Siemens Automotive Corporation

Siemens Vdo Automotive Corporation

Ford Motor Company Limited

Siemens Canada Limited

Charles R Cook, Jr

Horst Belau

Marten Swart

Scott M Morell

Mark A Parsons

Paul Desmond Daly

Harald Lichtinger

Mark Andrew Parsons

Daniel Reich

Lauren M Peterson

Leoncio T Ang

Dan Reich

John F Astorino

Alanna Marie Quail

Hubert Braunwarth

Mark Clark

Paul Witt

Jeff Clark

Dan O'Rourke

A vehicle weight classification system determines the weight of a seat occupant for controlling airbag deployment. Strain gauge sensors preferably provide signals having a magnitude that is indicative of the weight of the seat occupant. A converting module converts the sensor signals into timing information. A microprocessor, which includes a timer module, receives the timing information and makes a weight determination from the timing information.

Signal processing in a vehicle classification system

A vehicle weight classification system recognizes the various factors that influence system performance. Some of the factors are compensated for using analog signal processing circuitry or techniques. Other factors are compensated for using digital signal processing techniques. The unique combination of analog and digital approaches, rather than pure analog or pure digital, provides an effective solution at addressing the various factors that influence signals and system performance in a vehicle weight classification system while keeping the cost and complexity of the system within acceptable limits.

Signal processing in a vehicle weight classification system

A vehicle air intake system includes a noise cancellation assembly. A cooling member is provided at least partially within an air passageway for dissipating heat within an electronics module portion of the noise cancellation assembly. The cooling member preferably is a brass material insert that is supported at least partially within an air passageway by a housing that supports components of the noise cancellation assembly. A connecting member that thermally couples the electronics module to the cooling member also operates to secure the electronics module to the housing in one example embodiment.

Active noise cancellation arrangement with heat dissipation

A system for controlling air bag deployment in vehicles includes the capability of accommodating varying inductants values in the air bag circuit. Wire harnesses that couple air bag components have varying characteristics, such as length, which affect the inductants value of the circuit. The inventive arrangement utilizes charge and discharge times of at least one capacitor for measuring the inductants of a particular circuit. The system includes a controller that accommodates the inductants by introducing an appropriate delay in the firing circuit signal to operate the air bag.

AC firing circuit for air bag systems

A vehicle occupant sensing system includes a laser array that generates three beams. A first beam is directed toward an upper body zone, a second beam is directed toward a middle body zone, and a third beam is directed toward a lower body zone. A first sensor assembly receives reflection beams from the upper body zone and generates a first signal that represents a proportional amount of an occupant present in the upper body zone. A second sensor assembly receives reflection beams from the middle body zone and generates a second signal that represents a proportional amount of the occupant present in the middle body zone. A third sensor assembly receives reflection beams from the lower body zone and generates a third signal that represents a proportional amount of the occupant present in the lower body zone. The laser array and the first, second, and third sensor assemblies are all mounted within a common housing that is mounted to a vehicle structure such as an A-pillar or rear view mirror. A central processor receives the first, second, and third signals and combines the signals to generate a control signal representative of the position of the occupant within the vehicle. The control signal is used to control deployment of an airbag based on the position of the occupant within the vehicle.

Vehicle occupant sensing system

A switched capacitor circuit for delivering electrical triggering energy to an airbag squib of a supplemental restraint system for a vehicle, or a plurality of such airbag squibs, employs a switching arrangement on both sides of the airbag squib. An energy storage element, which may be a capacitor having stored therein a quantum of energy sufficient to fire the airbag squibs is coupled thereto by a substantially series pair of electronic switches connecting each terminal of the storage capacitor to each terminal of the airbag squib arrangement. A further capacitor is coupled across the airbag squib arrangement, electrically intermediate of the substantially series pairs of electronic switches. A still further capacitor is coupled across the airbag squib arrangement itself. This arrangement can withstand plural short-circuit false conditions, including short-circuits to ground or to supply potential at the terminals of the airbag squib arrangement itself. There is additionally provided a switching arrangement for implementing a predetermined priority of firing of a plurality of airbag squibs and reconfiguring electrically the plurality of airbag squibs.

Switched capacitor circuit for firing vehicle airbag squibs

A control arrangement for a deployable airbag of a vehicle is provided with first and second airbag controllers for receiving a fault signal at the first airbag controller, and for producing at the second airbag controller a deployment command signal that indicates that the deployable airbag is to be deployed. The second airbag controller receives the deployment command signal, and is provided with a communication controller for receiving the deployment command signal, a squib for firing in response to the deployment command signal whereby the deployable airbag is deployed, and an energy transfer arrangement coupled to the communication controller and the squib for transferring a deployment energy to the squib in response to the deployment command signal. The squib is configured to require a predeterminable minimum quantum of energy to effect the firing thereof in response to the deployment command signal. A heater is coupled to an energy transfer arrangement for receiving a second electrical energy from the energy transfer arrangement and providing preheat to the squib in response to the second electrical energy, whereby the predeterminable minimum quantum of energy applied to effect firing of the squib is exceeded by a combination of the first electrical energy and the preheat energy, which is monitored and controlled.

Airbag squib with silicon circuit and energy storage

A control arrangement for a deployable airbag of a vehicle is provided with a squib for firing in response to a deployment command signal whereby the deployable airbag is deployed. Bilateral communication is effected between the control arrangement and an airbag electronic controller. Electrical energy and data, including the deployment command signal are conveyed to the control arrangement, and at least self-diagnosis information is conveyed to the airbag electronic controller. The squib is configured to require a predeterminable minimum quantum of energy to effect the firing thereof in response to the deployment command signal. A heater provides a radiated preheat to the squib, whereby the predeterminable minimum quantum of energy applied to effect firing of the squib is exceeded by a combination of the first electrical energy and the radiated preheat energy. The squib and the preheater preferably are both formed on a silicon substrate using a conventional integration process. The radiated preheat energy is monitored and controlled, and the energy required to effect firing of the squib is proportional to the difference between temperature of the squib, in response to the radiated preheat energy, and the predeterminable firing threshold temperature of the squib.

Airbags squib with temperature bias

The electronics are self-contained within the fuel rail assembly and include a microprocessor-based arrangement for enabling the fuel rail assembly to be dynamically calibrated over its full operating range at the factory and to be subsequently operated by serial data transmitted to it from the engine management computer.

Electronic calibrated fuel rail

Two discrete self-heating elements are provided in a silicon based sensor structure. The first, 'transfer' self-heating element receives constant current and elevates the temperature of the sensor structure to a desired initial temperature above ambient. The second, 'sensor' self-heating element is thermally coupled to the first element and receives a current adjusted based on the difference between ambient temperature and the sensor structure temperature so as to maintain a constant temperature difference. Most of the current flowing through the sensor heating element is thus attributable to fluid flow, and this current can therefore be conveniently used to determine fluid flow parameters (e.g., mass air flow). The elements may comprise thin films which may be interlaced or stacked vertically.

Thin-film air flow sensor using temperature-biasing resistive element

A matrix consisting of glass microspheres and cured epoxy is disposed in a cavity at the backside of the silicon diaphragm to strengthen the diaphragm without any significant adverse influence on the ability of the sensor to quickly and accurately respond to changes in mass air flow. The strenthening which is imparted to the device enables it to comply with certain specifications defining the extent to which the device must be capable of withstanding damage from air-entrained dust particles acting on the frontside of the diaphragm.

Growing community of inventors

Rochester Hills, MI, United States of America

Charles R Cook, Jr