Abstract: A tire condition sensor module (14) for a vehicle (10) includes a tire condition sensor (78, 84, 88) operative to sense a condition of an associated vehicle tire (20) and provide a tire condition signal having a characteristic indicative thereof. A motion detector (32) is operative to detect movement of the associated vehicle tire (20) and provide a motion signal that indicates movement of the associated vehicle tire (20). The sensor module (14) also includes a transmitter (44) which is operative to transmit a tire transmitter signal having a characteristic based on the tire condition signal. A controller (74) has one operating mode responsive to the motion signal in which the controller (74) controls the transmitter (44) to intermittently transmit the tire transmitter signal.

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 arrangement for provision of vehicle tire sensory information while a tire (12) is mounted on a wheel rim (10) of a vehicle. A sensor unit (16) includes a tire condition sensor (e.g., electronics 38), a signal transmitter (36), and a housing (20) that contains the sensor and the transmitter. The housing (20) has a mounting hole. A stud (18) is welded to the rim (10) and extends into the space bounded between the tire (12) and the rim (10). The stud extends through the mounting hole of the sensor housing (20). A retainer (e.g., 26) extends between the sensor housing (20) and the stud (18) such that the sensor housing is held fixed relative to the stud.

Abstract: A tire condition sensing apparatus (14) includes a tire condition sensor (78, 84, 88) for sensing a tire condition and providing a sensor signal indicative thereof. A transmitter (44) transmits a data message having a plurality of data locations for accommodating data. A controller (72) is electrically connected with the tire condition sensor (78, 84, 88) and the transmitter (44). The controller (72) controls the transmitter (44) to transmit tire condition data in selected data locations of the data message based on a parameter associated with the apparatus (14), such as an identification code of the apparatus (14).

Abstract: An apparatus (32) is preferably part of an occupant protection system (10), and the apparatus determines a characteristic of an object (70) that may be located on a seat (14) of a vehicle (12) for use in control of the system. The object (70) may be a vehicle occupant, and the preferred characteristic that is determined is distance between the object and an instrument panel (22) of the vehicle (12). An emitter array (36) and a detector array (50) are located on the instrument panel (22). Each emitter (40) emits a beam (42) along a different path on which the object (70) may be located. Each detector (52) receives beams (42) emitted from the emitter array (36) that are reflected from the object (70). Each reflected beam received at the detector array (50) is indicative of distance between the instrument panel (22) and the object (70).

Abstract: A tire condition sensor module (14) includes a tire condition sensor (78, 84, 88) operative to sense a tire condition of an associated tire (20) and provide a signal indicative thereof. A motion detector (32) is operative to detect movement of the tire and provide a motion signal indicative thereof. A transmitter (44) transmits a tire transmitter signal indicative of the tire condition signal. A controller (72) is connected with the motion detector (32), the transmitter (44), and the tire condition sensor (78, 84, 88). The controller (72) controls the tire condition sensor (78, 84, 88) to sense the tire condition at a first sensing rate during an initial time period in which the motion signal indicates less than a predetermined amount tire movement. The controller (72) controls the transmitter (44) during the initial time period to transmit the tire transmitter signal depending on the sensed tire condition.

Abstract: A pair of electrical terminals (72, 94) engage one or more cylindrical batteries (20, 22), each of which has a pair of circular opposite end surfaces (28, 30) defined by a pair of electrodes (26, 24), with one (28) of the end surfaces (28, 30) having a first radius (R1) and the other (30) having a second, greater radius (R2). The terminals (72, 94) define a pair of electrical contact surfaces (78, 96). The contact surfaces (78, 96) are spaced from each other along an axis (51) and face axially toward each other. A retaining structure (40) retains at least one battery (20) in an installed position centered on the axis (51) with the end surfaces (28, 30) engaged axially between the contact surfaces (78, 94). One (94) of the contact surfaces (78, 94) is spaced radially from the axis (51) a distance (D1) greater than the first radius (R1).