| Patent application number | Description | Published |
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| 20080201042 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRE-DEPLOYING RESTRAINTS COUNTERMEASURES USING PRE-CRASH SENSING AND POST-CRASH SENSING - A system and method for deploying a restraint system in a vehicle that is in a pre-collision state with an object is provided. The system includes a pre-crash sensing system and a controller. The pre-crash sensing system is adapted to transmit pre-crash signals. The controller is configured to determine a closing velocity between the vehicle and the object. The controller is further configured to determine a predicted collision time based on the closing velocity and deploy the restraint system at a predetermined deployment time prior to the predicted collision time in response to the pre-crash signals. | 08-21-2008 |
| 20080243327 | Vehicle Safety System With Advanced Tire Monitoring - A control system ( | 10-02-2008 |
| 20080243334 | Vehicle Control System With Advanced Tire Monitoring - A control system ( | 10-02-2008 |
| 20080243335 | Vehicle Stability Control System With Tire Monitoring - A control system ( | 10-02-2008 |
| 20080303254 | SENSOR INTEGRATION FOR AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT - A system and method for deploying one or more airbags in a vehicle is provided. The system comprises a passive detection device, an active detection device and a controller. The passive detection device is configured to present one or more passive signals indicative of the motion of the vehicle after the vehicle has experienced an impact. The active detection device is configured to present suspension information related to the vehicle that is indicative of the motion of the vehicle prior to the vehicle experiencing an impact. The controller is configured to predict vehicle impact and deploy the airbags in response to the suspension information and the one or more passive signals. | 12-11-2008 |
| 20090039629 | AIRBAG SYSTEM FOR OUT-OF-POSITION OCCUPANT PROTECTION AND ADAPTIVE VENTING - The present invention provides a vehicle airbag assembly and method for deployment. An inflator is connected to an airbag wherein the inflator generates gases that cause inflation of the airbag. A housing substantially encloses the airbag and the inflator. The housing includes a vent hole for venting gases. An airbag tether is included having at least a first and a second end, wherein the first end is attached to the airbag and the second end is attached to a venting member. The venting member, being configured to cover the vent hole, is moveable with respect to the housing. During a first airbag deployment stage, the venting member is forced away from the vent hole as the inflator generates gases. An actuator releases the second end of the airbag tether from the venting member during a second airbag deployment stage for the passage of gases through the vent hole. | 02-12-2009 |
| 20090045928 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMBINED BLIND SPOT DETECTION AND REAR CROSSING PATH COLLISION WARNING - A vehicle is equipped with blind spot detection and rear crossing path collision warning system. Programmable maximum range limit radar sensors mounted on the vehicle are used to provide blind spot object detection warning when the vehicle is traveling in a forward direction and rear crossing path collision warning when the vehicle is traveling in a rearward direction. | 02-19-2009 |
| 20090099734 | POST IMPACT SAFETY SYSTEM WITH VEHICLE CONTACT INFORMATION - A system for providing post-impact signals in a vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes at least one impact zone with a passive safety sensor positioned at designated sections of the vehicle. The system comprises a plurality of passive safety sensors, a passive safety controller, and an active safety controller. The passive safety controller determines the impact location, impact direction and intensity. The passive safety controller transmits a passive output signal indicative of the impact intensity, impact direction and impact location. The active safety controller stabilizes the vehicle post-impact in response to the passive output signal. | 04-16-2009 |
| 20090121533 | SEAT RESTRAINING DEVICE - The embodiments described herein provide a vehicle seat assembly that is coupled to a floor of a vehicle. The assembly comprises a seat back frame, a seat cushion frame, at least one leg and at least one blocking member. The seat cushion frame is pivotally coupled to the seat back frame. The leg is pivotally coupled to the seat cushion frame and pivotally coupled to the floor of the vehicle. The blocking member is coupled to the seat cushion frame and capable of moving into engagement with the leg as the assembly moves from the folded position to the upright seating position. The blocking member is adapted to block movement of the leg and to stabilize the seat assembly in the event of a vehicle collision. | 05-14-2009 |
| 20090174536 | ACCIDENT AVOIDANCE DURING VEHICLE BACKUP - In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a method to operate a host vehicle having a rearview camera vision sensor, and an electronic controller with memory. The method comprises the steps of determining whether the host vehicle is in reverse gear, activating a rearview camera vision sensor on said host vehicle to detect objects, determining host vehicle motion and path of travel, simultaneously determining an inter-frame difference metric and a histogram difference metric of the field of view of said rearview camera, determining a dynamic scene change, determining a collision threat assessment based upon said dynamic scene change, and activating warnings and collision avoidance moves, | 07-09-2009 |
| 20090184708 | MAGNETORESISTIVE CONTINUOUS SEAT TRACK POSITION SENSOR - A magnetoresistive continuous seat track position sensor system to determine longitudinal movement of the seat along a length of a track is described. In one embodiment, the system comprises a magnetic array in a fixed position and having a width and a length along said seat track length. The array is equipped with a plurality of magnets arranged along the length of said array. The magnets have a polarity oriented at an angle θ relative to each other. The system further includes a magnetoresistive sensor in spaced apart close proximity to the magnetic array. In one embodiment, the magnetoresistive sensor is movable relative to the array. Movement of the sensor relative to the array creates a sensor signal indicative of the longitudinal position of said seat in said track to control auxiliary safety features. | 07-23-2009 |
| 20090248253 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTEGRATION OF CRASH SIGNATURE SENSOR IN VEHICLE SIDE IMPACT SENSING - A system and method for performing side impact sensing in a vehicle including at least one side impact zone is provided. The system comprises a controller and at least one crash signature sensor. The controller is configured to deploy one or more safety restraints in response to at least one crash signature signal. The one crash signature sensor is positioned in the side impact zone. The crash signature sensor is configured to detect an impact with an object at the side impact zone. The crash signature sensor is further configured to generate the crash signature signal which corresponds to measured structural impact energy of the vehicle in the side impact zone deformed by the impact at frequencies above 2 kHz. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20090261561 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRE-IMPACT DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG - An air bag deployment system includes a pre-impact sensor operative to detect an imminent impact and at least one post-impact sensor operative to detect an impact. An air bag has a non-deployed volume, a pre-impact deployed volume, and a post-impact deployed volume smaller than the pre-impact deployed volume. The air bag is deployed to the pre-impact volume wherein the air bag deployment system is arranged to deploy the air bag before the impact and the at least one air bag is deployed into the pre-impact deployed volume, in reaction to the imminent impact, and to the post-impact deployed volume in reaction to the impact. The system provides for enhanced occupant safety during a collision by allowing pre-impact deployment of the air bag in order to utilize the full possible length of deceleration for the occupant as the impact pulse affects the occupant. | 10-22-2009 |
| 20090312916 | LOW COST WHIPLASH REDUCTION SYSTEM - A low cost whiplash reduction system for a host vehicle, said host vehicle including a sensor arrangement operable to detect closing velocities of one or more rearwardly approaching objects substantially in a direction of travel of the host vehicle, and a processing arrangement for receiving information from the sensor arrangement indicative of said detected closing velocities, said processing arrangement being operable to actuate adaptive safety features in response to detected velocities of detected rearwardly approaching objects to the host vehicle to automatically selectively apply said adaptive safety features in response to said information received from the sensor arrangement for avoiding or mitigating host vehicle occupant neck whiplash injury occasioned by a crash of the rearwardly approaching object and the host vehicle | 12-17-2009 |
| 20090326764 | ULTRASONIC SENSOR-BASED SIDE IMPACT SENSING SYSTEM - A side-impact threat assessment system that uses at least one ultrasonic sensor is provided. A method of detecting a potential side-impact collision on a host vehicle is also provided. The method calls for using at least one ultrasonic sensor for presence detection and for providing sensed data used in estimating closing velocity. | 12-31-2009 |
| 20100078921 | OCCUPANT PROTECTION SYSTEM - System and method for protecting an occupant in a vehicle seat, through the use of an occupant protection system is disclosed, wherein the vehicle seat includes a backrest section and a seat section. The occupant protection system includes a first airbag assembly having a first inflatable airbag, wherein the first airbag assembly is containable within an airbag recess located within a vehicle roof portion. A second airbag assembly is included having a second inflatable airbag and a deployment location. The second airbag assembly is mounted to a frame that is integrated with the seat while being external to a seat cushion. The first inflatable airbag is configured to extend downward from the roof portion to below a passenger shoulder-thorax protection region while in an inflated state. The second inflatable airbag is configured to extend upward from the deployment location through a passenger pelvic-thorax protection region while in an inflated state. | 04-01-2010 |
| 20100123302 | INDUCTIVE VEHICLE SEAT POSITION SENSOR ASSEMBLY - An inductive vehicle seat position sensor assembly determines a linear vehicle seat position and has a circuit board member. First and second transmitter coils are proximate to a periphery of the circuit board member and radiate an out of phase magnetic field in response to an alternating current input. First and second receiver coils are offset relative to one another. The first and second transmitter coils and the first and second receiver coils span along the circuit board member. A loop coil member is provided for relative motion to the circuit board member. The first and second receiver coils generate a voltage with phase information corresponding to a position of the loop coil member relative to the circuit board member. A signal conversion unit produces a seat position output corresponding to the vehicle seat position based on the voltage with phase information of the first and second receiver coils. | 05-20-2010 |
| 20100179731 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PERFORMING VEHICLE SIDE IMPACT SENSING WITH UNIT AREA IMPULSE TECHNIQUE - 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. | 07-15-2010 |
| 20100201507 | DUAL-MODE VISION SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE SAFETY - A dual-mode imaging system for a vehicle includes an electro-optical camera mounted inside the passenger cabin and a drive unit for rotating the camera between a rear view position wherein the camera images an area rearward of the vehicle and a seating view position wherein the camera images a seating area within the cabin. When the vehicle is in a non-reverse travel mode, an electronic control module (ECM) directs the camera to the seating view position and analyzes imagery to determine an occupancy status for at least one seating position. A safety system undergoes a function change based on the occupancy status. When the powertrain is in a reverse travel mode, the ECM directs the camera to the rear view position and imagery from the camera is presented on a display screen displays for viewing by the vehicle operator while backing up. | 08-12-2010 |
| 20100220406 | Blind Spot Detection System - A method and system to control a side mirror are disclosed in which a blind spot detector is used to determine whether an alien vehicle is present in a blind spot of a host vehicle. A sensor proximate a driver's seat detects whether the seat is in a first range or a second range. The side mirror is rotated a first predetermined angle when the alien vehicle is detected and the seat is in the first range; and the side mirror is rotated a second predetermined angle when the alien vehicle is detected and the seat is in a second range. | 09-02-2010 |
| 20100286873 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ELECTRONICALLY OPERATING A VEHICLE OCCUPANT SEAT SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM - An electrically activated, electronically controlled web grabber in conjunction with a pre-impact braking system that holds the vehicle safety belt from the moment of activation, restricting forward movement of the occupant and can be activated prior to the impact to ensure occupant containment and deactivated upon command in order to release after an accident is avoided, or once the impact has started to allow other safety devices to take over control of the belts, for example, by load limiters. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20100289631 | DUAL-MODE VEHICLE REAR VISION SYSTEM - A dual-mode rear vision system for an automotive vehicle includes an electro-optical imaging device operable in a short range mode to image a backup region immediately rearward of the vehicle and operable in a long range mode to image a collision threat region rearward of the backup region. The imaging device assumes the short range mode when the vehicle is in a reverse travel mode and assumes the long range mode when the vehicle is in a non-reverse travel mode. An electronic control module (ECM) analyzes imagery from the imaging device to detect backup hazards when in the reverse travel mode, and to detect rear collision threats when in the non-reverse travel mode. The ECM activates an occupant protection system if a collision threat is detected, and generates a driver alert and/or a braking intervention if a backup hazard is detected. | 11-18-2010 |
| 20110006890 | SAFETY SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A VEHICLE - A system and method for activating a safety system when a vehicle may be involved in a spin, roll, and/or a spin-to-roll condition. The system and method include determining a side slip angle of the vehicle using the arctangent of the ratio of a lateral and longitudinal velocity. The system and method also include receiving a roll rate signal and determining a roll angle using the roll rate signal. The system and method also include determining a roll warning threshold that is a function of a relationship between the roll rate signal and the roll angle. Lastly, the system and method include activating the safety system when a side slip angle threshold and/or the roll warning threshold are exceeded. | 01-13-2011 |
| 20110074565 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IN-VEHICLE PRESENCE DETECTION AND DRIVER ALERTING - A system for alerting a responsible party to the presence of an occupant in a passenger compartment of a vehicle includes a vibration sensor detecting movement of an occupant, a microphone detecting sound made by the occupant, a processor configured to receive signals output from the vibration sensor and the microphone and to use a combination of the signals to determine whether the occupant is present, and an alerting device to provide an alert to the responsible party if the processor determines that the occupant is present. The microphone may also be used in a communication or voice-recognition command system. Two or more microphones may be used to locate the sound's source of origin. | 03-31-2011 |
| 20110074566 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF VEHICLE PASSENGER DETECTION FOR REAR SEATING ROWS - A system for detecting a passenger in a rear seating row of a vehicle and alerting an occupant of a vehicle when a passenger safety device in a rear row is not properly used. Occupancy is determined by sensing any actuation of a switch or control in the rear row along with detecting sounds made by the rear row passenger. A processor receives control activity signals indicating that a control has been actuated, receives audio signals generated by a microphone, and uses the control activity signals and the audio signals in combination to determine that the passenger is present. The processor also receives a status signal from the passenger safety device indicating that it is not in proper use. An occupant alerting device provides an alert to the occupant if the processor determines that the passenger is present and the passenger safety device is not in proper use. | 03-31-2011 |
| 20110137528 | Side Impact Safety System with Blind-Spot Detection Radar Data Fusion - A motor vehicle blind-spot detection system has a remote sensor covering a rear-quadrant blind spot sensing zone and a forward-quadrant side impact sensing zone. A control module receives signals from a side impact sensor and the blind-spot detection sensor, calculates an approach vector of an object in the side impact sensing zone and/or the blind spot sensing zone, determines that the object will impact the vehicle, initializes a side impact algorithm controlling activation of an occupant safety device, detects an impact on the side of the vehicle and determines a magnitude of the impact, compares the magnitude of the impact with a threshold value established at least in part based upon the magnitude of the approach vector, and activates the occupant safety device if the magnitude of the impact exceeds the threshold value. | 06-09-2011 |
