Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication – Vehicle subsystem or accessory control
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-05
2001-04-03
Chin, Gary (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication
Vehicle subsystem or accessory control
C307S010100, C280S735000, C180S282000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06212457
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention is generally directed to a vehicle safety system, such as an occupant protection system, that has a central control unit and a plurality of remote devices. The present invention is particularly directed to a system with an architecture that can minimize potential communication interruptions.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
One type of vehicle safety system is an occupant protection system. The protection system includes one or more sensor devices for sensing vehicle characteristics and/or occupant characteristics. The sensed characteristics are used to determine whether a vehicle occupant needs to be protected (e.g., restrained) and/or determine a deployment profile of a device that accomplishes a protection function. Examples of the sensor devices include a vehicle acceleration sensor, an occupant position sensor, and an occupant weight sensor.
The system includes one or more actuatable protection devices for protecting (e.g., restraining) the occupant. Examples of such protection devices include an air bag module, a knee bolster module, and a seat belt pretensioner module.
As the sophistication of occupant protection systems has increased, the number and complexity of the sensor and protection devices in a single vehicle has increased. In response to the increased number and complexity of devices, there has been a movement toward centralized control of the devices to reduce cost and to increase reliability of the overall protection system. In order to accomplish the centralized control, a bus architecture is used for conveyance of communication signals. A potential exists that bus communication may be interrupted by such occurrences as crushing during a vehicle collision and associated deployment actuation of the protection devices within the system during the collision.
One type of protection system that has been developed utilizing centralized control and communication via a bus is a daisy chain topology system. Within the daisy chain system, at least one conductor of the communication bus extends through each successive device. Daisy chain topology has an advantage in that individual remote devices (e.g., sensor and protection devices) can be installed into the associated vehicle in a non-programmed state (e.g., unaddressed). Once the devices are installed, a central control unit (CCU) programs each device via sequential polling or the like. Thus, it is desirable to maintain an ability to have a CCU program devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one aspect, the present invention provides a distributed vehicle safety system. The system includes a plurality of devices. Each of the devices performs a function associated with protection of a vehicle occupant. A bus means of the network conveys communication for the devices. The bus means includes first and second conductors. A first portion of the devices has a daisy chain connection topology along one of the conductors of the bus means, with respect to each other. A second portion of the devices has a parallel connection topology across the first and second conductors of the bus means, with respect to each other.
In accordance with another aspect, the present invention provides a distributed vehicle safety system that includes a plurality of devices. Each of the devices performs a function associated with protection of a vehicle occupant. Bus means conveys communication for the devices. The bus means includes first and second conductors. A portion of the devices are daisy chain connected, with respect to each other, along one of the conductors of the bus means. One of the devices is connected in parallel across the first and second conductors of the bus means.
In accordance with yet another aspect, the present invention provides a method of providing a distributed vehicle safety system. A communication bus that has first and second conductors is provided. A first plurality of devices is connected in daisy-chain topology along one of the conductors of the bus. Each of the first plurality of devices is capable of performing a function associated with protection of a vehicle occupant. A second plurality of devices is connected in parallel topology between the first and second conductors of the bus. Each of the second plurality of devices is capable of performing a function associated with protection of a vehicle occupant.
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Lynch Russell J.
Miciuda Keith R.
Wallace Jon Kelly
Chin Gary
Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell Tummino & Szabo L.L.P.
TRW Inc.
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