Abstract: A foldable brake pedal apparatus of an autonomous vehicle, may include a pedal housing to be mounted in a space below a driver's seat; a pedal pad pivotably coupled to the pedal housing via a hinge pin, in a response to movement of s driver's foot, and configured to be selectively switchable to a hidden state in which the pedal pad is inserted into the pedal housing or a popped-up state in which the pedal pad protrudes from the pedal housing; an actuator fixed in the pedal housing, coupled to the pedal pad and configured to generate power to pivot the pedal pad to allow the pedal pad to be in the hidden state or in the popped-up state; and a high load spring module pivotably coupled to the pedal housing, having one end portion thereof and the other end portion connected to the pedal pad and the actuator, and configured to transmit the power of the actuator to the pedal pad.

Abstract: A sensor is located within a vehicle that is able to determine pressure and location of an occupant or object. The sensor is able to take measurements during static conditions and situations where an object or occupant is moving due to the movement of, for example, a vehicle. The measurements taken during movement and during the static conditions and are used in order to enhance and refine the results of measurements that would be obtained if the measurements were taken alone.

Abstract: A hinge assembly for securing a flap to a vehicle body includes a first hinge part which can be moved between a closed position and an open position for securing to a vehicle body, a second hinge part which can be moved between a closed position and an open position for securing the flap to be mounted relative to the vehicle body, and a deployment securing device for locking the second hinge part relative to the first hinge part. The deployment securing device has a first securing part which is paired with the first hinge part, a second securing part which is paired with the second hinge part, and a locking element and is configured such that the locking element is coupled to the first securing part in the closed position and is locked by the second securing part in a first locking position. The second securing part unlocks the locking element in the course of the movement of the second securing part from the closed position into the open position and thereby releases the locking element.

Abstract: A pyrotechnic activated body panel lift actuator assembly for a vehicle having a unique deployment profile and energy absorbing feature is disclosed. The assembly has a pyrotechnic actuator, a thin-walled tube and a piston. The tapered portion of the piston forms a recess between the piston and the tube. One or more balls sized to fit in the recess are provided. Upon activation, the piston is thrust proximally outwardly to lift a portion of a body panel to absorb an impact of a person hit by the vehicle and thereafter the piston retracts under controlled substantially constant force generated by balls moving up the tapered portion of the shaft thereby locally plastically deforming the thin-walled tube.

Abstract: An assembly for an electrified vehicle having a housing containing a transmission, and a vehicle component positioned in a longitudinal direction between the housing and a passenger compartment, includes a deflector configured for mounting to the housing and having a deflection face configured to deflect the vehicle component and/or the housing away from the passenger compartment during a frontal collision.

Abstract: An assembly includes a seatback. The assembly includes a first airbag and a second airbag, each inflatable to an inflated position spaced from each other at the seatback and abutting each other in front of and spaced from the seatback. The assembly includes a sheet extending from the first airbag to the second airbag in front of where the first airbag abuts the second airbag in the inflated positions.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack configured to supply power to an electric motor for driving a vehicle as well as generating power by an electrochemical reaction between a fuel gas and an oxidant gas, a discharge circuit and the discharge control circuit. The discharge circuit may form a plurality of discharge paths through which power generated in the fuel cell stack is discharged switching elements switching the connection relationships between resistance elements. The discharge control circuit form a second discharge path whose resistance value is smaller than the resistance value of the first discharge path and to switch the discharge through a first discharge path to discharge through the second discharge path when the detected voltage that is detected by the voltage detection unit is lower than a predetermined threshold voltage during the discharge through the first discharge path.

Abstract: A front wheel hub assembly disconnection arrangement configured to promote disconnection and outwards movement of a front wheel hub assembly from a vehicle body structure during a small partial overlap collision, including: a steering knuckle breaker and the front wheel hub assembly including a wheel hub and a steering knuckle for connection to a tie rod of a steering mechanism, the steering knuckle arranged on a rearward facing portion of the wheel hub, wherein the steering knuckle breaker is arranged on an A-pillar of the vehicle body structure and includes an impact surface facing the steering knuckle when the wheel hub is in a neutral position, such that in the event of a small overlap collision, the steering knuckle is displaced towards and collides with the steering knuckle breaker, such that the steering knuckle breaker breaks the steering knuckle and disconnects the steering knuckle from the wheel hub.

Abstract: An electric power system of the vehicle includes: first power lines which are connected to a high-voltage battery; second power lines, which are connected to a direct-current input-output side of a first inverter; a second smoothing condenser, which is arranged on the second power lines; a low-voltage DCDC converter, which is connected in parallel with the high-voltage DCDC converter to the first power lines; and a drive circuit, which drives a switching element of the low-voltage DCDC converter; the second power lines and the drive circuit are connected by a third power line, and on the third power line, a voltage-reducing device, which reduces a voltage of electric power from the second smoothing condenser and supplies the electric power to the drive circuit to consume the electric power by the drive circuit.

Abstract: In a structure for mounting a radar, a cross linking member vertically connects two width-across members aligned in a front-to-rear direction of a vehicle. A fixing member is fixed to the cross linking member. The fixing member includes a fixing part fixed to the cross linking member, a supporting part that supports a radar device, a deformable part. The deformable part has a shape connecting the fixing part and the supporting part and bends and deforms to absorb shock when an external force is input into the radar device.

Abstract: A vehicle terminal device is provided. The vehicle terminal device includes a first communicator configured to communicate with an apparatus included in the vehicle using a first wireless communication, a second communicator configured to communicate with an apparatus outside the vehicle using a second wireless communication, a detector configured to detect state information of the vehicle, and a controller configured to control the second communicator to broadcast an accident alert message for alerting of an accident involving the vehicle to at least one of an apparatus included in an adjacent vehicle or a traffic management device in response to a determination of the accident based on the state information of the vehicle detected through the detector, and control the second communicator to transmit at least one of information received from the apparatus included in the vehicle through the first communicator or the state information of the vehicle detected through the detector, to an external server.

Abstract: A protection device (1) has a sensor (3) to sense an impact of a road user outside a motor vehicle. A control device (4) is connected to the sensor (3) and evaluates signals sensed by the sensor (3). A rear actuator (6) is connected to the control device (4) and to a hinge arrangement (21) of a front hood (2) of the vehicle. The rear actuator (6) transfers a rear part of the front hood (2) into an impact position for damping an impact sensed by the sensor (3). A front actuator (7) is connected to the control device (4) and to a hood lock (20) in a front region of the front hood (2). The front actuator (7) transfers a front region of the front hood (2) into an impact position for damping the impact. The control device (4) activates the two actuators (6, 7) in a time-delayed manner.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a hinge arrangement of a vehicle, the hinge arrangement being transitable between a normal state and a deployed state. The hinge arrangement comprises a body portion, a bracket portion, a hinge portion and a deployment guiding element. The hinge portion comprises a first member and a second member, the deployment guiding element pivotally connecting the bracket portion and the first member of the hinge portion. The bracket portion is arranged to be in a fixed position relative to the first member during movement in a hinged connection. The bracket portion is arranged to be translationally displaced as a whole in relation to the first member of the hinge portion during the transition of the hinge arrangement between the normal state and the deployed state, the deployment guiding element being adapted to guide the transition and the hinged connection being inactive during the transition.

Abstract: A pedestrian protecting device that includes a right air bag device, a left air bag device, G sensors, and an ECU. The air bags include respective tip end portions which vertically overlap each other at a middle portion of a vehicle when the air bags are deployed. The ECU executes a time difference deployment control operation of: when a pedestrian collision position is located at a left side of the middle portion of the vehicle, operating the air bag devices such that a deployment of the right air bag is completed before a deployment of the left air bag is completed; and when the collision position is located at a right side of the middle portion of the vehicle, operating the air bag devices such that the deployment of the left air bag is completed before the deployment of the right air bag is completed.

Abstract: A pedal apparatus for a vehicle includes a pedal member to which a pedal arm is rotatably coupled, a cowl bracket fixedly coupled to the pedal member, and a collision rotation bracket coupled to the cowl bracket. The collision rotation bracket is configured to be rotated with respect to the cowl bracket when the collision rotation bracket comes into contact with a vehicle body fixture in accordance with rearward movement of the pedal member caused upon occurrence of a collision accident. The pedal arm is configured to be forcibly pushed in a forward direction by the collision rotation bracket during rotation of the collision rotation bracket, thereby causing the pedal arm to be forcibly rotated in the forward direction.

Abstract: An apparatus detects a vehicle/pedestrian impact event by sensing impact events near a forward location of a vehicle using both acceleration sensors and pressure sensors and providing associated signals indicative thereof, determining metric values for each of the sensor signals, and determining if a vehicle/pedestrian impact has occurred in response to the determined metric values.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle includes a body having a passenger compartment and at least one pedal box for controlling vehicle acceleration or braking. The pedal box is movably coupled to an interior structural point disposed within the passenger compartment and movable between first and second positions with respect to the structural point. At least one pedal, actuatable by an occupant, is coupled to the pedal box. The vehicle additionally includes an actuator operably coupled to the pedal box and configured to selectively move the pedal box between the first position and the second position. The vehicle further includes at least one controller. The controller is configured to, in response to satisfaction of a first operating condition, control the actuator to move the pedal box to the first position, and, in response to satisfaction of a second operating condition, control the actuator to move the pedal box to the second position.

Abstract: An external airbag includes: a lower edge bag that is deployed to extend along a lower edge of a windshield of an automobile, on a front side of the windshield; lateral edge bags in a pair that are deployed to extend along both lateral edges of the windshield, on the front side of the windshield; and an upper edge bag that is deployed to extend along an upper edge of the windshield, on the front side of the windshield.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a door opening shaped to receive a removable door, a flexible panel deployable to a position extending across the door opening, and a controller programmed to deploy the flexible panel in response to an impact based on an absence of the removable door from the door opening. The vehicle may include a track elongated along the door opening, and the flexible panel may be deployable along the track.

Abstract: An airbag device for pedestrian protection to mount on a vicinity of the rear end of a vehicle hood. The airbag includes a transverse inflatable portion that covers a cowl of the vehicle generally entirely in the vehicle width direction when deployed, and an inlet port in a front end region of the transverse inflatable portion to couple with an inflator. The airbag is stored folded-up in a housing. The airbag is folded up through a front-rear contracting step that provides a front-rear contracted bag, i.e. the airbag which has gone through the front-rear contracting step, and a transversely contracting step which folds the front-rear contracted bag with a crease at a vicinity of an outer end in a left and right direction of the inlet port. A transversely-contracted fold portion formed in the transversely contracting step and the inlet port are arranged in a stratified fashion.

Abstract: Occupant safety systems suitable for use in both traditional and opposed seating systems include various combinations of passive safety components: sensors that provide an output signal indicative of an imminent collision, inflatable restraints that deploy from opposing interior surfaces of a passenger compartment of a vehicle based on the output signal, and inflators disposed within door cavities that selectively inflate an airbag or vent the inflator to an exterior of a vehicle based on the output signal.

Abstract: A system is described, as well as methods of using the system. The method includes: determining an error within the vehicle driveline system; following the error, determining that a state of a power take-off unit (PTU) within the system is determinable; and then transferring a normal torque from the PTU to a secondary drive unit (SDU) during the error.

Abstract: An impact absorbing system includes a vehicle floor, a rocker, and a reinforcement member. The rocker is disposed below the vehicle floor. The reinforcement member is supported on the rocker. The reinforcement member is deployable from an undeployed position beneath the vehicle floor to a deployed position above the vehicle floor.

Abstract: Monitoring an object includes initially detecting motion of the object using at least one of a plurality of sensors disposed at different locations throughout a property, estimating a risk level associated with the object, continuously monitoring the object in response to the object being greater than a pre-determined size and the risk level exceeding a first predetermined threshold in a first predetermined amount of time, and alerting a user in response to the object being continuously monitored and the risk level increasing to a second predetermined threshold within a second predetermined amount of time. Monitoring an object may also include halting monitoring of the object in response to the object leaving the property and/or the risk level being less than the first predetermined threshold for longer than the first predetermined amount of time. At least one of the sensor units may have a column portion that includes a vibration sensor.

Abstract: The disclosure provides for a system. The system may include a rotational control system configured to rotate a seat of a vehicle, and one or more computing devices. The one or more computing devices may have one or more processors that are configured to determine that an impact is imminent at a location on the vehicle along a collision axis. A most favorable orientation may be determined by the one or more processors based on the determined location and collision axis. Using the rotational control system, the one or more processors may rotate the seat of the vehicle to the most favorable orientation in order to reduce risks of serious injury to a passenger in the seat caused by the imminent impact. A translational control system may be used by the one or more processors to translate the seat of the vehicle to a position relative to the determined location.

Abstract: A collapsible fluid reservoir capable of being displaced from its operational position during normal vehicle use to a position that is pushed out of the Pedestrian Protection Zone in an impact event is provided. The reservoir is attached to the body structure by a hinge assembly and a breakaway connector. The hinge assembly may be one of various structures that allow the reservoir to pivot away from the operational position in an impact event without allowing the reservoir to become completely detached from the body structure. The reservoir may include upper and lower portions or may be of one piece construction. Support arms are attached to the reservoir. The arms may be integrally formed with the portion. The hinge assembly may be one of a living hinge, a C-clip assembly and a ball-and-socket assembly. The breakaway connector may be a pin or a flange having a relatively thin breakaway area.

Abstract: A lower vehicle body structure includes: a floor of the vehicle; a battery pack mounted underneath the floor; and a cross member that extends in a vehicle right-left direction across the battery pack over the battery pack, and is provided on the floor. The cross member includes inclined portions including a first inclined portion provided in a right half of the cross member in the vehicle right-left direction and a second inclined portion provided in a left half of the cross member in the vehicle right-left direction. The inclined portions become higher towards a center in the vehicle right-left direction.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a sensor carrier as a mechanical connection of a sensor to a component of a motor vehicle. The sensor carrier has a sensor section to fix the sensor to the sensor carrier, at least one component section to fix the sensor carrier to the component, and at least one intermediate section that connects the sensor section to the at least one component section. The sensor carrier is composed, at least in the intermediate section, of an inherently rigid cellular material, the cavities of cellular material are arranged regularly, at least in some sections, specifically in such a way that, starting from a defined minimum force, the material of the sensor carrier in the intermediate section is intrinsically more deformable in at least one direction than in other directions.

Abstract: One general aspect includes a method to display information after a pedestrian crash incident, the method including: receiving, at a controller, an indication of a pedestrian crash incident; in response to the pedestrian crash incident indication, via the controller, deploying a pedestrian protection apparatus to raise a portion of a hood of a vehicle; in response to the pedestrian crash incident indication, via the controller, activating one or more sensors to capture one or more images of at least a portion of a vehicle environment; adapting the captured image, via the controller, to be exhibited on a display; and exhibiting the captured images, via the controller, on the display.

Abstract: An occupant protection device including: a side support section; a lumbar support section that is provided to the width direction intermediate portion of the seatback, and that has a support face displaceable between an advanced position pressing the lumbar region and a retreated position further to a seatback rear side than the advanced position; a displacement mechanism that displaces the support face of the lumbar support section between the advanced position and the retreated position; a side collision prediction section; an actuation controller that, in a case in which a vehicle side-on collision has been predicted by the side collision prediction section in a state in which the support face of the lumbar support section is not at the retreated position, controls the displacement mechanism so as to displace the support face of the lumbar support section to the retreated position.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle body having an outer surface, and a sensor that is arranged to observe an environment. The sensor is located within the vehicle body. The vehicle also includes a movement mechanism for moving the sensor from an outward position to an inward position relative to the vehicle body. The movement mechanism moves the sensor from the outward position to the inward position in response to a signal. In an alternative implementation, the sensor is disposed in a sensor module, and the sensor module is able to move relative to the vehicle body from an outboard position to an inboard position in response to application of an external force to the sensor module.

Abstract: A vehicle front-wheel turning control apparatus includes a drive force transmission path, a braking force controller, a detector, and a front-wheel turning controller. The detector detects one of occurred contact of the vehicle with respect to a forward object at an occurred contact position and unavoidable contact thereof at an unavoidable contact position. The front-wheel turning controller turns one, of the left and right front wheels, to which the drive force is transmitted, by causing the braking force controller to apply the braking force to the one of the left and right front wheels, on a basis of a state of the drive force transmitted to each of the left and right front wheels and one of the occurred and unavoidable contact positions, when the one of the occurred contact and the unavoidable contact is detected by the detector.

Abstract: A sensing system of a vehicle includes a control and a mounting carrier that supports a plurality of sensor units. The mounting carrier is configured to be disposed at the vehicle so that the plurality of sensor units have respective fields of sensing exterior of the vehicle. The mounting carrier includes structure to support the sensor units at an exterior structure of the vehicle so as to provide a desired field of sensing. The mounting carrier includes an electrical connector that is configured to electrically connect to an electrical connector of the vehicle. The sensor units are electrically connected to a circuit element that is electrically connected to the electrical connector of the mounting carrier. The control, responsive to outputs of the circuit element, determines the presence of one or more objects exterior the vehicle and within the field of sensing of at least one of the sensor units.

Abstract: A motor vehicle supply network, in particular a 48V on-board power supply of a motor vehicle, contains a current source, a power distributor connected to the current source via a supply current path, and at least one load connected to the power distributor via a load current path with an integrated semiconductor switch. A current-measuring unit, a voltage-measuring unit and a monitoring unit are integrated into the power distributor. The monitoring unit is configured in such a way that same detects an imminent fault based on the measurement data of the current-measuring unit and/or the measurement data of the voltage-measuring unit, and in such a way that same initiates a switching-off of the at least one load using the semiconductor switch. Both imminent over-current faults and imminent arc faults are detected as an imminent fault.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a hybrid or electric truck includes a chassis including first and second rails and a plurality of cross members extending between the first and second rails, a component including first and second portions, and a support structure including first, second, and third support structures. The component extends substantially across a width of the truck. The first support structure is configured to support the first portion and attach to the first rail. The second support structure is configured to support the second portion and attach to the second rail. The third support structure is attached to a cross member of the plurality of cross members and at least one of the first or second portions.

Abstract: A vehicle includes: a vehicle interior; a front room provided on a front side of the vehicle interior; a luggage room provided in a rear side of the vehicle interior; a weight part which includes at least one of a drive unit to drive a vehicle wheel and a power source to supply fuel or power to the drive unit; and a battery. The weight part includes a first weight part and a second weight part, at least one of the first weight part and the second weight part includes the drive unit, the battery is provided below the vehicle interior, the first weight part is provided in the front room, the second weight part is provided below the luggage room, and a height of the second weight part is lower than a height of the first weight part.

Abstract: A vehicle body structure has a frame element extending forward a vehicle longitudinal direction relative to the vehicle. A wheel is rotatably supported to the frame element. A bumper is attached to a front portion of the frame element. The bumper has a lateral side portion extending in an outboard direction relative to the frame element. A first support bracket extends from the frame element. A floating energy transmitting element is attached to the first support bracket at a location outboard of and spaced apart from the frame element, adjacent to but spaced apart from the bumper, and forward of and spaced apart from the wheel. In response to an impact event with the bumper being contacted by another object at a location outboard of the frame element, the floating energy transmitting element is contacted by the bumper and is moved rearward contacting the wheel.

Abstract: A restraint arrangement for an inflatable slide may comprise a force releasing member attached to the inflatable slide at at least two locations, and a dampener in operable communication with the force releasing member such that a rate of force applied to the force releasing member is reduced compared to if the dampener was not present.

Abstract: An adjustable airbag system for a vehicle includes an inflatable airbag and at least one tether formed from a shape memory material. The at least one tether has at least one portion thereof secured to the airbag. The at least one tether is structured to contract so as to control an inflated dimension of the airbag when the at least one tether is heated to a temperature above a transformation temperature of the shape memory material and also above a superelastic temperature range of the shape memory material, prior to airbag deployment.

Abstract: A vehicle side section structure capable of stabilizing the deployment behavior of an airbag that inflates and deploys from a side door toward a vehicle width direction outer side is obtained. An impact beam is attached to a door inner panel. The impact beam includes a support portion that supports an inflator and that includes a side-wall portion disposed at the vehicle width direction inner side of the inflator. Accordingly, reaction force from the deployment of the airbag is able to be supported by the support portion of the impact beam when the airbag inflates and deploys.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for operating a capacitive sensor arrangement of a motor vehicle, a control unit being provided, the sensor arrangement having at least one electrode and a connection arrangement which is assigned to the electrode and has a connecting line and, on the latter, a connection on the electrode side and a connection on the control unit side, the electrode being controlled during a measurement routine by the control unit and the resulting distance values being determined on the basis of a measurement capacitance formed by the electrode with respect to a reference potential, the electrical connection state of the electrode being checked with respect to the connection to the control unit during a diagnostic routine by the control unit. It is proposed that the connection state is checked during the diagnostic routine by the control unit.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle according to the present disclosure includes a body having a lower surface with a plurality of vehicle wheels having respective contact surfaces for contacting a driving surface. An underbody space is thereby defined between the contact surfaces and the lower surface of the body. The vehicle additionally includes a movable air deflector coupled to the lower surface and projecting into the underbody space. The air deflector has a first position with a first blockage profile and a second position with a second blockage profile. The vehicle additionally includes an actuator coupled to the air deflector, which is configured to drive the air deflector between the first position and the second position. The vehicle further includes a controller configured to, in response to satisfaction of an operating condition, control the actuator to move the air deflector from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: A method for generating a signal representing an impact intensity including the steps: receiving at least three signals, which represent respectively accelerations in different spatial directions; calculating a direction-independent variable from the three signals; ascertaining an integrated measurand of the direction-independent variable over a time window; generating a signal representing an impact intensity on the basis of the ascertained integrated measurand.

Abstract: A brake pedal device includes a pedal bracket, an operation pedal, an intermediate lever, and a coupling link. The pedal bracket includes a first side plate member and a second side plate member secured to a dash panel and arranged at interval in a vehicle width direction, and is fastened and secured with respect to a vehicle body side bracket located on a vehicle rear side by a nut and a bolt at one location. The first side plate member and the second side plate member include a deformation allowing part and a deformation allowing part between a first support shaft located on a rearward side among the first support shaft and a second support shaft, and an attachment/securing part and an attachment/securing part.

Abstract: A hood hinge for a motor vehicle includes a first part attached to a vehicle body part and a second part attached to a front hood. A lifting mechanism is configured to extend the attachment parts from a starting position into a cushioning position in which the front hood is raised from the starting position. A limiter exerts a limiting force on the attachment parts for limiting an extension movement thereof. A deformation element deforms when the force of the limiter acts on at least one attachment part. A stop may contact a counter stop for limiting the deformation of the deformation element.

Abstract: A gas pressure actuator includes a cylindrical housing, a piston rod; the piston rod being accommodated inside the housing prior to driving the gas pressure actuator; a gas generator arranged at one end side in an axial direction of the housing, wherein, during driving the gas pressure actuator, the gas generator causes the piston rod to extend from the housing by generating high pressure gas; and a holding assembly that secures the gas generator to the one end side in the axial direction of the housing, wherein the holding assembly is provided with a first coupler hole for coupling the gas pressure actuator to a first hinge at a first position on an axis line of the gas pressure actuator.

Abstract: A method for controlling self-braking of a motor vehicle wherein a collision detection device predicts an imminent collision and determines for the self-braking a TTB braking time at which the self-braking is to start, and a brake system is operated in a standby state in which the brake system reacts to a braking request of the collision detection device with activation of wheel brakes of the motor vehicle, wherein the brake system requires a dead travel time to generate for the first time a braking torque by the wheel brakes starting from the standby state, for the self-braking. The method provides that a time period value of the dead travel time is made available in the motor vehicle, and the wheel brakes are activated at a starting time when the imminent collision is detected.

Abstract: A method for actuating restraint means for a vehicle, the method having the following steps: detecting, at a first instant, at least one first value that represents an acceleration; ascertaining a value that represents a force acting on the vehicle from the detected at least one first value that is representative of an acceleration; actuating the restraint means as a function of the ascertained value and/or a value that is derived from the ascertained value.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle includes a vehicle body and a fascia coupled to the vehicle body. The vehicle also includes a rigid backer plate coupled to the body. The backer plate is disposed between the body and the fascia, and is spaced from the fascia. The vehicle further includes a compressible layer disposed between the fascia and the backer plate. The compressible layer has a first face proximate the fascia and a second face proximate the backer plate. The second face is provided with a recess to define a cavity between the compressible layer and the bumper plate. A pressure sensor is disposed in the cavity. The rigid backer plate has a backer plate face proximate the compressible layer and a rib member projecting from the backer plate face. The rib member is disposed at least partially in the cavity.

Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle having at least one sound sensor for detecting acoustic signals generated outside the vehicle includes the steps of detecting an acoustic signal by means of the sensor, classifying the detected acoustic signal as a warning signal if the detected signal has defined features, determining the speed of the vehicle, determining the steering angle of the vehicle, defining an action to be carried out by the motor vehicle in response to the detected warning signal, and carrying out the defined action if the speed of the motor vehicle undershoots a defined threshold value and the steering angle of the vehicle exceeds a defined threshold value. The defined action may be a steering and/or braking maneuver by the vehicle, and/or may be alerting a driver of the vehicle.