An apparatus (10) for producing an image of an object (12) which is illuminated by a pulse of artificial light and by ambient light. That apparatus (10) has a two dimensional array (15) of photodetector elements (20) each of which includes a semiconductor ...

In a method for restraining a vehicle occupant with the aid of a vehicle restraint system, in the event of an accident, a belt force transmitted from a safety belt to the vehicle occupant is measured and a release of the safety belt is controlled.

A object (20) on a seat (16) of a motor vehicle (10) is classified by creating a video image of the area and forming a silhouette of the object. The silhouette is divided into two segments and a separate ellipse (64,66) is positioned to approximate the sha...

The sensor (1) comprises an array of photo sensitive elements for acquiring images of the passenger compartment in a motor vehicle and a circuit (20) for processing the signals corresponding to said images generated by said photo sensitive elements. The pr...