Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication – Vehicle subsystem or accessory control
Reexamination Certificate
2001-04-09
2003-03-04
Louis-Jacques, Jacques H. (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication
Vehicle subsystem or accessory control
C701S046000, C280S734000, C280S735000, C180S271000, C180S282000, C307S010100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06529810
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for controlling a vehicle actuatable occupant restraining device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Air bag restraining systems in vehicles for vehicle occupants are known in the art. An air bag restraining device may include a multistage inflator where the stages are actuated at different times in response to vehicle crash conditions.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,935,182 to Foo et al., assigned to TRW Inc., discloses a method and apparatus for discriminating a vehicle crash condition using virtual sensing. U.S. Pat. No. 6,036,225 to Foo et al., assigned to TRW Inc., discloses a method and apparatus for controlling a multistage actuatable restraining system in a vehicle using crash severity index values. U.S. Pat. No. 6,186,539 to Foo et al., also assigned to TRW Inc., discloses a method and apparatus for controlling a multistage actuatable restraining device using crash severity indexing and crush zone sensors.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for controlling a vehicle multistage actuatable occupant restraining system. A crash sensor senses crash acceleration and provides a crash acceleration signal indicative thereof. Crash velocity and crash displacement are determined in response to the crash acceleration signal. A first stage of the multistage actuatable occupant restraining system is actuated in response to the determined crash velocity as a function of crash displacement exceeding a low threshold. A transverse accelerometer senses transverse crash acceleration. The transverse acceleration as a function of the crash displacement is compared against a transverse threshold. The value of the low threshold is switched to a different value when the transverse acceleration exceeds the transverse threshold.
In accordance with another embodiment, the present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for controlling a vehicle multistage actuatable occupant restraining system. A crash sensor senses crash acceleration and provides a crash acceleration signal indicative thereof. Crash velocity and crash displacement are determined in response to the crash acceleration signal. A first stage of the multistage actuatable occupant restraining system is actuated in response to the determined crash velocity as a function of crash displacement exceeding a low threshold. A transverse accelerometer senses transverse crash acceleration. The transverse acceleration as a function of the crash displacement is compared against a transverse threshold. A crush zone accelerometer senses crush zone acceleration. The crush zone acceleration as a function of the crash displacement is compared against a crush zone threshold. The value of the low threshold is switched to a different value when at least one of the transverse acceleration exceeds the transverse threshold and the crush zone acceleration exceeds the crush zone threshold.
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Foo Chek-Peng
Sumner Paul Leo
Thanapathomsinchai Suthep
Tsai Meng-Fu
Wright Timothy Chester
Louis-Jacques Jacques H.
Tarolli, Sundheim Covell & Tummino L.L.P.
TRW Inc.
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