Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication – Vehicle subsystem or accessory control
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-19
2001-06-19
Cuchlinski, Jr., William A. (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication
Vehicle subsystem or accessory control
C701S036000, C340S436000, C180S282000, C180S268000, C280S734000, C280S728100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06249730
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to vehicle occupant protection systems that incorporate a safing function to control actuation of a protection device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Vehicle occupant protection systems that have at least one actuatable protection device are known in the art. An actuatable protection device of such a system is actuated upon the occurrence of a condition for which a vehicle occupant is to be protected. Two examples of conditions for which a vehicle occupant is to be protected are the occurrence of a vehicle frontal collision and the occurrence of a vehicle side collision.
One type of actuatable protection system includes an air bag module mounted within a vehicle such that an air bag of the module is inflatable within an occupant compartment of the vehicle. The air bag is inflated upon the occurrence of a condition, such as a vehicle frontal collision. Another type of actuatable protection system includes a side curtain module mounted within a vehicle such that an inflatable side curtain of the module is extendible between an occupant and side structure (e.g., door glass) of a vehicle. The side curtain is extended upon the occurrence of a condition, such as a vehicle side collision.
Typically, a protection system includes a controller that controls actuation of the one or more protection devices within the system. The control provided by the controller is in response to one or more signals provided from one or more crash sensors, or the processing of the one or more signals. For example, the protection system may include an accelerometer that outputs a signal indicative of vehicle crash acceleration. The controller determines whether the signal is indicative of crash acceleration above a predetermined threshold. When the threshold is exceeded, the controller actuates one or more protection devices.
Many known systems utilize sensory input from two sensors and/or the processing of the two sensory inputs in somewhat of a redundant fashion to make a final determination regarding actuation of a protection device. Both sensory inputs must indicate, or result in determinations, that a crash condition is present in order for actuation to occur. Typically, the redundant aspect is referred to as providing a “safing” function. Within a system that has a safing arrangement, one sensor/processing arrangement is referred to as primary and the other sensor/processing arrangement is referred to safing.
One example of a system that includes a safing function is a system that has an accelerometer responsive to a crash acceleration (e.g., deceleration along a longitudinal axis of a vehicle) and a simple mechanical switch that is responsive to crash acceleration in the same direction (e.g., longitudinal). The output of the accelerometer is processed to determine if a threshold value is exceeded. The mechanical switch merely closes in response to sufficient vehicle deceleration. Typically, the mechanical switch closes at a relatively low crash acceleration value compared to the threshold value utilized in conjunction with the accelerometer output. Accordingly, the switch closes at a very early stage of a vehicle crash. With the switch closed, when the crash acceleration as perceived by the accelerometer exceeds the predetermined threshold value, an occupant protection device is actuated.
As sophistication of occupant protection systems continue to increase, the number of protection system devices, the number of sensory inputs, and the amount of sensory data to process continues to increase.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one aspect, the present invention provides a vehicle occupant protection system that includes an actuatable device for protecting a vehicle occupant. Means derives a first metric indicative of a vehicle crash condition. Means derives a second metric indicative of a vehicle vertical acceleration characteristic. Means actuates the device to protect the occupant in response to the first metric indicating a vehicle crash condition and the second metric exceeding a predetermined threshold.
In accordance with another aspect, the present invention provides a vehicle occupant protection system that includes protection means actuatable for protecting a vehicle occupant. Means determines a first vehicle crash condition utilizing a first metric indicative of a vehicle longitudinal acceleration characteristic. Means determines a second vehicle crash condition utilizing a second metric indicative of a vehicle lateral acceleration characteristic. Means derives a third metric indicative of a vehicle vertical acceleration characteristic. Means actuates the protection means in response to the determined occurrence of the first crash condition and the third metric exceeding a predetermined first threshold value. The means also actuates the protection means in response to the determined occurrence of the second crash condition and the third metric exceeding a predetermined second threshold value.
In accordance with another aspect, the present invention provides a method of protecting a vehicle occupant. A first metric indicative of a vehicle crash condition is derived. A second metric indicative of a vehicle vertical acceleration characteristic is derived. An actuatable device is actuated to protect a vehicle occupant in response to the first metric indicating a vehicle crash condition and the second metric exceeding a predetermined threshold.
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Khairallah Farid
Kolassa Scott E.
Lynch Russell J.
Miciuda Keith R.
Wallace Jon Kelly
Cuchlinski Jr. William A.
Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell Tummino & Szabo L.L.P.
To Tuan C
TRW Inc.
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