Vehicular control method to avoid collisions in which a smartphone is coupled to the vehicle while in a vehicular compartment. Data is generated from vehicle-resident sensors about operation of the vehicle and transferred from the vehicle to the smartphone while the smartphone is coupled to the vehicle. A communications network with another vehicle is established using the smartphone and the data transferred from the vehicle to the smartphone and data from sensors on the smartphone is transmitted via the smartphone and established communications network to other vehicle, the data including data about location and movement of the vehicle. Then, while the smartphone is coupled to the vehicle, a vehicular operational function is controlled based in part on data transmitted using the smartphone and established communications network to cause movement of the vehicle to change in order to avoid a collision with the other vehicle.

A method for providing an activation signal activating a vehicle occupant protection device includes reading in passenger compartment data from a passenger compartment detection unit and seat belt data from a seat belt sensor. The passenger compartment data represent a passenger compartment of the vehicle. The seat belt data represent a seat belt fastening angle of a seat belt of the vehicle at a belt reversing point relative to a reference axis of the vehicle. The method also includes determining, based on the passenger compartment data, a piece of seat position information representing an occupancy state of a vehicle seat by an occupant and a relative position of the seat relative to the vehicle; ascertaining an occupant class, representing a physical characteristic of the occupant, using the seat position information seat belt data; and generating the activation signal using the seat position information and the occupant class.

A vehicle occupant protection apparatus has a strap configured to extend across the front of a body of an occupant sitting on a seat of a vehicle, a pre-tensioner configured to retract the strap, a vehicle orientation sensor configured to detect either one of a change in the orientation of the vehicle and an operation for changing the orientation, and a controller configured to cause the pre-tensioner to start retracting the strap prior to a collision or when a collision occurs. After the retracting of the strap starts, the controller temporarily stops or eases the retracting of the strap in accordance with the change in the orientation of the vehicle.

In a seatbelt device, when paying out webbing from a spool of a webbing take-up device to fit the webbing over the body of an occupant, drive of a first motor of the webbing take-up device is controlled based on the magnitude of a signal level of a load detection signal output by a load sensor according to the physical build of the occupant, and pulse data stored in a storage unit corresponding to each signal level of the load detection signal.

A belt assembly includes a belt retractor, a sensor having a detection field, and a belt retractably payable from the belt retractor through the detection field. The belt has a webbing and a plurality of markers fixed to the webbing. The webbing has a longitudinal length and the markers are equally spaced along the longitudinal length of the webbing. The sensor senses the length of the webbing paid out. A size of the occupant may be determined based on the length of the webbing paid out, and the size of the occupant may be used to classify the occupant in classes.

Systems and method are provided for controlling a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method for determining the state of a restraint system provided within a vehicle includes incorporating one or more marker components into a restraint system component located within the vehicle, then receiving sensor data associated with the position of one or more of the marker components. The method further includes determining, with a processor, a state of the restraint system based on the sensor data.

A seatbelt system may include a seatbelt configured to constrain a waist and a torso of an occupant. The seatbelt may also include a coupling configured to selectively couple a portion of a vehicle and the seatbelt to one another. The system may also include a reel configured to receive at least a portion of the seatbelt, and a tension sensor associated with the coupling and/or the seatbelt and configured to generate a signal indicative of tension in the seatbelt. The system may also include a deployment sensor associated with the seatbelt and configured to generate a signal indicative of a length of the seatbelt deployed from the reel. The system may also include an occupant detector configured to determine, based at least in part on the signals indicative of tension and the length, whether an occupant is properly wearing the seatbelt, such that the seatbelt constrains the occupant.

A method for monitoring a passenger compartment of a vehicle. The passenger compartment has at least one RFID transponder. A readout signal for reading out the RFID transponder is emitted in the method. In response to the emitting, a response signal of the RFID transponder is measured in order to obtain a measured value. Using the measured value, a degree of obscuration that represents an obscuration of the RFID transponder is ascertained in order to monitor the passenger compartment.

The invention relates to a belt retractor comprising a signal transmitter ring (6) for a magnetic sensor (34). comprising a hub (14) which is connected to the belt reel in a rotationally fixed manner and comprising a signal transmitter portion (20) exhibiting periodically varying material properties when viewed in the circumferential direction, wherein the signal transmitter portion includes a stop (30) by which it abuts against a contact surface (32) associated therewith, and comprising a spring portion (18) acting on the signal transmitter portion relative to the hub so that the stop abuts against the contact surface.

A seatbelt payout measuring device with a rewind spring having a first end connected to a center spool and a second end connected to a rewind spring housing. A dielectric material layered immediately adjacent to the rewind spring forming a first layer and an electrolytic coil with dielectric material layered on both sides forming a second layer, isolating the rewind spring from the electrolytic coil. A capacitive measuring device having a first lead connected to the first end of the rewind spring and a second lead connected to a first end of the electrolytic coil. The capacitive measuring device measuring capacitance with belt pullout.