Abstract: A collision recognition device for a vehicle is proposed, comprising a pressure sensor with a first electrode and a second electrode, both having first and second ends, the second end of the first electrode being connected to a first terminal of a first resistor, the second end of the second electrode being connected to a first terminal of a second resistor During use, a first voltage V1 is applied to the first end of the first electrode, a second voltage V2 is applied to a second terminal of the first resistor so that a voltage difference between said first terminal of the first resistor and said second terminal of said first resistor forms a first status voltage indicative of circuit integrity. A first signal voltage V3 at the second end of the second electrode is indicative of whether said first and second electrodes are in contact. During a collision, the two electrodes are pressed together in the collision zone, which creates an electrical contact in this region.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for controlling a vehicle actuatable occupant restraining system including a crash accelerometer (32) for sensing frontal crash acceleration and providing a first crash acceleration signal indicative thereof. A side crash accelerometer (46, 48) senses transverse crash acceleration and provides a second crash acceleration signal indicative thereof. A controller (50) actuates the actuatable occupant restraining system in response to the first crash acceleration signal and the transverse crash acceleration signal.

Abstract: Load input to an impact detector can be increased when a localized load is input, in comparison to when load is input to a comparatively wide region. In the vehicle side door structure 10, when a localized load is input, for example due to an impact to an outer panel 18 of a pole, or the like, to a length direction intermediate portion of an impact beam 26, via the outer panel 18, the outer panel 18 locally approaches the inner panel 20 side due to the length direction intermediate portion of the impact beam 26 bending, and a load is input to the vehicle width direction outer-edge portion of the sensing bracket 32. As a result, load is transmitted to the inner panel 20, via the horizontal section 32B and an inner-side joint section 32A of the sensing bracket 32, and also load (acceleration, displacement or the like) is input to an acceleration sensor 40 attached to the inner panel 20.

Abstract: Vehicle including a crash sensor system arranged to determine a crash condition involving the vehicle which might cause injury to a vehicular occupant, at least one module each including an occupant protection device actuatable upon determination of a crash condition in order to protect the occupant from injury during the crash, and a vehicle bus to which the crash sensor system and module(s) are connected. The crash sensor system generates a signal upon a determination of a crash condition and directs the signal over the bus. Each module is arranged to actuate its occupant protection device in consideration of the signal. The signal might be directly sent to the module from the crash sensor system or sent to a control module which processes it and in turn generates a signal to be directed via the bus to the module(s).

Abstract: An inflator for an airbag comprises a bottle (2) containing a pressurised oxidisable gas and a bottle (4) containing a pressurised oxidising gas, the bottles being connected with a structure (12, 16) providing a chamber (14) that has an outlet, for example provided by a conduit (16), for connection with a vehicle airbag. The bottles have respective first discharge openings (18) and further discharge openings (18a) sealed by respective sealing foils. The inflator includes a first pyrotechnic squib (22) which when fired causes the sealing foils over the first openings (18) to rupture to allow the gases from bottles (2, 4) to pass into chamber (14) and thence into the airbag, and also includes a further pyrotechnic squib (22a) which is fired some time after the squib (22) and causes the sealing foils over the further openings (18a) to boost the discharge of gases from the gas bottles.

Abstract: There is disclosed a vehicle seat provided with a system for facilitating relieving of fatigue of an occupant on the vehicle seat, the vehicle seat including a seat back, the system comprising an occupant's body-motion promoting means 6 provided in an interior of the seat back 1 for repeatedly locally pressing the occupant on the vehicle seat, to thereby promote blood circulation of the occupant, a lateral acceleration sensor 8 provided in the interior of the seat back 1 for detecting accelerations that are applied in right and left lateral directions relative to a vehicle, and an acceleration-distinction control circuit provided in the interior of the seat back 1 for causing the body-motion promoting means 6 to be maintained in a drivable state according when an acceleration detected by the lateral acceleration sensor 8 is in a predetermined value range, for causing drive of the body-motion promoting means to be once stopped when the lateral acceleration becomes an excessive value exceeding an upper limit of

Abstract: A passenger detecting device includes a plurality of weight sensors, a passenger judging and data updating device and an update forbidding device. The weight sensors are arranged at different positions of a seat for respectively detecting weights acting on the seat of a motor vehicle. The passenger judging and data updating device is capable of judging a passenger on the seat based on the loads detected by the weight sensors and updating information on the passenger. The update forbidding device prevents the passenger judging and data updating device from judging the passenger or prevents the information to be updated when a sum-weight fluctuation amount is not less than a first predetermined threshold value, where the sum-weight fluctuation amount is obtained by summing up weight function amounts which are absolute values of fluctuations of the loads detected by the weight sensors.

Abstract: A method of controlling a controllable chassis system or a safety system (44) for a vehicle (10) includes determining an added mass placed on the vehicle and relative to a known vehicle mass. A vehicle characteristic is adjusted in response to the added mass. A control system (18) for an automotive vehicle (10) includes a sensor (20, 28-42) that generates a signal. A controller (26) determines added mass on the vehicle (10) in response to the signal and adjusts a vehicle characteristic in response to the added mass.

Abstract: A collision detection apparatus for a vehicle includes a bumper reinforcement, a chamber forming member, a pressure sensor, collision object determining unit, and a collision position sensor. The bumper reinforcement is mounted on the vehicle and extends in a transverse direction of the vehicle. The chamber forming member is provided at a side of the bumper reinforcement and defines a chamber space that is deformable when the object collides with the vehicle. The pressure sensor detects pressure in the chamber space. The collision object determining unit determines a category of the object by comparing the pressure detected by the pressure sensor with a predetermined determination threshold value. The collision position sensor detects a transverse position, at which the object collides. The determining unit changes the determination threshold value based on the collision position detected by the collision position sensor.

Abstract: A side airbag apparatus has an airbag assembly that protects a passenger seated on a seat in a passenger compartment by being inflated and deployed at a side wall portion of the passenger compartment corresponding to the seat in a collision of a vehicle. The airbag assembly includes a main airbag and an auxiliary airbag that inflate and deployed in a state arranged along a lateral direction of the vehicle. If the body size of the passenger is greater than or equal to a predetermined size, the main airbag is inflated and deployed and the auxiliary airbag is not inflated or deployed. If the body size of the passenger is smaller than the predetermined size, the main airbag and the auxiliary airbag are both inflated and deployed. Thus, in the latter case, the airbag assembly in the inflated and deployed state has a great thickness in the lateral direction of the vehicle compared to the case in which the body size of the passenger is greater than or equal to the predetermined size.

Abstract: A vehicle occupant safety system having an airbag prevents an excessive force from acting upon the thorax of an occupant who has fastened the seat belt, in the event of an impact. The vehicle occupant safety system comprises an airbag, a sensor device for sensing at least one situation parameter and a control device for controlling the inflation and/or deflation and/or unfolding and/or positioning of the airbag in dependence of the at least one situation parameter. The unfolding, position or shape of the airbag and/or distribution of pressure within the airbag at the end of the filling phase, is directly or indirectly controlled in a targeted manner by a control device based on the at least one situation parameter. A modification of the shape of the airbag in the thorax region can be obtained in particular by a releasable constriction.

Abstract: Sensor system for sensing pressure applied to a seat by an occupant of the seat and for controlling deployment of an airbag which includes a bladder defining a chamber and which is adapted to be arranged in a seat portion of the seat, and a pressure sensor for measuring a pressure in the chamber. Deployment of the airbag is controlled based at least in part on the pressure in the chamber measured by the pressure sensor. A control module may be provided to control deployment of the airbag so that when the pressure sensor generates a signal based on the measured pressure in the chamber and provides the signal to the control module, the control module controls deployment of the airbag based on the signal.

Abstract: A device and a method for differentiating between a person sitting on the seat surface of a vehicle seat and an object such as, for example, a child seat. The device has a cushion provided with weight sensors which are distributed over the seat surface in a plane manner, first weight sensors being arranged in a central region and second weight sensors being arranged on the edge of the seat surface. At least one central weight sensor is differentiated from a plurality of second weight sensors on the edge of the seat surface in that it always emits a comparatively low sensor signal when subjected to the same weight load.

Abstract: A misalignment detection sensor assembly is provided, which includes a forward-looking sensor having a sensing direction along a first axis and an inertia sensor configured to sense acceleration along a second axis, the second axis having a fixed relationship with respect to the first axis. A misalignment detection system uses the misalignment detection sensor assembly and a signal processing system to calculate a misalignment angle between the first axis and the direction of forward motion of the sensor assembly. A method of detecting angular misalignment of a forward-looking sensor assembly is also disclosed, which includes measuring acceleration along an axis having a fixed relationship with respect to the sensing axis of the forward-looking sensor assembly and comparing the acceleration measurement with a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A vehicle protection system 7 contains an airbag system 8 employing a plurality of sets of airbags 118a-118c external to the vehicle 9. Each set 118a-118c contains one or more airbags 118 wherein the plurality of sets 118a-118c are sequentially operated based on initial collision data, and then based on operating parameters such as pressure differentials over time.

Abstract: A seat folding apparatus is provided with a passive Rf frequency link that requires that a person be within a certain limited distance from the vehicle to operate the seat folding mechanism. A foreign object detection system, such as a plurality of weight sensors, is provided in the seat to detect foreign objects on the seat.

Abstract: A safety system for vehicle occupants includes at least one sensor, at least one actuator, and at least one control unit having output stages for controlling the at least one actuator. The safety system includes an arrangement for the activation of actuators not activated during an accident.

Abstract: A vehicle crash sensing system and method are provided for sensing a vehicle crash event. The system includes a linear acceleration sensor located on a vehicle for sensing linear acceleration along a first sensing axis and generating a linear acceleration signal. The system has linear crash sensing logic for determining a crash event along the first sensing axis as a function of the sensed linear acceleration. The system also has signal processing circuitry for processing the linear acceleration signal and generating a processed linear acceleration signal. The system has an angular rate sensor located on the vehicle for sensing an angular roll rate of the vehicle about a second sensing axis and generating a roll rate signal. The system further includes rollover crash sensing logic for determining a rollover event of the vehicle about the second sensing axis as a function of the processed linear acceleration signal and the roll rate signal.

Abstract: A rollover judgment apparatus includes a threshold change functional unit 5 for changing a determination threshold on the basis of a roll angular velocity ?, a tilt angle ?v of a vehicle which is acquired by integrating the roll angular velocity ?, a lateral direction acceleration Gy, and a steering wheel angle ?s, an ?×? map judging unit 6 for judging whether or not the vehicle will roll over on the basis of the determination threshold changed by the threshold change functional unit 5, and the tilt angle of the vehicle, a safing functional unit 7 for detecting a tip-up of the vehicle in relation to a motion of the vehicle, and a curtain air bag deploying unit 9 for controlling expansion of a curtain air bag on the basis of an output of the ?×? map judging unit 6 and an output of the safing functional unit 7.

Abstract: A capacitance type seat occupant sensor system of a vehicle includes an AC electric power source, a main electrode disposed at a seat of the vehicle to form an electric field between the main electrode and the body of the vehicle, a guard electrode disposed between a seat frame and the main electrode, a switch unit for establishing connection of the guard electrode to have the same potential as the main electrode to provide a seat occupant sensing mode, an impedance calculating unit for calculating an impedance of a sensing circuit based on the AC voltage and an amount of current flowing through the sensing circuit, a real-part-and-imaginary-part calculating unit and judging unit for discriminating an occupant on the seat based on at least the imaginary part of the first impedance.

Abstract: A method for transmitting data from at least one sensor to a control unit is described, a value range, which is available for encoding the data to be transmitted, being divided into three portions. The first portion is used for the sensor values. The second portion is used for status signals and error signals, and the third portion is used for sensor identification data, the three portions being separated from one another and following in succession.

Abstract: An embodiment of an airbag system includes a cavity configured to store an airbag, wherein the cavity has an aperture that provides an outlet for the airbag during deployment. The embodiment also includes a cover releasably attached over the aperture via an attachment mechanism having an initial attachment strength. The initial attachment strength is configured to reduce to a release attachment strength in response to receipt of a release signal at the attachment mechanism.

Abstract: System and method for determining the location of the eyes of a vehicular occupant includes one or more wave-receiving transducers each arranged to receive waves from the passenger compartment generated or modified by the occupant, and a processor coupled to the transducer(s) for analyzing the waves and determining the location of the occupant's eyes relative to the passenger compartment based on the analysis of the received waves. The processor may include a trained pattern recognition algorithm which has been trained using data about known locations of the eyes of occupants in different positions and waves received from the passenger compartment when the occupants in the different positions are present. The location of the eyes of the occupant relative to the passenger compartment may be used to control one or more components, each of which has a variable or adjustable operation based on the location of the eyes of the occupant.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a vehicle roll stability indicator that estimates the propensity for vehicle rollover. The system determines vehicle kinematics from vehicle sensors, such as roll rate, yaw rate, lateral acceleration, vehicle speed, etc. From these kinematic values, the system estimates a roll angle of the vehicle and a bank angle of the vehicle. From the estimated bank angle, the system provides a corrected roll angle. From the corrected roll angle, the system determines a roll energy of the vehicle and a roll energy rate of the vehicle. From the roll energy and the roll energy rate, the system calculates a roll stability indicator that defines the potential that the vehicle will tip-up or roll over. From the roll stability indicator, vehicle stability control systems can take suitable action.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an actuatable occupant restraint device of a vehicle comprises a central crash accelerometer that senses crash acceleration at a vehicle location and that provides a first crash acceleration signal indicative thereof. A side pressure sensor senses pressure in a chamber disposed at a side of the vehicle and provides a side pressure signal indicative thereof. A controller actuates the actuatable occupant restraint device in response to the first crash acceleration signal and the side pressure signal. The controller determines a first moving average of acceleration value comprising a moving average of acceleration in a direction generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle determined from the first crash acceleration signal. The controller determines a change in pressure value comprising a change in pressure in the chamber determined from the side pressure signal.

Abstract: Vehicle seat including a seat portion including a container having an interior containing fluid and a mechanism, material or structure therein to restrict flow of the fluid from one portion of the interior to another portion of the interior, a back portion arranged at an angle to the seat portion, and a measurement system arranged to obtain an indication of the weight of the occupant when present on the seat portion based at least in part on the pressure of the fluid in the container. The weight of the occupant can be used to control components in the vehicle or the seat itself.

Abstract: A deployment decision for a vehicle restraint system is reached as a function of vehicle dynamics data, at least one vehicle transverse acceleration and one yaw rate about the longitudinal axis of the vehicle being linked to one another as the vehicle dynamics data to reach the deployment decision. The vehicle transverse acceleration is then additionally subjected to a threshold value decision for reaching the deployment decision, the threshold value being set as a function of the integrated vehicle transverse acceleration and the integrated yaw rate.

Abstract: A device for controlling a passenger protection system of a motor vehicle includes at least one structure-borne noise sensor, used to receive body vibrations, and an evaluation device, used to evaluate the structure-borne noise signal. The evaluation provides information about an impact object and/or the characteristics of the impact. The evaluation device is configured to analyze the structure-borne noise signal in relation to the frequencies contained therein, wherein the frequency spectrum contained in a signal section is distributed into a plurality of frequency ranges. The current signal energy is determined for each frequency range, and the signal energy of the frequency range is a standardized. The device also comprises a passenger protection system, which can be actuated according to the information relating to the impact object and/or the characteristics of the impact.

Abstract: System for measuring the weight of an occupant in a vehicle seat having a bottom portion and a back portion at an angle to the bottom portion and for controlling a safety restraint system responsive thereto which includes a fluid-containing bladder mounted within or beneath an upper surface of the bottom portion of the seat and supported by a base of the seat, a pressure sensor operatively coupled to the bladder for generating a signal responsive to pressure of the fluid within the bladder caused by pressure applied to the upper surface of the seat, and a processor coupled to the pressure sensor for determining the weight of the occupant from the signal and generating a control signal for controlling the safety restraint system responsive to the weight determination. The weight of the occupant can be used to control components in the vehicle or the seat itself.

Abstract: In an airbag device of the present invention, in an inner portion in a car width direction of at least one of adjacent two seats in a vehicle, a central airbag (4) is housed which is connected to a side face (200) of a seat frame (20) of the seat through a predetermined connecting member. On an outer face inside in the car width direction of the central airbag (4), a plurality of tethers (41), . . . are provided. This central airbag (4) counteracts a force from inside in the car width direction with tensions of the tethers (41), . . . and counteracts a force from outside in the car width direction with a force received from the side face (200) of the seat frame in inflation and extension.

Abstract: Adjustment system for adjusting a vehicular component based on occupancy of a seat includes a support structure arranged underneath the seat to movably support the seat on a substrate in the vehicle, the support structure being structured and arranged to transfer a force exerted by the occupant on the support structure to the substrate, a sensor system arranged underneath the seat, optionally in connection with the support structure, for providing a variable output as a function of weight of the occupant, an adjustment system arranged in connection with the component for adjusting the component, and a processor for receiving outputs from the sensor system and directing the adjustment system to adjust the component based thereon. An object recognition or identification system or other morphological characteristic determining system may be used to determine that the occupant is one which requires adjustment of the component.

Abstract: A seat sensor system comprises at least one seat sensor for sensing a status related to a seat occupancy and for generating a output signal indicative of said status and a control unit for communicating with said at least one seat sensor. According to the invention the seat sensor comprises a self-powered transmitter associated with a seat for transmitting a data signal containing said output signal and the control unit comprises an receiver module for receiving said data signal from said self-powered transmitter.

Abstract: Method for vehicle component control based on occupancy of the vehicle includes determining at least one morphological characteristic of the occupant, classifying the occupant based only on the determined morphological characteristic(s) to provide an identification of the occupant, and adjusting a component of the vehicle based on the identification. Morphological characteristics include weight of the occupant and height of the occupant. The morphological characteristics can be determined using only sensors arranged in a seat on which the occupant is seated. Classification of the occupant can include generating a table of classifications for different determinations of the morphological characteristic, either individually or combinations of two or more morphological characteristics, so that an identification is provided based on each determination, detection or measurement of the morphological characteristic(s).

Abstract: A vehicle interior state recognition device comprises an illuminating means for illuminating infrared rays into a vehicle compartment, an image pick-up means for picking up an image inside the vehicle compartment into which the infrared rays are illuminated by the illuminating means, and a recognizing means for recognizing specified information based on the image picked up by the image pick-up means. Objects of the image picked up by the image pick-up means include a seat which is movable relative to a vehicle body and a passenger seated in the seat, and the recognizing means determines a size of the passenger by comparing contour of the seat with contour of the passenger on the image picked up. Accordingly, the body size of the passenger seated in the seat can be determined accurately.

Abstract: A passenger protection apparatus (1) includes a rollover angular speed detection device (10), which detects a rollover angular speed during vehicle rollover, a rollover determination device (14), which conducts a determination of the vehicle rollover based on the rollover angular speed detected by the rollover angular speed detection device (10) and a rollover angle obtained from the rollover angular speed, a passenger protector (2), which operates in accordance with a determination result of the rollover determination device (14) to protect a passenger, a vertical G sensor (11), which detects an acceleration of an up and down direction of the vehicle; a horizontal G sensor (12), which detects an acceleration of a right and left direction of the vehicle, and an angular speed sensor error determination device (16), which conducts a determination whether or not a zero-point drift of the rollover angular speed detection device (10) occurs based on a detected signal of the vertical G sensor (11) or the horizontal

Abstract: A system for detecting impact events for a vehicle is provided. The system comprises a pressure sensor and a controller. The pressure sensor is positioned in a first impact zone of the vehicle and is configured to generate a pressure signal corresponding to a measured pressure reading within the first impact zone. The controller is positioned within the vehicle and is configured to integrate the pressure signal over time to determine the occurrence of a vehicle impact event at the first impact zone.

Abstract: An operator-specifying apparatus is combined with an on-board device such as a navigation device mounted on an automotive vehicle. An ultrasonic sensor device is mounted on a frame of a display panel of the navigation device. A hand of a person who is manipulating the navigation device, a driver or an assistant, is detected by the ultrasonic sensor device. If it is determined that the driver is manipulating (or about to manipulate) the navigation device when the vehicle is being driven, manipulation of the navigation device is prohibited to secure safety in driving. On the other hand, if it is found out the assistant is operating the navigation device, such prohibition is canceled to effectively use the navigation device.

Abstract: A collision detector detects a collision relative to a lateral face of a vehicle. A left seat and a right seat are arranged adjacent to each other in a left-right direction of the vehicle. A left restraint restrains an occupant seated on the left seat, and a right restraint restrains an occupant seated on the right seat. A seat position detector detects seat positions of the seats in a front-rear direction of the vehicle. A driving portion drives one of the restraints based on a direction of the collision detected by the collision detector and a relationship of the seat positions detected by the seat position detector.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for controlling a vehicle actuatable occupant restraining system. A central crash accelerometer senses crash acceleration at a central vehicle location provides a first crash acceleration signal. A side-satellite accelerometer senses crash acceleration substantially parallel with a front-to-rear axis of the vehicle and provides a signal indicative thereof. A controller actuates the actuatable occupant restraining system in response to the central crash acceleration signal and the side-satellite signal.

Abstract: A device for adjusting seat components as a function of a signal from a video sensor system. Furthermore, a safety belt is adjusted as well as a function of the signal. This adjustment is carried out as a function of the occupant class, the occupant volume, the occupant pose, and the head position.

Abstract: An airbag apparatus for a small vehicle for preventing an airbag from being inflated uselessly even when a rider is moved significantly on the vehicle. A first airbag module includes impact sensors, an electronic control unit for generating an output signal when an impact force is determined to be excessive from detection signals supplied from the impact sensors, an inflator which is activated by the output signal from the electronic control unit and an airbag which is inflated by gas generated from the inflator that is mounted on a small vehicle. A second airbag module includes an inflator and a wearing type airbag which is inflated by gas generated by the inflator that is mounted on a rider. The electronic control unit and the inflator of the second airbag module are connected by couplers that can input the output signal from the electronic control unit to the second airbag module.

Abstract: A method for determining a triggering decision for restraint device of a motor vehicle, in response to a preceding skidding maneuver. A yaw rate, a first driving dynamics parameter set and a context parameter set are made available. The triggering decision being determined using the yaw rate, the first vehicle parameter set and the context parameter set.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for setting an occupant classification system threshold for a vehicle occupant detection system, the method comprising collecting occupant classification system data for a seat, the data being indicative of occupant weight, analyzing the data to determine where a separation exists between an occupant for which a restraint should be suppressed and an occupant for which the restraint should be deployed, and analyzing the data to determine a worst case child suppression weight and shape, which is based at least on where the separation exists. The worst case child suppression weight and shape define the occupant classification system threshold.

Abstract: An airbag module for a motor vehicle includes a gas sack that can be inflated with gas to protect an occupant, a gas generator for generating the gas provided for inflating the gas sack, and an additional cooling device comprising an openable reservoir for storing a coolant. The reservoir is opened when the gas sack is inflated, so that the coolant for cooling the gas used to inflate the gas sack can come into contact with the gas. The cooling device comprises a movement generating device that opens the reservoir to release the coolant.

Abstract: A safety arrangement to provide protection for an occupant in a motor vehicle includes a seat-belt provided with a measuring device to measure energy absorbed by the seat-belt. The measuring device may determine the length of safety-belt paid-out after a retractor locks, the belt being paid-out against a force provided by a force-limiter. The energy absorbed is calculated and is used to control the vents of a ventable air-bag. The air-bag is vented if a substantial part of the energy of the occupant is absorbed by the seat-belt, but is not vented if a large proportion of the energy has not been absorbed by the seat-belt.

Abstract: To achieve an air bag system in which a safing determination processing circuit can be implemented on one integrated circuit, the air bag system, which is equipped with first and second sensors (101, 103) for detecting a vehicle crash, and which outputs a signal for expanding an air bag when it is determined that a vehicle crash has occurred based on the outputs of the first and second sensors, comprises: a processing unit (3) for processing an output signal of the first sensor (101) by software; and a processing circuit (2) for processing an output signal of the second sensor (103) by hardware, wherein the processing unit (3) includes a non-activation fault diagnosis section (33) which, based on the output signal of the second sensor (103), detects a failure that can lead to non-activation of the air bag, and the processing circuit (2) includes an erroneous-activation fault diagnosis section (240) which, based on the output signal of the second sensor (103), detects a failure that can lead to erroneous activ

Abstract: A wireless system that detects the presence of a child in a safety seat located in the passenger cabin of a vehicle includes a controller responsive to signals generated by sensors monitoring predefined functions of the vehicle, RFID tag device attached to the safety seat and RFID tag reader mounted in the cabin. The system generates control signals which activate an alarm, open the doors of the vehicle and roll down windows if the child is left in the safety seat of an unattended vehicle.

Abstract: A traveling control method, medium, and apparatus for autonomous navigation. The traveling control method of controlling an autonomous navigation machine, having at least on the right and left sides thereof at least first and second receivers that receive a radio signal transmitted from a transmitter disposed at a specific position in a traveling area, the method includes allowing at least one of the first and second receivers to receive the radio signal, recognizing a command included in the received radio signal, acquiring data indicating a size of a recognizable area reached by the radio signal and a position of the transmitter while the autonomous navigation machine moves along the border of the recognizable area, and executing the recognized command in the recognizable area.

Abstract: A collision obstacle discrimination device for a vehicle has at least one upper detection unit arranged between a bumper and side members and at least one lower detection unit disposed at a lower side of the upper detection unit. The upper detection unit detects at least a component of a side-member extension direction of a collision energy when an obstacle collides with the bumper. The lower detection unit detects a collision energy which is closer to the ground than the component of the side-member extension direction of the collision energy detected by the upper detection unit. A discrimination unit is further provided to sort-distinguish the obstacle by comparing the collision energy detected by the upper detection unit and that detected by the lower detection unit.

Abstract: A vehicle seat belt tension prediction system and method comprises an accelerometer having an output signal responsive to vertical acceleration of the vehicle, a seat weight sensor having an output signal responsive to the force exerted by a mass resting on the seat, and a processor means for calculating seat belt tension. The processor is provided with a plurality of inputs operatively coupled to the accelerometer output and seat weight sensor output. Suitable programming is provided to instruct the processor to calculate the average mass resting on the vehicle seat and predict the force that should be exerted on the seat for a measured level of vertical acceleration assuming zero belt tension. The processor then compares the actual force measured by the seat weight sensor with the predicted force to determine seat belt tension thereby obviating the necessity of complex hardware in physical contact with the seat belt system.