Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication – Vehicle subsystem or accessory control
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-23
2001-04-03
Cuchlinski, Jr., William A. (Department: 3664)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication
Vehicle subsystem or accessory control
C180S232000, C180S268000, C180S271000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06212454
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for controlling an actuatable restraint and is more particularly directed to a method and apparatus for disable an actuatable restraint in response to a determined crash velocity and displacement indicating an out-of-position occupant.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Actuatable occupant restraint systems for use in vehicles are well known in the art. Such restraint systems typically included an actuatable air bag, and accelerometer for sensing a vehicle crash condition, and control circuitry for performing a crash discrimination algorithm. The crash discrimination algorithm is responsive to the crash acceleration signal from the accelerometer. Crash algorithms often determined crash metrics such as crash velocity, crash displacement, crash jerk, etc., and compare these crash metrics against threshold values. In response to these comparisons, the actuation of the air bag is controlled. One air bag control arrangement is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,587,906 to McIver et al., and assigned to TRW Inc.
One known actuatable restraint control system monitors a vehicle crash condition using a displacement velocity crash metric. This arrangement is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,702,124 to Foo et al. and assigned to TRW Inc.
Other known actuatable restraint systems have recognized the desire to not deploy the restraint if the occupant is out-of-position (“OOP”). Such restraint systems include occupant position sensors that sense when an occupant is out-of-position and control the air bag in response thereto.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for disabling actuation of an actuatable restraint when an occupant's determined velocity and displacement as a result of the crash has placed the occupant out-of-position so that the restraint would not have sufficient time to deploy and enhance occupant protection.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus is provided for controlling an actuatable restraint in a vehicle. The apparatus comprises a crash sensor for sensing a vehicle crash condition and control means responsive to the crash sensor for providing an actuation signal for actuating the actuatable restraint. The apparatus further includes means for determining a crash velocity value, means for determining a crash displacement value, and means for preventing the actuation signal from actuation of the restraint when the crash velocity value and the displacement value exceed associated limits.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus is provided for controlling an actuatable restraint in a vehicle, the apparatus comprising an accelerometer providing a crash acceleration signal indicative of crash acceleration of the vehicle. Velocity determining means is coupled to the accelerometer for determining a crash velocity value from the crash acceleration signal. First comparing means compares the determined crash velocity value against a velocity threshold value and provides a first comparison signal indicative of the result of the comparison by the first comparing means. The apparatus further comprises displacement determining means coupled to the accelerometer for determining a crash displacement value from the crash acceleration signal. Second comparing means compares the determined crash displacement value against a displacement threshold value and provides a second comparison signal indicative of the result of the comparison by the second comparing means. Deployment determining means is coupled to and responsive to the crash acceleration signal for determining if a deployment crash event is occurring and for providing a deployment control signal when it determines that a deployment crash event is occurring. The apparatus further comprises means for processing the deployment control signal with the first and second comparison signals so that the deployment control signal is prevented from actuating the actuatable restraint when the first comparison signal indicates that the determined velocity value is greater than the velocity threshold value and the second comparison signal means indicates that the determined displacement value is greater than the displacement threshold value.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided for controlling an actuatable restraint comprising the steps of sensing a vehicle crash condition, determining crash velocity, determining crash displacement, and actuating the restraint in response to the sensed crash condition, the determined crash velocity and the determined crash displacement so that the restraint is not actuated if the determined crash velocity and crash displacement exceed associated limits prior to the step of sensing a vehicle crash condition sensing a deployment crash condition.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided for controlling an actuatable restraint in a vehicle, comprising the steps of sensing crash acceleration of the vehicle and providing a crash acceleration signal indicative of crash acceleration of the vehicle. The method further comprises the steps of determining a crash velocity value from the crash acceleration signal, comparing the determined crash velocity value against a velocity threshold value, and providing a first comparison signal indicative of the result of the comparison of the crash velocity value against said velocity threshold value. A crash displacement value is determined from the crash acceleration signal, the determined crash displacement value is compared against a displacement threshold value, and a second comparison signal is provided indicative of the result of the comparison of the crash displacement value against the displacement threshold value. The method further comprises the steps of determining if the actuatable restraint should be actuated based on the crash acceleration signal and providing a deployment control signal when it is determined that a deployment crash event is occurring. The deployment signal is processed with the first and second comparison signals so that the deployment control signal is prevented from actuating the actuatable restraint when the determined velocity value is greater than the velocity threshold value and the determined displacement value is greater than the displacement threshold value.
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Foo Chek-Peng (Anson)
Hibner Christopher John
Arthur Gertrude
Cuchlinski Jr. William A.
Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell Tummino & Szabo L.L.P.
TRW Inc.
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