Abstract: A sensor (36) for monitoring rotation of an object (16) about an axis (20) comprises a switch member (40) that is urged into a neutral position and is movable relative to the object (16). A direction of movement of the switch member (40) relative to the object (16) is indicative of a direction of rotation of the object (16). Inertia of the switch member (40) during initial rotation of the object (16) results in relative movement of the switch member (4) away from the neutral position. Centrifugal force during object (16) rotation further enhances the relative movement of the switch member (40). The sensor (36) also comprises a device (56) for monitoring a direction of movement of the switch member (40) and for providing a signal indicative thereof.

Abstract: A camera lifting apparatus is used in an industrial vehicle equipped with a cargo handling apparatus for lifting a cargo carrying carriage up and down along a mast provided on a vehicle body. The carriage has a cargo carrying apparatus. The camera lifting apparatus comprises a camera unit attached to the cargo carrying apparatus. The camera unit has a camera for picking up an image of a work area of the cargo carrying apparatus. A moving mechanism moves the camera unit relatively to the cargo carrying apparatus. An actuator drives the moving mechanism.

Abstract: A method for sensitizing the roll signal for a rollover control system (18) is provided. A sensitizing method for controlling a vehicle includes when the relative roll angle reaches a threshold, initiating a wheel departure angle determination, boosting control effort and controlling a safety system (38) in response to the computed roll angles.

Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for alarming danger when an automobile is cornering on a downhill road. The apparatus has a speed sensor, a road wheel angle sensor, a steering angle sensor, first and second inclination detecting sections, a judgment section, and an alarming section. In the method, whether speed of the automobile is above a predetermined value or not is determined, and then whether the automobile is cornering on a downhill road or not is determined. When the automobile is cornering on a downhill road, whether the cornering is safely in progress or not is determined, from the road wheel angle, the speed of the automobile, and the longitudinal and transverse inclinations. When the cornering is unsafely in progress, it is notified to a driver of the automobile.

Abstract: A method of densensitizing includes determining a relative roll angle, determining when the vehicle is in a transitional maneuver, and when the vehicle is in a transitional maneuver, setting a roll signal for control to the relative roll angle, reducing control effort and controlling a safety system (38) correspondingly.

Abstract: The load acting on the body of a belted-in vehicle occupant restrained by a seat belt is determined by providing electrical signals from occupant restraint device sensors. The electrical signals are then evaluated with an evaluating device, wherein the movement of a seat belt webbing influenced by the body of the belted-in vehicle occupant is scanned and a corresponding signal is fed to the evaluating device.

Abstract: A rollover prevention system for a vehicle includes an antilock braking system and a plurality of wheel-end modulator valves associated with respective wheels. The antilock braking system includes an electronic control unit and a lateral acceleration estimator for determining a lateral acceleration of the vehicle. The wheel-end modulator valves cause respective braking pressures to be applied at the respective wheels as a function of the lateral acceleration of the vehicle and a level of frictional contact between the wheels and a driving surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining lateral velocity of an automotive vehicle (10) includes a vehicle speed sensor (20), a roll rate sensor (34), a yaw rate sensor (28), a lateral acceleration sensor (32), and a longitudinal acceleration sensor (36). A controller (26) is coupled to the sensors and determines a steady state pitch angle and a steady state roll angle as a function of the lateral acceleration signal, the longitudinal acceleration signal, the yaw rate signal, and the vehicle speed signal. The controller determines a sliding index as a function of the steady state pitch signal, the steady state roll angle, and the roll rate signal. The controller (26) determines lateral velocity as a function of the sliding index and controls the vehicle lateral motion based on the estimated lateral velocity.

Abstract: This invention is pertaining to multi purpose shock sensor comprising three conductive plates arranged in 3 layers in parallel which make 2 variable capacitors connected in series. Two outer plates are firmly attached to a supporting insulating material and the center plate is located between the 2 outer plates and arranged as movable by resilient element toward either side of the outer plate depending on the direction of the impact felt on the shock sensor causing changes of the capacitance values of the both capacitors. If the 2 capacitors are connected across a voltage source through a resistor, the voltage is charged across the 2 capacitors and their charged values are inversely proportional to their capacitance values. Moving the center plate due to a shock causes changes on both capacitance values, which change voltages across the capacitors, and the changed voltage can be used to activate an object.

Abstract: A system used to protect the occupants of a stationary motor vehicle, particularly unattended children and pets, from dangerous conditions occurring within the vehicle. The system comprises a sensor which senses dangerous environmental conditions such as high temperatures within the vehicle. In the preferred embodiment, the sensor is used with a transmitter to continuously transmit sound detected within the vehicle passenger compartment as well as transmitting information about any dangerous conditions which occur to a remotely located person. In a second embodiment, dangerous conditions trigger an alarm attached to the vehicle. The alarm amplifies the sound detected within the vehicle, such as a crying child, or a barking dog, and also produces a standard alarm sound alternated with an amplified voice declaring the dangerous condition.

Abstract: A method for determining road bank angle in a vehicle includes a lateral acceleration sensor (22) that generates a lateral acceleration signal. A yaw rate sensor (18) generates a yaw rate signal. A roll rate sensor (23) generates a yaw rate signal. A controller (14) coupled to the sensors calculates a first roll angle signal in response to the roll rate signal and calculates a second roll angle signal corresponding to a suspension reference roll angle in response to the lateral acceleration signal. The controller calculates a bank angle signal in response to the lateral acceleration signal, the yaw rate signal, the steering wheel signal and the speed signal. The controller sums the first roll angle signal, the second roll angle signal and the bank angle signal to obtain a final roll angle estimate.

Abstract: A system for sensing ambient conditions in a compartment, such as the trunk of an automobile, generates a control signal in response to the sensed conditions. This control signal actuates indicators to notify operators of the vehicle that there is a person trapped in the trunk. The control signal is also used to actuate a lamp inside the trunk to provide light for the trapped person. A trunk release is also actuated, by a control module, to free the trapped person. The trunk release of the automobile can be prevented from being actuated if the automobile is moving, which prevents the trunk lid from unexpectedly opening while the vehicle is in motion.

Abstract: A process for determining lateral overturning of a vehicle involves establishing a threshold value line S separating a lateral overturning region farther from an origin and a lateral non-overturning region closer to the origin on a two-dimensional map made using a rolling angle &thgr; and a rolling angular speed &ohgr; of the vehicle. When a hysteresis line for actual rolling angles and actual rolling angular speeds of the vehicle traverses the threshold value line from the lateral non-overturning region to the lateral overturning region, it is determined that there is a possibility of lateral overturning of the vehicle, and correspondingly an occupant protecting system may be deployed. Also, to assure accuracy, a lateral acceleration sensor for detecting a lateral acceleration for establishing the threshold value line S is disposed on a center plane of a vehicle body.

Abstract: In a method for determining vehicle status quantities on the basis of the forces acting on the individual wheel and detected by means of tire sensors, where the measured quantities represent the longitudinal and lateral tire forces as well as the vertical tire forces, the angular yaw velocity and acceleration, the steering angle, the side slip angle of the vehicle as well as the vehicle velocity and acceleration are established by inclusion of corrective quantities established, estimated and/or calculated in corrective step. By means of the corrective steps, the quantities dependent on wheel forces, intermediate quantities, or components are weighted in dependence on further measured quantities which have been established by conventional sensor devices, etc., and/or which represent the vehicle situation.

Abstract: A vehicle rollover sensing apparatus and method are provided for detecting a rollover condition of the vehicle. The rollover sensing apparatus includes an angular rate sensor for sensing attitude rate of change of a vehicle and a lateral accelerometer for sensing lateral dynamics of the vehicle. The rollover sensing apparatus also has an integrator for integrating the sensed attitude rate of change signal over a variable time window and producing an attitude angle. The rollover sensing apparatus further includes deployment logic for comparing the attitude angle and attitude rate of change to a pair of variable threshold values with a gray-zone that varies based on time, and for deploying a vehicle overturn condition signal based on the comparison. Sensitivity of the deployment logic is adjusted as a function of the sensed lateral dynamics to enhance rollover deployment during certain driving events.

Abstract: A vehicle speed sensing system includes an RF transceiver coupled to an antenna for transmitting an RF signal towards the terrain over which the vehicle moves and for receiving a reflected Doppler signal therefrom. The transceiver generates a time-domain in-phase reference signal I and a time-domain quadrature signal Q which is offset in phase by 90 degrees from the reference signal I. A digital signal processor which receives the I and Q signals, and uses a complex fast Fourier transform routine to convert the time domain I and Q signals to frequency domain values I(f) and Q(f). The digital signal processor further processes the I(f) and Q(f) values and generates a speed a direction signal which is unaffected by vehicle vibrations.

Abstract: A duplex communication apparatus for motor vehicle comprises a sensor, a first cellular phone, an alarm, a RF module, a first decoder, a CPU, a memory, an input, an output, a voice generator, a DTMF decoder, and a speaker. First cellular phone and alarm are switched to a ready state when a motor vehicle owner leaves the motor vehicle so that once sensor or both sensor and alarm enabled the apparatus is activated, whereby a two-way communication is established between the owner and the person at the motor vehicle through sensor, CPU, voice generator, a second cellular phone carried by the owner, and speaker.

Abstract: A machine to turn on the occupancy sensor(s) of a motor vehicle using a temperature sensing element. The temperature element senses a dangerously high temperature in the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle and energizes the occupancy sensors. The occupancy sensors energize for a time period sufficient to determine the presence or absence of an occupant. If no occupant is detected, the occupancy sensors de-energize after a set period of time. If an occupant is detected, an audible alarm is enabled to draw attention to the motor vehicle. Once the alarm is active, a key must be used to reset it. If no occupant is detected each operation of a door switch will cause an additional sensing provided the temperature remains dangerously high. This logic is only energized or enabled when a passenger compartment is dangerously high.

Abstract: A sensing algorithm for a dual stage airbag system is disclosed which applies a biased severity measure BSM to determine no-deployment, single-stage deployment or two-stage deployment of an airbag. A biased severity measure uses a bias factor to make a chosen severity measure in favor of the robustness or sensitivity of the algorithm, as desired. The sensing algorithm also employs a predicted occupant movement POM which must reach a preset occupant movement threshold before the biased severity measure is compared with first and second preset severity thresholds for determining actuation of the first and second stages of airbag actuation.

Abstract: Transducer apparatus (10) responsive to external perturbations is disclosed having an electrically responsive transducer circuit (12) energized when a display member (18) and an elongate member (20) move from a gravity determined quiescent orientation (20A) therebetween to an external perturbation driven active orientation (20B) therebetween. In various embodiments, the members are respectively responsive to air movement and acceleration. In one embodiment, the elongate member carries a first electrical contact (21) to abut a second electrical contact (22) carried by the display member. When the apparatus is to be in use with a motor vehicle, the apparatus is desirable to be powered by the cigarette lighter of the vehicle and a light sensor is added to switch on the apparatus during night time.

Abstract: A vehicle rollover sensor is provided for detecting an anticipated overturn condition of a vehicle. The rollover sensor includes a first angular rate sensor sensing attitude rate of change of a vehicle about a first axis and producing a first attitude rate of change signal. Also included is a second angular rate sensor sensing attitude rate of change of the vehicle about a second axis and producing a second attitude rate of change signal. The first and second angular rate sensors are located on a vehicle and arranged so that the first axis is different from the second axis. The rollover sensor further includes a rollover discrimination controller for determining a vehicle overturn condition based on the first and second sensed attitude rate of change signals. In addition, roll arming logic generates a roll arming signal based on the first and second sensed attitude rate of change signals.

Abstract: A rollover condition is detected responsive to the comparison of a figure of merit with a threshold, wherein the threshold is given generally as a function of a period of time commencing with a time of inception determined from one or both of a measure of lateral acceleration and a measure of angular velocity. The measures of lateral acceleration and angular velocity are filtered, and are compensated to remove offset errors. In one embodiment, the figure of merit comprises a measure function that incorporates a damping term and a product term. The product term comprises a force measure and a kinetic energy measure, wherein the force measure is responsive to the measure of lateral acceleration, and the kinetic energy measure is responsive to the measure of angular velocity. The product term may further comprise a potential energy measure that is responsive to a measure of roll angle.

Abstract: A system and method for warning of a tip over condition in a motor vehicle, such as a tractor trailer, that is carrying a cargo load. The system includes at least one left side sensor for sensing a proportion of the cargo load carried on the left side of the motor vehicle's cargo section. Similarly, at least one right side sensor is provided for sensing a proportion of the cargo load carried on the right side of the motor vehicle's cargo section. A microprocessor is coupled to both the left side sensors and the right side sensors. The microprocessor calculates a ratio of the cargo load borne by the left side of the motor vehicle and the right side of the motor vehicle. An alarm is provided that is coupled to the microprocessor. The microprocessor sounds an alarm when the calculated ratio exceeds a predetermined threshold value, thus indicating a potential tip over condition.

Abstract: A method for classifying a rollover event of a vehicle is used to classify a rollover event on the basis of a rotational angle and a rotation rate of the vehicle and to transmit an emergency call as a function of the classification. The rollover event itself is recognized on the basis of a momentum or energy criterion. The rotation rate is summed to determine the rotational angle, the summed rotation rate as well as the rotation rate being compared to classification boundaries as a pair of values in order to perform a classification. The emergency call is made only if the restraint devices have been deployed.

Abstract: A process for determining the lateral overturning of a vehicle, comprises the steps of: establishing a threshold value line on a two-dimensional map made using a rolling angle and a rolling angular speed of the vehicle as parameters; plotting a hysteresis line for an actual rolling angle and an actual rolling angular speed on the two-dimensional map; and determining that there is a possibility that the vehicle is overturning laterally or sideways when the hysteresis line traverses the threshold value line from a side nearer to an origin of the map to a side farther from the origin. The threshold value line is changed depending on at least one of a lateral acceleration of the vehicle, a lateral speed of the vehicle, a direction of change in steering angle of the vehicle, and a rolling angular acceleration of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle security system includes a siren for sounding a siren security alarm to supplement a horn security alarm responsive to operation of the horn in a predetermined pattern, such as by a security controller. The siren may not sound the siren security alarm responsive to selective occasional operation of the horn, such as by the user. The vehicle may include a horn being electrically operable, and a horn switch permitting selective occasional operation of the horn by a user. The vehicle security system may also include the security controller for operation of the horn in the predetermined pattern to sound the horn security alarm responsive to at least one security sensor, such as for a vehicle security breach. The vehicle security system can be readily installed, or the siren can be readily interfaced to an existing security system, for example.

Abstract: The invention is an alarm system which transmits audio and video signals using radio frequency of a monitored enclosure to a remote location by means of wireless technology when said alarm system is triggered by an alarm sensor. The RF transmission of the audio visual signal will continue until the condition which triggered the alarm sensor ceases or until the alarm system is reset either using the system alphanumeric keypad or by the remote location using a keypad of a telecommunications device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a vehicle-occupant protecting apparatus provided on a vehicle such that the apparatus is controlled upon determination that the vehicle has had a rollover motion, the control system including a first detector that determines whether the vehicle has crashed, a second detector that determines whether the vehicle has had a rollover motion, and an invalidating device that invalidates the determination by the second detector that the vehicle has had the rollover motion such that the determination by the second detector is invalidated for a predetermined time after the determination by the first detector that the vehicle has crashed. Furthermore, a controller controls the vehicle-occupant protecting apparatus based on outputs of the second detector and the invalidating device to prevent unnecessary operation of the vehicle-occupant protecting device.

Abstract: So that an arrangement may decide to trigger a safety device in as error-free and reliable a manner as possible, provision is made for a first arrangement, which derives a first decision criterion for triggering a safety device from the measured turning rate at least about the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and/or from the measured accelerations at least in the direction of the transverse axis and the vertical axis of the vehicle. In addition, a second arrangement is present, which, independent of the first arrangement, derives a second decision criterion. A circuit arrangement then generates a triggering signal for the safety device, when both decision criteria are satisfied at the same time.

Abstract: A stability control system (24) for an automotive vehicle as includes a plurality of sensors (28-39) sensing the dynamic conditions of the vehicle and a controller controls a steering force to reduce a tire moment so the net moment of the vehicle is counter to the roll direction. The sensors may include a speed sensor (30), a lateral acceleration sensor (32), a roll rate sensor (34), a yaw rate sensor (20) and a longitudinal acceleration sensor (36). The controller (26) is coupled to the speed sensor (30), the lateral acceleration sensor (32), the roll rate sensor (34), the yaw rate sensor (28) and a longitudinal acceleration sensor (36). The controller (26) determines a roll angle estimate in response to lateral acceleration, longitudinal acceleration, roll rate, vehicle speed, and yaw rate. The controller (26) changes a tire force vector using by changing the direction and/or force of the steering actuator in response to the relative roll angle estimate.

Abstract: A rollover determining apparatus and methods for determining whether a vehicle is about to roll over distinguishes a type of rollover that is likely to occur to the vehicle based on the lateral acceleration of the vehicle and the roll angle of the vehicle. Moreover, a determination is made whether the state of the vehicle indicated by a first quantity corresponding to the distinguished type of rollover is in a rollover region determined by a predetermined threshold line. The apparatus and methods can also change the threshold line in accordance with the magnitude of second quantity that is different from the first quantity and that corresponds to the distinguished type of rollover.

Abstract: The chamber (3) of the sensor (1) comprises a first and a second passage (16, 17) that communicate with the outside; a source of visible light (11) outside the chamber, through the first of the said passages (16), illuminates the interior of the chamber (3) and the spherical body (7) arranged inside it; an element sensitive to the quantity of light (9) outside the chamber to receive, through the second of the said passages (17), the light reflected from inside the chamber and electronic circuit that analyzes the electric signals correlated with the quantity of light seen by the said light-sensitive element (9) to generate at least one pulse that activates a movement control system of the means in which the sensor (1) is installed and an alarm system.

Abstract: A rolling control apparatus and method for controlling rolling of a vehicle controls braking force applied to at least one wheel of the vehicle. The apparatus and method set a target roll angle of the vehicle based on a rolling state of the vehicle, calculate a total control quantity for achieving the target roll angle, based on a running condition of the vehicle, and control the braking force applied to each wheel of the vehicle, based on the total control quantity.

Abstract: A movement sensor has a spherical body freely movable within a chamber. Radiation is passed through the chamber from at least two different sources. Detectors opposite the radiation sources produce signals responsive to the amount of detected radiation which is dependent on the position of the spherical body relative to the chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for human presence detection in vehicles where a vehicle vibration sensor is provided to sense vehicle vibration. This vibration signal is processed to obtain a measure of vehicle vibration independent of vehicle damping. Also, a seismic sensor senses ground vibrations in the area of the vehicle simultaneously with the sensing of vehicle vibration, and if the ground vibration exceeds a first threshold, the measure of vehicle vibration is discarded. Similarly, an infrasonic sensor may be used to sense infrasonic wind vibrations adjacent to the vehicle simultaneously with the sensing of vehicle vibration. When the infrasonic vibration within a desired frequency range exceeds a second threshold value, the measure of vehicle vibration is discarded.

Abstract: An indication device of the present invention includes a case body provided to a movable portion during in use by a both-sided adhesive tape or a fitting; luminous body provided with the case body and emits a light or a blinking light by using electric current generated in a power source; a first ON/OFF switch with an optical sensor interposed between the power source and luminous body, and a second ON/OFF switch turning on automatically during use. Therefore, the indication device can allow the others to become aware of person's whereabouts by emitting light or blinking light when in use. The device can be turned off automatically to prevent dissipation of power.

Abstract: A security system for selectively enabling and disabling the internal combustion engine of a vehicle is provided. The security system includes a security module which selectively interrupts current to or from crucial vehicle subsystems which are necessary for engine ignition or engine operation. The security module attaches and locks to the electrical terminal of a vehicle subsystem so that the security module cannot be removed from the engine compartment of a vehicle without removing the entire vehicle subsystem. Moreover, the security module covers and isolates the electrical terminal of the vehicle subsystem so as to electrically isolate the electrical terminal from unauthorized access. The security system further includes a controller and a switching element which are located within the security module for selectively controlling the flow of current from a conductive path to or from the vehicle subsystem which is sought to be controllably enabled and disabled.

Abstract: A method for stabilizing a vehicle in particular to prevent overturning, in which a strategy is selected from at least two different strategies as a function of a quantity describing or corresponding to whether an overturn tendency about a vehicle axis oriented in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle exists, and which may be determined at least as a function of a quantity describing or corresponding to the wheel behavior of at least one wheel, and which may also be determined a function of a comparison which is carried out as a function of a quantity describing or corresponding to the lateral dynamics of the vehicle and of a characteristic value that is determined as a function of a quantity describing or corresponding to the instantaneous friction conditions.

Abstract: A stability control system 24 for an automotive vehicle as includes a plurality of sensors 28-37 sensing the dynamic conditions of the vehicle and a controller 26 that controls a distributed brake pressure to reduce a tire moment so the net moment of the vehicle is counter to the roll direction. The sensors include a speed sensor 30, a lateral acceleration sensor 32, a roll rate sensor 34, and a yaw rate sensor 20. The controller 26 is coupled to the speed sensor 30, the lateral acceleration sensor 32, the roll rate sensor 34, the yaw rate sensor 28. The controller 26 determines a roll angle estimate in response to lateral acceleration, roll rate, vehicle speed, and yaw rate. The controller 26 may ultimately be used to determine a tire force vector such as brake pressure distribution or a steering angle change in response to the relative roll angle estimate.

Abstract: A stability control system 24 for an automotive vehicle as includes a plurality of sensors 28-37 sensing the dynamic conditions of the vehicle and a controller 26 that controls a distributed brake pressure to reduce a tire moment so the net moment of the vehicle is counter to the roll direction. The sensors include a speed sensor 30, a lateral acceleration sensor 32, a roll rate sensor 34, and a yaw rate sensor 20. The controller 26 is coupled to the speed sensor 30, the lateral acceleration sensor 32, the roll rate sensor 34, the yaw rate sensor 28. The controller 26 determines a roll angle estimate in response to lateral acceleration, roll rate, vehicle speed, and yaw rate. The controller 26 changes a tire force vector using a steering angle change in response to the relative roll angle estimate.

Abstract: A rollover sensor for a vehicle continuously determines the inclination of a vehicle in at least one axis. In order to cancel drift deviations in the sensor, the inclination is average in the at least one axis, continuously along a defined route. The formed average value is assumed as the zero position. Inclination of the vehicle due to inclination of the road surface is compensated based on variations in ambient air pressure indicative of changes in altitude.

Abstract: A rollover sensing system (12) that may be used in the determination of when to deploy restraints in the vehicle. The rollover sensing system (12) may include lateral acceleration sensors (32), a roll rate sensor (18) and a roll angle detector (20). A control circuit (16) determines a predetermined rollover threshold in response to the roll rate and roll angle detector (20) and calculates an adjusted threshold as a function of the predetermined rollover threshold and the lateral acceleration. The control circuit (16) generates a control signal in response to the adjusted threshold.

Abstract: An intergated secruity, tip-over, and turn signal system for a motorcycle. The system provides multiple-functions with one control unit and a simplified wiring network. The system provides vehicle turn signal control including automatic turn-off of turn signal lamps at the end of a turn. The systems monitors the lateral forces acting on the motorcycle and disables the turn signal lamps, starter system, and fuel system when a tip-over condition is detected. For theft deterrence and prevention, the system allows a rider to disable the vehicle starter and ignition systems while the vehicle is parked. Tamper sensors in the system activate turn signals and an audible alarm if tampering is detected.

Abstract: A security system for a vehicle comprises a sensor assembly which can be releasably mounted to a vehicle or to an item contained therein. The sensor assembly includes a sensing device that is actuated upon sensing a predetermined change in inertia relative to the assembly. The sensing device actuates a transmitter within the sensor assembly to transmit a signal upon detection of the predetermined level of inertial change. The security system further includes a receiver/transmitter unit mounted near the sensor assembly for receiving the transmitted signal and then transmitting an amplified signal to a remote station. The receiver/transmitter unit may be operatively connected to the horn or lights of the vehicle so as to foil a potential thief who presumably initiated the inertial change that activated the alarm. The remote station also includes audible and visual alarms for alerting a vehicle owner of the theft that is potentially in progress at the site of the vehicle.

Abstract: A processor-based system may be utilized to analyze signals from at least two supports supporting a device, such as a motor vehicle, to provide an indication when a weight change is such that tipping or rollover of the device or vehicle is of concern. In this way, an early warning may be provided when a condition arises which may cause a dangerous event to occur. The processor-based system may provide a variety of indications of tipping levels, a variety of different types of warnings and information about how to overcome the potential tipping.

Abstract: In a control configuration for an occupant protection system for side collision protection in a vehicle, an enable signal of a protection configuration generated as a function of transverse acceleration, is delivered to a timer. The timer furnishes an enable signal of a fixed minimum duration for triggering the occupant protection system.

Abstract: A vibration sensor includes a housing having an opening, and a movable trigger retained within the housing by a resilient member. The moveable trigger includes a projection of a dimension to fit at least partially through the opening. The resilient member retains the movable trigger within the housing until overcome by a predetermined acceleration. Whereas the moveable trigger is maintained within the housing the vibration sensor is minimally affected by radial acceleration while providing a calibrated resistance which must be overcome by an acceleration of predetermined severity along the measured direction. When the sensor experiences a predetermined acceleration, the trigger slides within the housing until the projection encounters the opening. The projection then “pops” through the opening such that the projection encounters a switch which awakes and activates a transmitter to send a signal to a warning device.

Abstract: In a failsafe method and apparatus for signalling theft for a motor vehicle, an item of theft-signalling information is produced as a function of the signal state of at least one of a plurality of monitoring signals, which are indicative of vehicle states. According to the invention, the theft-signalling information is produced only if the signal states of a plurality of monitoring signals are present in one of one or more prescribed theft-signalling combinations. Each theft-signalling combination comprises one or more signalling conditions, which succeed one another in a specific time sequence and which signalling conditions themselves comprise one or more theft indicative combinations of jointly interrogated signal states of associated monitoring signals.

Abstract: In a procedure for the provision of access authorization for an engine-driven vehicle, if there is an operator request for the provision of access authorization to an engine-driven vehicle, a bidirectional signal transmission using encoded transmission signals and an electronic key will be effected. From transmission units located on or in the vehicle, vehicle signals will be transmitted to the electronic key, and, from the electronic key, key signals will be returned as echo signals to the respective transmission units. The time difference between the vehicle signal and the key signals will be determined and evaluated. The position of the electronic key in relation to the vehicle will be determined by means of successive bidirectional signal transmissions between at least two transmission units and the electronic key as well as by evaluating the time differences; having determined the actual key position, a decision on access authorization to the vehicle will be made.

Abstract: A fork lift truck includes a fork level sensor located in the forks, away from the vertical mast of a lift truck for detecting the true level of the forks, and a vision system including a camera which may take several forms. In one form, a single camera is mounted in a housing which may be moved to a protected location vertically either by sliding in the carriage assembly, or by use of a parallelogram device. In another form, multiple cameras are employed where a second camera may be either mounted above the first camera in the same housing or mounted between the forks. Alternatively, the first camera may perform multiple roles by being moved vertically from a first predetermined location below the bottom of the forks to a higher elevation a second predetermined location relative to the forks.