Trw Limited

Nxp B.v.

Freescale Semiconductor,inc.

Nxp Usa, Inc.

Trw Automotive U.S. LLC

Russell Joseph Lynch

Jon Kelly Wallace

Scott E Kolassa

Farid Khairallah

Keith R Miciuda

Roger A McCurdy

Amornthep Saiyajitara

Chayathorn Saklang

Chanon Suwankasab

Stephen Ryan Hooper

Yun Luo

Siddhartha Gopal Krishna

Vikram Varma

Bernd Offermann

Matthew Wayne Muddiman

Robert Dziadula

Michael Collins

James Lee Grothe

A shielded semiconductor device has a first die attached to a die pad of a lead frame and a second die attached to a surface of the first die. The first die is electrically connected to inner lead ends of leads that surround the die pad, and the second die is electrically connected to the first die and to an inner end of a shielding lead. A mold compound forms a body around the first and second dies and the electrical connections. Outer lead ends of the leads project from the sides of the body. The outer end of the shielding lead projects from a central location of one side of the body and is bent up the side surface from which it projects and over the top of the body and provides EMI shielding.

Semiconductor device with integral EMI shield

A press-fit semiconductor device includes a lead frame having a die pad, leads with inner and outer lead ends, and a press-fit lead. The press-fit lead has a circular section between an outer lead end and an inner lead end, and the circular section has a central hole that is sized and shaped to receive a press-fit connection pin. A die is attached to the die pad and electrically connected to the inner lead ends of the leads and the inner lead end of the press-fit lead. The die, electrical connections and inner lead ends are covered with an encapsulant that forms a housing. The outer lead ends of the leads extend beyond the housing. The housing has a hole extending therethrough that is aligned with the center hole of the press-fit lead, so that a press-fit connection pin can be pushed through the hole to connect the device to a circuit board.

Press-fit semiconductor device

A system includes first and second modules, each having a sensor and a processing circuit. First and second fault detection circuits are coupled with respective first and second modules. Each of the first and second fault detection circuits determines from a processed signal output from a corresponding module whether the module is faulted, prevents output of the processed signal when the module is faulted, and enables output of the processed signal when the module is not faulted. A signal processing unit combines the processed signals from the first and second modules to produce a first output signal when neither of the first and second modules is faulted, and the signal processing unit produces a second output signal by utilizing only the processed signal from a non-faulted one of the first and second modules when the other of the first and second modules is faulted.

Redundant sensor system with fault detection and mitigation

A system for detecting a mismatch between first and second input signals includes first and second analog-to-digital converters, a time-division multiplexing circuit, first and second processors, a time-division de-multiplexing circuit, and a gating circuit. The first processor includes a first sinc filter, a first trimmer, a first infinite impulse response (IIR) filter, and a first high pass filter (HPF). The second processor includes a second sinc filter, a second IIR filter, and a second HPF. A bandwidth of the second IIR filter and the second HPF is greater than a bandwidth of the first IIR filter and the first HPF. A transfer function of the first IIR filter and the first HPF uses floating-point coefficients and a transfer function of the second IIR filter and the second HPF uses coefficients that are an integral power of two.

Input signal mismatch detection circuit

A method and apparatus () for recognizing and determining a location of an object () in an area of interest () comprises an imaging device () for obtaining an image of the area of interest. At least three identifying marks () are located at predetermined positions in the area of interest (). The apparatus () also comprises a memory () in which the predetermined positions of the at least three identifying marks () are stored. A controller () determines whether the imaging device () is calibrated properly by analyzing the image obtained by the imaging device to determine whether positions of the at least three identifying marks () in the obtained image correspond to the predetermined positions stored in the memory (). The controller () is also adapted to determine whether a view of the area of interest () from the imaging device () is obstructed.

Method and apparatus for self-diagnostics of a vision system

A communication system ( ) includes a communication bus ( ) through which a power/voltage transmitter ( ) conveys electrical energy and messages to a plurality of units ( ). The power/voltage transmitter ( ) includes components for adjusting voltage of the electrical energy past a first predetermined threshold to provide a first type message frame and modulating the voltage of the electrical energy during the first type message frame to convey a first type message. The power/voltage transmitter ( ) also includes components for adjusting the voltage past a second predetermined threshold to provide a second type message frame and modulating the voltage of the electrical energy during the second type message frame to convey a second type message.

Communication system and method utilizing message frames having multiple thresholds for a multi-device vehicle occupant protection system

A distributed vehicle safety system ( ) includes a plurality of devices ( ), each of which performs a function associated with safety at a vehicle ( ). A bus ( ) conveys communication regarding the devices ( ). An isolation device ( ) is associated with each device ( ) and electronically isolates one of the devices from the bus ( ) upon occurrence of a fault condition. Preferably, the system ( ) includes a plurality of control circuitries ( ), each for controlling a respective one of the devices ( ), and the control circuitry is isolated with the associated device (i.e., each control circuitry/device arrangement is isolated). In one embodiment, a plurality of bus connector/bus plug mated pairs ( and ) connects the plurality of control circuitry/device arrangements ( and ) to the bus ( ). Each connector/bus plug pair ( and ) includes a switch (e.g., ) for enabling communication between a respective control circuitry/device arrangement ( and ) and the bus ( ), and for disabling communication between the respective control/device arrangement and the bus in response to a fault condition.

Distributed vehicle safety system having fault protection

A vehicle occupant protection system (,) includes an actuatable device (e.g.,,) for protecting a vehicle occupant (,). An accelerometer (e.g.,,) and a crash determination portion (,) of a controller (,) derive a first metric indicative of a vehicle crash condition. A Z-axis accelerometer (,) and a safing portion (,) of the controller (,) derive a second metric indicative of a vehicle vertical acceleration characteristic. The controller (,) actuates the device (e.g.,,) to protect the occupant (,) in response to the first metric indicating a vehicle crash condition and the second metric exceeding a predetermined threshold. Preferably, the system (,) includes a second device (e.g.,,) and another accelerometer (e.g.,,) and another crash determination portion (,) of the controller (,) to derive a third metric indicative of a vehicle crash condition. The controller (,) actuates the device (e.g.,,) to protect the occupant (,) in response to the third metric indicating a vehicle crash condition and the second metric exceeding a predetermined threshold. Thus, the second metric is utilized twice.

Vehicle occupant protection system and method utilizing Z-axis central safing

A distributed vehicle safety system (,) and an associated method provide for connection of a plurality of devices (,). Each of the devices (,) performs a function associated with protection of a vehicle occupant. A communication bus (,) conveys communication for the devices (,). The bus includes first and second conductors (,A and,B). A first portion (subset K) of the devices (,) are daisy-chain connected, with respect to each other, along one (e.g.,,A) of the conductors of the bus (,). A second portion (subset L) of the devices (,) are connected in parallel across the first and second conductors (,A and,B) of the bus (,). The second portion (subset L) contains at least one and preferably several devices (,).

Mixed parallel and daisy chain bus architecture in a vehicle safety system

A system (,) conveys energy and communication between a master (,) and a plurality of slaves (,), via a bus (,). A power/voltage transmitter (,) of the master (,) provides electrical energy, having a voltage, onto the bus (,) to power the slaves (,). The power/voltage transmitter (,) adjusts voltage past a predetermined threshold to provide a message frame and modulating voltage during the message frame to convey messages to the slaves (,). Voltage receivers (,), at each slave (,), detect the voltage modulations to discern messages from the master (,) during the message frame. Current transmitters (,), at each slave (,), modulate current during the message frame to convey messages to the master (,). The current transmitters (,) utilize the modulation of voltage of the electrical energy to clock modulation of current. A current receiver (,) of the master (,) detects current modulations to discern messages from the slaves (,). Preferably, the system is part of an occupant protection system (,), and the slaves (,) include an occupant protection device.

Energy distribution and communication system and method utilizing a communication message frame for a multi-device vehicle occupant protection system

A communication system (10) for use in a vehicle occupant restraint system (12). A central controller (14) is connected to a plurality of restraint devices (16) by a power and communication conductor (20). A signal function (28), via a voltage modulator (30), of the central controller (14) sequentially outputs voltage modulation messages to the restraint devices (16) on the conductor (20). The application sequence of the voltage modulation messages corresponds to a predetermined sequence of the restraint devices (16). A signal function (40), via a current draw modulator (42), in each of the restraint devices (16) outputs current modulation messages to the central controller (14) on the conductor (20). The application of the current modulation message from each respective restraint device (16) coincides with the outputting of a voltage modulation message from the central controller (14) to another specified one of the restraint devices.

Communication system and method utilizing an interface protocol for a

A vehicle occupant restraint system (10) has an anti-theft feature. A restraint device (e.g., 12) of the system (10) is actuatable for restraining a vehicle occupant. The restraint device (12) has an identity associated with the system (10). A central controller (40) communicates with the restraint device (12) and controls actuation of the restraint device. The central controller (40) has a theft deterrent function (52) for discerning the identity of the restraint device (12) and for determining whether the identity of the restraint device corresponds to the system (10). The theft deterrent function (52) provides a signal (60) indicative of the determination.

Vehicle occupant restraint device, system, and method having an

An occupant restraint system (10) for a vehicle (22) has a plurality of controllable occupant restraint system devices (12). The plurality of devices (12) includes sensor devices (e.g., 12E) and/or occupant restraint devices (e.g., 12A). Each restraint system device (12) has programmable control circuitry (18) for permitting control of the respective restraint system device by a central controller (38). A control interconnection (44) connects the central controller (38) and the restraint system devices (12). Electronic switches (54) are connected in series along a line (46A) of the control interconnection (44). Each of the switches (54) is associated with one restraint system device (12). Each of the switches (54) regulates communication between the central controller (38) and any device(s) (12) (e.g., devices 2-N) downstream of the associated device (e.g., device 1). The control circuitry (18) causes the associated switch (54) to 'close' and permit communication between the central controller (38) and the device(s) (e.g., device 12-N), if any, downstream of the one restraint system device. The permitted communication is in response to the central controller (38) programming the control circuitry (18) of the one restraint system device. Methods for providing and using the vehicle occupant restraint system (10) are also provided.

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West Bloomfield, MI, United States of America

Russell Joseph Lynch