Abstract: Methods, systems, and vehicles are provided for controlling active safety functionality for a vehicle. The active safety functionality provides an action during a drive cycle of the vehicle based on a predetermined threshold. Data pertaining to driving conditions, usage conditions of the vehicle, or both, is obtained for a drive cycle of the vehicle. A risk factor grade is calculated using the data. The risk factor grade corresponds to a level of situational risk for the drive cycle. The predetermined threshold of the active safety system is adjusted based on the risk factor grade.

Abstract: Methods and vehicles are provided for identifying objects in proximity to the vehicle and controlling active safety functionality for the vehicle. A target object in proximity to the vehicle is detected. A movement of the target object is measured. The target object is classified based at least in part on the movement. The active safety functionality is controlled based at least in part on the classification of the target object.

Abstract: An engine control apparatus that effectively suppresses a rise in rotation number of an engine in a jump of a vehicle. An engine control apparatus includes an acceleration detecting device for detecting an acceleration component of gravity acceleration in a perpendicular direction of the vehicle body based on a signal inputted from an acceleration sensor, and a control circuit for judging whether the vehicle has jumped or not based on the acceleration component to be detected. The control circuit suppresses a rise in rotation number of the engine when the vehicle is judged to have jumped.

Abstract: A method for generating a triggering signal for a pedestrian protection device in which sensor data are ascertained and analyzed. After a collision with an object has been recognized, features are generated from the sensor data, which are analyzed for ascertaining an object mass and/or an object hardness, the triggering signal for the pedestrian protection device being generated if the ascertained object mass and/or the ascertained object hardness is/are within a triggering range which represents a collision with a pedestrian.

Abstract: A control system (18) and method for an automotive vehicle (10) includes a pitch rate sensor (37) generating a pitch rate signal, a longitudinal acceleration sensor (36) generating a longitudinal acceleration signal, and a yaw rate sensor (28) generating a yaw rate signal. A safety system (44) and the sensors are coupled to a controller. From the sensors, the controller (26) determines an added mass and a position of the added mass, a pitch gradient and/or a pitch acceleration coefficient that takes into account the added mass and position. The controller controls a vehicle system in response to the added mass and the position of the added mass, the pitch gradient and/or pitch acceleration coefficient variables.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for controlling a reversible seat belt pretensioner in a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of detecting the speed and the steering angle of the vehicle, calculating an expected turning rate of the vehicle about its vertical axis from the speed and the steering angle and calculating an upper and a lower turning rate limiting value using the expected turning rate, detecting the actual turning rate of the vehicle about its vertical axis and activating the seat belt pretensioner of the vehicle if the actual turning rate of the vehicle is greater than the upper turning rate limiting value or is less than the lower turning rate limiting value. The present invention also relates to a safety arrangement for implementing the method according to the invention.

Abstract: A collision detecting device includes a first sensor, a second sensor, and a determination unit. The first sensor is disposed in a rear region of a passenger compartment of a vehicle defined from a first seat row towards a rear of the vehicle. The second sensor is disposed one of in a front region of the passenger compartment defined from the first seat row towards a front of the vehicle and at a side of the first seat row. The determination unit stores a safing threshold and a main threshold greater than the safing threshold, and determines that a side collision has occurred only when an output value of the second sensor is greater than the safing threshold and an output value of the first sensor is greater than the main threshold.

Abstract: A method for ascertaining a type of collision of a vehicle includes: receiving acceleration information items, via a reception interface, representing the accelerations of the vehicle in a vehicle longitudinal direction and a vehicle transverse direction; determining a first resultant acceleration information item from a first and a second acceleration information item; determining a second resultant acceleration information item from a third and a fourth acceleration information item; combining the first and second resultant acceleration information items to obtain at least one evaluation information item; and determining the collision type based on the at least one evaluation information item.

Abstract: A method of predicting severity of a potential collision of first and second vehicles. The method includes determining that a probability of a potential collision of the vehicles is greater than a threshold value. Vehicle condition-defining signals are exchanged between the vehicles when the probability of the potential collision is greater than the threshold value including a first vehicle condition-defining signal developed on board the first vehicle and a second vehicle condition-defining signal developed onboard the second vehicle. The method further includes predicting onboard the first vehicle a severity of the potential collision for the first vehicle based upon input that includes the first vehicle condition-defining signal and the second vehicle condition-defining signal. A severity of the potential collision for the second vehicle is predicted onboard the second vehicle based upon the second vehicle condition-defining signal and the first vehicle condition-defining signal.

Abstract: An actuation judgment apparatus for a passenger protection control device can optimally judge a need for actuating a passenger protection device. The actuation judgment apparatus may comprise an integrator for integrating the horizontal acceleration and a judgment circuit in a main control unit is configured to change a threshold for the actuation of the passenger protection device based on a value obtained by integrating the horizontal acceleration at the integrator in order to reduce the error rate in assessing that a trip-over event has occurred.

Abstract: A device having an adjustable rigidity for absorbing crash energy, includes: a housing for accommodating and deforming a deformation element when the deformation element is moved in a forward motion direction due to the crash energy; a disengageable die situated in the housing for accommodating and deforming the deformation element; a supporting device situated in the housing and configured to support, in a first position, the disengageable die against a radial force of the deformation element acting in a transverse direction to the forward motion direction, and (ii) release, in a second position, the disengageable die for a motion for disengagement due to the radial force; and a pyrotechnic actuator moving the supporting device from the first position into the second position, to adjust the rigidity of the device.

Abstract: In a method for setting a limiting value of a vehicle state variable in a driver assistance system, in particular in an electronic stability program ESP, accelerations are measured by the airbag sensor system, and are used in the event of an accident of low to medium severity to determine limiting values of the yaw acceleration and the yaw rate. These limiting values are used for monitoring the functionality of the yaw rate sensor.

Abstract: A method for activating and/or controlling at least one reversible restraining device as a function of a danger situation that is detected ahead of time, the danger situation being detected ahead of time by evaluating sensor signals that are provided by at least one sensor unit, and an evaluation-control unit for implementing the method and an occupant protection system having such an evaluation and control unit. Such a danger situation is detected if an evaluation of the sensor signals determines that the vehicle has departed from the roadway, a directional angle being ascertained at which the vehicle has departed from the roadway, and the at least one reversible restraining device being activated and/or controlled as a function of the ascertained directional angle.

Abstract: A vehicle navigation aid (nav-aid) system and method are provided to un-lock nav-aid functions in a moving vehicle. Sensors within the vehicle provide vehicle speed S and whether a person other the driver is present. For S greater than predetermined threshold speed Sth?0, the nav-aid system remains in a locked-out state if a passenger is not present. When a passenger is present, then the system may accept some otherwise locked-out nav-aid requests. A warning and disclaimer message requiring positive acknowledgement thereof is desirable. In a preferred embodiment, the passenger should occupy a front seat and have a weight or size or both exceeding a predetermined (e.g., “adult”) threshold. Desirably, navigation aid access is precluded for S>Sth unless the occupied seat belts are latched. In a further embodiment, a user access status display indicates which nav-aid functions can be accessed depending on the vehicle status.

Abstract: A method and device for actuating an active and/or passive motor vehicle safety system in a driving situation in which the vehicle executes a rotary movement about the vertical axis of the vehicle. A variable describing the rotary motion is measured, and this variable is processed by a mathematical model, which determines information therefrom about the future rotary motion of the vehicle. This information in turn may be used to control the vehicle safety systems as a function of the situation and prepare them for a possibly imminent collision.

Abstract: A method is described for detecting a width of an impact area of an object in the front-end section of a vehicle, which has a step of receiving a first deformation element signal, which represents a change in the distance of components of a first deformation element from one another, that is mounted in the left front-end section of the vehicle. Furthermore, the method includes a step of receiving a second deformation element signal, which represents a change in the distance of components of a second deformation element from one another, that is mounted in the right front-end section of the vehicle. Finally, the method includes detection step of an offset collision with a small width of an impact area of the object on the vehicle, if the first deformation element signal differs by more than a predefined threshold value level from the second deformation element signal.

Abstract: A safety system for a motor vehicle has a yaw rate sensor for detecting a yaw rate of the vehicle and impact sensors for detecting a side impact. A control module calculates a lateral kinetic energy of the vehicle if the yaw rate exceeds a threshold value, and an occupant restraint is activated based upon the lateral kinetic energy and signals from the side impact sensors. The disclosed system and method provide for improved restraint deployment decisions when a vehicle has a lateral velocity associated with a high yaw rate, as may be the case during a spin or a skid.

Abstract: An automated method and system includes an automatic guidance system (AGS) and swath pattern. The AGS steers a vehicle towing a rotary baler in an “S”, or oscillatory pattern around a predetermined approximate centerline of the swath path. The oscillatory pattern may be user defined. By steering the vehicle in an oscillatory pattern referenced to the A-B line, a windrow of crop material may be distributed into an even and optimal bale size and density by the baler. Bale chamber sensors detect an imbalance of crop density and in response, AGS adjusts an interval or amplitude of oscillatory pattern.

Abstract: A method for controlling a restraint device for occupants of a vehicle is provided. An environment of the vehicle is captured and a restraint device is triggered depending on object data and vehicle data determined in the environment. An impact probability is determined in stages based on determined object data and/or vehicle data. Depending on the determined strength of impact probability of a respective stage, a restraint device is pre-triggered or triggered, or triggering of restraint device is suppressed and determined triggering information is processed further in a next stage.

Abstract: A plurality of electric control units are connected to perform data-communication through a communication line. Each electric control unit comprises a recording means for recording data and a communication means, to control an operation of an object to be controlled. One of the plurality of electric control units determines whether it is possible to record data in the recording means, and records the data in the recording means when it determines that it is possible to record the data in the recording means. The “one of the plurality of electric control units” transmits the data to other electric control unit when it determines that it is not possible to record the data in the recording means. The “other electric control unit” receives the transmitted data and records it in own recording means.

Abstract: A control system (18) and method for an automotive vehicle (10) includes a pitch rate sensor (37) generating a pitch rate signal, a longitudinal acceleration sensor (36) generating a longitudinal acceleration signal, and a yaw rate sensor (28) generating a yaw rate signal. A safety system (44) and the sensors are coupled to a controller. From the sensors, the controller (26) determines an added mass and a position of the added mass, a pitch gradient and/or a pitch acceleration coefficient that takes into account the added mass and position. The controller controls a vehicle system in response to the added mass and the position of the added mass, the pitch gradient and/or pitch acceleration coefficient variables.

Abstract: An occupant detection system with noise reduction, a controller having noise reduction for an occupant detection system and a method for reducing noise in an occupant detection system. A high order digital filter is used to filter harmonics of a noise signal from an electrode signal used to determine an occupant presence or absence of the occupant. A way of sampling the electrode signal and the implementation of the high order digital filter cooperate such that the signal processing can be performed by a lower cost general purpose microprocessor as opposed to using a higher cost digital signal processor.

Abstract: An apparatus is described for activating at least one driver's cab actuator element and/or at least one seat actuator element and/or at least one steering column actuator element of a commercial vehicle.

Abstract: The vehicle collision decision apparatus has first acceleration detectors and a second acceleration detector for detecting an acceleration of the vehicle in a longitudinal direction, and third acceleration detectors for detecting an acceleration of the vehicle in a transverse direction thereof. When the vehicle is involved in an offset collision, the front airbags of the vehicle are activated based on accelerations detected by the first acceleration detectors and the second acceleration detector. Thereafter, the curtain airbags of the vehicle are reliably activated.

Abstract: Systems for detecting animate objects in a vehicle compartment include active materials based sensors for detecting the presence of an animate object in the compartment. The systems produce a response if the sensors detect the presence of an animate object in the compartment and at least one other predetermined condition exists.

Abstract: The fuzzy logic-based control method for helicopters carrying suspended loads utilizes a controller based on fuzzy logic membership distributions of sets of load swing angles. The anti-swing controller is fuzzy-based and has controller outputs that include additional displacements added to the helicopter trajectory in the longitudinal and lateral directions. This simple implementation requires only a small modification to the software of the helicopter position controller. The membership functions govern control parameters that are optimized using a particle swarm algorithm. The rules of the anti-swing controller are derived to mimic the performance of a time-delayed feedback controller. A tracking controller stabilizes the helicopter and tracks the trajectory generated by the anti-swing controller.

Abstract: A passenger-shift airbag apparatus may include an inflator installed at a predetermined position in a seat back of a vehicle; and a passenger-shift airbag cushion fluid-connected to the inflator directly or by a gas supply tube, the passenger-shift airbag cushion being located in the seat back adjacent to a lateral side of the seatback, so that when the passenger-shift airbag cushion is inflated by gas supplied from the inflator, the passenger-shift airbag cushion shifts the passenger towards an inside of the vehicle.

Abstract: The electronic safing system is provided with a safing sensor, a comparator, and a microcomputer. The microcomputer has a programmable analog I/O port which is connected to a built-in AD-DA converter. The programmable analog I/O port can be switched to an analog input port and an analog output port according to an internal register. The programmable analog I/O port is connected to an input terminal of the comparator. When diagnosing the comparing circuit, the microcomputer switches the programmable analog I/O port to the analog output port and outputs a predetermined voltage for diagnosis. Then, the microcomputer diagnoses the comparing circuit by monitoring the output of the comparing circuit.

Abstract: An apparatus to control an airbag for a side collision includes a vehicle inclination detecting unit which detects an inclination of a vehicle relative to a horizontal direction, and a threshold value changing unit which changes a threshold value to operate the airbag for the side collision corresponding to the inclination of the vehicle relative to the horizontal direction detected by the vehicle inclination detecting unit.

Abstract: A system and method for providing mechanical time dilation by pre-braking a vehicle in the event there is a collision threat so as to reduce or eliminate the need for full automatic braking if the collision becomes imminent. The system calculates a time dilation deceleration to either maintain a time to collision at a previous value before the calculation or at a predetermined value. The system also estimates a projected closing speed of the vehicle to the object at a distance that would require full automatic braking to prevent a collision. The system then determines whether the time dilation deceleration is greater than a decelerating threshold and, if so, provides automatic vehicle braking at the threshold until the vehicle comes to a full stop. If the time dilation deceleration is not greater than the threshold, then the system provides automatic braking to decelerate the vehicle at the time dilation deceleration.

Abstract: A communications network for a passenger protection system of a vehicle has an electronic control unit and a plurality of sensors, which is bus-connected to the electronic control unit. Each of the sensors includes a current detection circuit for detecting a current of the sensor, and a control circuit including a memory. The control circuit sets a specific address for the sensor in the memory when the detected current attains a predetermined relation to a predetermined threshold current. The control circuit transmits a notification of completion of setting the specific address to the electronic control unit, and controls a mode of the sensor to a specific mode, which consumes current less than the predetermined threshold current.

Abstract: A collision determining apparatus for a vehicle includes a vibration detection device that detects a high-frequency vibration of an audio band generated in a vehicle and a low-frequency vibration of the audio band which is lower than the high-frequency vibration; and a collision determining device that determines whether or not a collision requiring an activation of an occupant protection apparatus of the vehicle has occurred based on the detection result of the high-frequency vibration and the low-frequency vibration.

Abstract: A vehicle safety system comprising a vehicle stability-regulating system, one or more secondary safety components and an electronic interface. The electronic interface communicates with both the vehicle stability-regulating system and the secondary safety components. The electronic interface receives data from the vehicle stability-regulating system and controls the operating condition of the secondary safety components based thereon.

Abstract: Body velocity estimating device 10A is constituted by acceleration measurement unit 11, acceleration separation unit 12, filter processing operation unit 13, acceleration addition unit 14, integration processing operation unit 15, and estimated body velocity output unit 16. The unit 12 compares an acceleration measured by the unit 11 with set acceleration upper and lower limit reference values to separate the measured acceleration into reference value range-in and range-out accelerations. The unit 13 performs filtering on the separated reference value range-out acceleration to calculate filtered accelerations of the reference value range-out acceleration. The unit 14 adds the filtered accelerations to the previously separated range-in acceleration. The unit 15 multiplies the added acceleration by an operation period, and adds the resultant to the estimated body velocity calculated in the preceding one operation period to update the value of the estimated body velocity.

Abstract: A lane marker recognition apparatus which recognizes a lane marker based on a captured image of a road surface in the direction in which a vehicle is traveling includes a lane identifying portion that identifies the type of lane that the vehicle is traveling in based on the image, and a timing changing portion which outputs a change command to change the start timing of an operation of an assist system provided in the vehicle to the assist system when the type of lane identified by the lane identifying portion is a predetermined type of lane.

Abstract: In a vehicle safety system with a vehicle steering wheel, which has a steering wheel rim, and with at least one capacitive sensor which detects an alteration to an electric or electromagnetic field, the sensor is arranged in or on the steering wheel rim.

Abstract: Vehicle seat belt apparatus includes: a motor for driving a belt reel having a belt wound thereon; a trigger section for detecting a change in a traveling state of a vehicle to output an activation signal that instructs or triggers activation of the motor; a lateral acceleration detection section for detecting lateral acceleration acting on the vehicle; a slip state detection section for detecting a slip state quantity of the vehicle; and a control section for, in response to receipt of the activation signal from the trigger section, controlling the amount of current supply for activating the motor on the basis of a signal of the lateral acceleration output by the lateral acceleration detection section and/or a signal of the slip state quantity output by the slip state detection section.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting a rollover of a vehicle that includes at least one wheel reaction force sensing device for transmitting wheel reaction force signal indicative of an amount of force exerted on at least one wheel of the vehicle is provided. The system includes a controller operably coupled to the at least one wheel reaction force sensing device and including at least one accelerometer sensor for transmitting the acceleration signal. The controller is configured to determine a first force index in response to the wheel reaction force signal, determine a first lateral acceleration of the vehicle in response to the acceleration signal, compare the first force index to a threshold force index and the first lateral acceleration to a threshold lateral acceleration, and deploy a restraint system based on the comparison.

Abstract: An automobile rollover prediction and restraint device deployment system comprises a plurality of automobile data sensors to generate a plurality of data signals, and a controller to receive the data signals and configured to deploy resettable and non-resettable restraint devices. The controller is configured to activate at least one resettable restraint device when one or more of the data signals exceed a first threshold, indicating that the vehicle is in a position or undergoing movement that indicates a potential for vehicle rollover, and to de-activate the at least one resettable restraint device when one or more of the data signals fall below the first threshold.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for deploying a safety system when a vehicle involved in a front crash may be experiencing rotational velocity. The vehicle may include a number of acceleration and rotational sensors. The vehicle may further include a controller that may be configured to determine if the vehicle is involved in a frontal crash using a combination of the acceleration and rotational sensors. The controller may also be configured to determine if the vehicle experiences rotational energy during the frontal crash using a combination of the acceleration and rotational sensors. The controller may also be configured to deploy vehicle safety systems, including at least one side safety system, if it is determined that the vehicle is involved in a frontal crash and the vehicle is experiencing rotational energy.

Abstract: A method of predicting severity of a potential collision of first and second vehicles. The method includes determining that a probability of a potential collision of the vehicles is greater than a threshold value. Vehicle condition-defining signals are exchanged between the vehicles when the probability of the potential collision is greater than the threshold value including a first vehicle condition-defining signal developed on board the first vehicle and a second vehicle condition-defining signal developed onboard the second vehicle. The method further includes predicting onboard the first vehicle a severity of the potential collision for the first vehicle based upon input that includes the first vehicle condition-defining signal and the second vehicle condition-defining signal. A severity of the potential collision for the second vehicle is predicted onboard the second vehicle based upon the second vehicle condition-defining signal and the first vehicle condition-defining signal.

Abstract: A method is described for generating at least one feature for an occupant protection system, which is determined from at least one basic feature and analyzed for generating a triggering signal for an occupant protection device, and a corresponding device. During normal operation, at least one short-term window integral is calculated from the at least one basic feature and used as a starting value for calculating a corresponding long-term integral when a starting condition for a crash operation obtains, the at least one long-term integral being made available to a following method as a feature for generating the triggering signal for the occupant protection system.

Abstract: There are provided an abnormality reporting device that can generate vibration which can be easily perceived by a driver even when the driver is in a vibrating vehicle during running, and a control program therefore. The abnormality reporting device is equipped with a detector 2 for detecting the state of a driver 10 or the state of a vehicle 20 as a prescribed state when the vehicle 20 is moving, a judging unit 4 for judging on the basis of the detection result of the detector 2 whether it is under an abnormal state, and a vibrating unit 8 for applying vibration of a predetermined vibration pattern to the driver 10 when the abnormality state is judged, and the vibrating unit 8 can apply the vibration while varying the vibration pattern when the abnormality state is continued.

Abstract: Externally deployed airbag system for a vehicle including one or more inflatable airbags deployable outside of the vehicle, an anticipatory sensor system for assessing the probable severity of an impact involving the vehicle based on data obtained prior to the impact and initiating inflation of the airbag(s) in the event an impact above a threshold severity is assessed, and an inflator coupled to the anticipatory sensor system and the airbag for inflating the airbag when initiated by the anticipatory sensor system. The airbag may be housed in a module mounted along a side of the vehicle, in a side door of the vehicle (both for side impact protection), at a front of the vehicle (for frontal impact protection) or at a rear of the vehicle (for rear impact protection). Also, the externally deployed airbag can be deployed to cushion a pedestrian's impact against the vehicle.

Abstract: A collision determination apparatus detects a current value of a lateral acceleration of a subject vehicle for calculating a collision risk index, and the collision risk index is used to determine the risk of collision of the subject vehicle with a front object. As the collision risk index takes the lateral acceleration of the subject vehicle into account, the collision risk index correctly represents a risk of collision of the subject vehicle with the front object when the subject vehicle is traveling in a condition that is under an influence of the lateral acceleration.

Abstract: The invention provides an effective technique for appropriately restraining a vehicle occupant at the time of a side collision of a vehicle. An occupant restraint system mounted to a vehicle comprises a camera, a side impact sensor, an acceleration sensor, an ECU, and an airbag module. The ECU changes a threshold value setting for collision velocity at the time of a side collision of the vehicle according to whether or not a colliding object involved in the side collision of the vehicle is a pole-like object, and controls the airbag module based on the set threshold value.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting a rollover of a vehicle that includes at least one wheel reaction force sensing device for transmitting wheel reaction force signals indicative of an amount of force exerted on at least one wheel of the vehicle is provided. The system includes a controller operably coupled to the at least one wheel reaction force sensing device and including at least one accelerometer sensor for transmitting acceleration signals. The controller is configured to determine a first force index in response to the wheel reaction force signals, determine a first lateral acceleration of the vehicle in response to the acceleration signals, compare the first force index to a threshold force index and the first lateral acceleration to a threshold lateral acceleration, and deploy a restraint system based on the comparison.

Abstract: In a method for triggering a passenger protection arrangement for a vehicle, a crash type is detected with the aid of at least one structure-borne noise signal, and the triggering takes place as a function of the crash type. For the crash type recognition, the structure-borne noise signal is evaluated in a predefined time period with regard to a change in amplitude.

Abstract: A vehicle collision detector is configured to reliably activate an airbag system at a collision and prevent the airbag system from erroneously operating. The collision detector includes two acceleration sensors disposed at different positions in a vehicle to detect acceleration for collision determination, first and second collision routines in which a determination is made on whether or not a variation in the detected acceleration is caused by a collision, and a final collision routine in which an airbag module is activated when all of results of the first and second collision routines indicate a collision.

Abstract: A safety system for a motor vehicle has a yaw rate sensor for detecting a yaw rate of the vehicle and impact sensors for detecting a side impact. A control module calculates a lateral kinetic energy of the vehicle if the yaw rate exceeds a threshold value, and an occupant restraint is activated based upon the lateral kinetic energy and signals from the side impact sensors. The disclosed system and method provide for improved restraint deployment decisions when a vehicle has a lateral velocity associated with a high yaw rate, as may be the case during a spin or a skid.