Siemens Vdo Automotive Corporation

Continental Automotive Systems Corporation

Michael Allan Dingman

Brian Michael Curtis

Harald Lichtinger

Jeffrey Allen Clark

Maria T Kremer

Ronald Cook

A disclosed safety system for a vehicle is discloses and includes at least one sensor for sensing movement and forces on the vehicle indicative of an impact along a first sensing axis parallel with a longitudinal axis of the vehicle and a second sensing axis angled relative to a lateral axis of the vehicle. An electronic control unit is in communication with the at least one sensor and derives movement and force along the different axes from the information obtained relative to movement and forces along the second sensing axis. The electronic control unit uses the derived information to determine if a safety response is required based upon movement sensed by the at least one sensor and the information derived from information relating to movement along the second sensing axis.

Multi-axis vehicle sensor mounting

An occupant restraint assembly and for a motor vehicle operates to sense the tension forces on a seat belt to detect the presence of a human occupant or a child restraint seat. A sensor attached to the seat belt measures tension forces. The sensor is mounted in line with the seat belt. A strain gauge senses tension on the seat belt. An additional embodiment of the sensor includes three prongs attached to a common beam that allow the sensor to be slipped onto the seat belt without modification to the seat belt. A middle prong includes the strain gauge to sense movement relative to outside prongs. The seat belt threads over the outside prongs and under the middle prong such that tension on the seat belt forces the middle prong transversely to tension exerted on the seat belt.

Belt force sensor

A printed circuit board (PCB) assembly includes a stiffener member that eliminates the need for a separate PCB housing. The stiffener member is attached to the PCB at a first mount interface without the use of fasteners and is attached to a vehicle structure at a second mount interface. The first mount interface comprises a plurality of mounting feet that extend out transversely relative to a stiffener main body portion, and which are soldered directly to the PCB. The second mount interface comprises a plurality of radially extending tabs formed about the circumference of the stiffener member. The tabs each include an aperture for receiving a fastener. The stiffener member also includes gripping elements that resiliently engage electrical components mounted to the PCB to securely hold the electrical component in place and to reduce vibrations.

Growing community of inventors

Davison, MI, United States of America

Michael Allan Dingman