle seat (12), a support mount (60) connected to the vehicle floor pan (16), a lever (70), and a sensor (80). A support mount (60) transmits the weight load of the vehicle occupant (14) in the vehicle seat (12) from the vehicle seat frame (42) to the vehicle floor pan (16). The vehicle seat frame (42) moves vertically relative to the support mount (60) as the weight load on the vehicle seat frame (42) changes. The lever (70) has a first end (72) and a second end (74) opposite the first end (72). The lever (70) is rotatably attached to the vehicle seat frame (42) and rotatably attached to the support mount (60).

Abstract: A vehicle crash determination arrangement (20) includes a plurality of weight sensors (52,54). The sensors (52,54) are disposed beneath a vehicle seat (16), and each sensor senses a weight value from the seat and an occupant (14) located on the seat. A center of gravity determination portion (62) of a controller (34) determines center of gravity of the seat (16) and the occupant (14) using the sensed weight values. A C.O.G. crash determination portion (64) of the controller (34) determines occurrence of a vehicle crash using change in the determined center of gravity and outputs a signal (66) indicative of the determination of crash occurrence. Preferably, the arrangement (20) is part of an occupant protection system (10) for the occupant (14). The system (10) includes an actuatable occupant protection device (24). An actuation control portion (46) of the controller (34) controls actuation of the device (24).

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 system (10) protects a vehicle occupant. The system (10) includes an occupant protection device (24). A weight sensor (72) senses a weight value associated with an occupant (14). A portion (80) of a controller (34) determines a weight-based center characteristic (e.g., a center of gravity) associated with the occupant (14) using the sensed weight value. A distance sensor (e.g., 50) senses a distance to a surface associated with the occupant (14). A portion (46) of the controller (34) controls the protection device (24) utilizing the determined center characteristic and the sensed distance. The portion (46) of the controller (46) determines whether the sensed distance is to a surface of a head/thorax/torso of the occupant (14) utilizing the determined center characteristic.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for controlling actuation of at least one actuatable protection device (18, 20, 22, 24) includes a controller (26) having a first sensor input effective to receive a first sensor signal (64, 66, 70) having a value indicative of a first condition of an occupant of the vehicle seat (14, 16). The apparatus (10) also includes a second sensor input effective to receive a second sensor signal (82, 84, 86, 88, 94) having a value indicative of a second condition of the occupant of the vehicle seat (14, 16). The controller (26) is operative to determine a default value for the value of the first sensor signal (64, 66, 70) upon determining that the value of the first sensor signal is either outside an expected range of values or is absent. The controller (26) is operative to provide a control signal (136, 174, 176) to control actuation of at least one actuatable protection device (18, 20, 22, 24).

Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor system (36) has a transducer (40) that emits an ultrasonic signal (54), in response to an electrical excitation signal (52) from driver/receiver circuitry (42), and outputs an electrical response signal (58), in response to receipt of a reflected ultrasonic signal (56) from an object, such as a vehicle occupant (14). The response signal (58) is an oscillating signal that has a voltage amplitude indicative of the strength of the reflected ultrasonic signal (56). A receiver circuit (68) of driver/receiver circuitry (42) processes the response signal (58) from said transducer (40) and outputs an analog, non-oscillating signal (60). The analog signal (60) has a voltage amplitude indicative of the voltage of the electrical response signal (58). A comparator (84) of a comparator preprocessor (44) compares the voltage of the analog signal (60) to a predetermined reference voltage (VREF1) and outputs a digital signal (38).

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: A sensor arrangement (40 and 50) and an associated method are provided for sensing at least one occupant characteristic of a vehicle occupant (14). At least one transmitter (e.g., 42A) transmits an energy signal (e.g., 44A) toward an occupant location within a vehicle (12). At least one detector (e.g., 60A) detects whether absorption of the energy signal (42A) by the occupant (14) occurs and provides a signal (e.g., 74A) indicative thereof. An occupant sense module (50) processes the signal (74A) to determine at least one occupant characteristic. Preferably, the sensor arrangement (40 and 50) is part of an occupant protection system (10).

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.

Abstract: A controller for energizing a power-operable element, such as a sunroof, window, door, vehicle seat, a component of a major appliance or of a machine or of a conveyor system. The disclosed controller senses both hard and soft obstructions and de-activates or otherwise alters operation of a motor that drives the element when an obstruction is detected. The controller can also be used to actuate a brake. The controller senses obstructions during start-up of the motor and regulates the speed of the power-operable element by pulse width modulating motor energization signals.

Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor system (40) has a transducer (44) that emits an ultrasonic signal (52), in response to an electrical excitation signal (50) from driver/receiver circuitry (46), and outputs an electrical response signal (56), in response to receipt of a reflected ultrasonic signal (54) from an occupant (54). The transducer (44) rings-down upon termination of the excitation signal (50). The transducer (44) has a natural resonant frequency that is subject to change. In an occupant sense mode, a receiver portion (68) of the driver/receiver circuitry (46) and a controller (30) process the response signal (56), resulting from transducer excitation at a predetermined frequency, to determining distance between the transducer (44) and the occupant (14).