Daimler Chrysler Ag

Siemens Vdo Automotive Corporation

Conti Temic Microelectronic Gmbh

Hubert Braunwarth

Charles R Cook, Jr

Werner Steiner

Lauren M Peterson

Dan Reich

Johann Florian

Alanna Marie Quail

Wolfgang Schmid

Gerhard Schilling

Paul Witt

Frank Grosshauser

Dan O'Rourke

Robert Gold

Janez Skedelj

Mark Clark

Alfred Baumgartner

Jeff Clark

Ralf Reichart

Josef Kuttenreich

G&uuml;nter Reisacher

Method for data transmission

An optical transmitting and receiving device with light-conducting receiver, which are arranged inside the housing, in front of a light-permeable cover between a transmitting unit and a receiving unit, so that the share of light reflected at the light-permeable cover of the transmitting unit is conducted to the receiving unit, thus making it possible to detect the operational readiness of the transmitting unit as well as the degree of soiling of the light-permeable cover.

Optical transmitting and receiving device

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

Growing community of inventors

Friedberg, Germany

Hubert Braunwarth