Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication – Vehicle subsystem or accessory control
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-04
2001-08-28
Nguyen, Tan (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication
Vehicle subsystem or accessory control
C701S038000, C180S271000, C180S282000, C340S429000, C340S440000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06282474
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to detecting rollover for an automotive vehicle, and more specifically, to a method and apparatus particularly suited for detecting rollover to trigger an occupant restraint system.
BACKGROUND
Occupant restraint systems and, in particular, inflatable occupant restraint systems, are increasingly being used in automotive vehicles. Nearly every vehicle now produced has driver and passenger front airbags. Side airbags are also increasingly being used in automotive vehicles. Side airbags use lateral acceleration sensors to detect the lateral acceleration of the vehicle and thus the presence of a side impact. In response to lateral acceleration, the side airbags are deployed.
Another newer type of inflatable occupant restraint system is a side curtain airbag. The side curtain airbag deploys from the ceiling or near the roof header and extends downward in front of the side windows of the vehicle. This system is designed to protect occupants in rollover conditions.
Another type of non-inflatable system is a pretensioner system coupled to the seat belt. A pretensioner system reduces the amount of play in the seat belts upon a sensed condition.
Each of the above systems may potentially be employed during rollover of a vehicle. Commonly, an energy-based model is used to determine when rollover occurs. Therefore, an accurate determination of rollover is desirable for use in determining when to deploy the restraints.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an improved rollover sensing system that may be used in the determination of when to deploy restraints in the vehicle. The rollover sensing system includes lateral acceleration sensors, a roll rate sensor, and a roll angle detector. A control circuit determines a predetermined rollover threshold in response to the roll rate and roll angle detector and calculates an adjusted threshold as a function of the predetermined rollover threshold and the lateral acceleration. The control circuit generates a control signal in response to the adjusted threshold.
In a further aspect of the invention, the rollover sensing system may be employed by an occupant restraint system to determine when the occupant restraint should be deployed.
In a further aspect of the invention, a method of detecting rollover in a vehicle comprises the steps of:
determining an energy rollover threshold;
determining an adjusted threshold as a function of said energy rollover threshold and lateral acceleration; and
generating a control signal in response to the adjusted threshold.
One advantage of the invention is that a robust and reliable determination of rollover is used to improve an energy-based rollover prediction.
Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent when viewed in light of the detailed description of the preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the attached drawings and appended claims.
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patent: 5161816 (1992-11-01), Okuda et al.
patent: 5480186 (1996-01-01), Smith
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patent: 5825284 (1998-10-01), Dunwoody et al.
patent: 6002975 (1999-12-01), Schiffmann et al.
patent: 6070681 (2000-06-01), Catanzarite et al.
Amin Mukesh J.
Chou Clifford C.
Wu Fubang
Beaulieu Yonel
Ford Global Technologies Inc.
Kelley David
Nguyen Tan
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