A range map of a visual scene generated by a stereo vision and associate image processing system, and is filtered to remove objects beyond a region of interest and for which a collision is not possible. Objects clustered in range bins are separated by segm...

A plurality of features determined from at least a portion of an image containing information about an object are processed with an inclusive neural network, and with a plurality of exclusive neural networks, so as to provide a plurality of inclusive proba...

A vehicle restraint actuator control system comprises an accelerometer that generates a signal responsive to vertical acceleration of the vehicle, a force responsive sensor that generates a signal responsive to the force exerted by a mass resting on the se...

A method and system (10) for controlling the tensioning of a vehicle seat belt utilizes a control processor (20) and a motor (12) to provide initial tensioning of the seat belt. After initial tensioning, the control processor (20) removes substantially all...

A gas generator or inflator (10) preferably contains a housing (12) formed from welding a cap (14) and a base (16) in nested and coaxial relationship. Welding a first wall (15) of the cap (14) with an adjoining and substantially coextensive second wall (17...

A rollover condition is detected responsive to the comparison of a figure of merit (FOM) with a threshold wherein the threshold is given generally as a function of a period of time commencing with a time of inception determined from one or both of a measur...

A seatbelt pretensioner (10, 210, 310) with a soft-start piston actuator (50) is provided. The pretensioner (10, 210, 310) cooperates with a webbing reel shaft (112, 212, 312) of a seatbelt retractor webbing reel (not shown). The pretensioner (10, 210, 310...

A pyrotechnic actuator 10 contains a tapered piston 30 that is first propelled through a chamber 18 upon actuator 10 operation. A narrower portion 38 of the piston 30 initially enters an annular retainer 40 having an annulus 42. The diameter or cross-secti...

A simplified multi-chamber inflator 10 utilizes a housing 12 having two initiator chambers 42 and 44 respectively formed within an initiator assembly 18. The initiator assembly 18 is formed by coupling a first component 26 and a second component 28 in nest...