Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication – Vehicle subsystem or accessory control
Reexamination Certificate
1997-12-19
2001-10-30
Chin, Gary (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication
Vehicle subsystem or accessory control
C280S735000, C180S282000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06311112
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention is directed to a smart-type vehicle occupant restraint system and is particularly directed to a system and a method in which initiation of a smart process of a restraint device is controlled.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Vehicle occupant restraint systems that have an actuatable restraint device are known in the art. The actuatable restraint device of such a system is actuated upon the occurrence of a condition for which a vehicle occupant is to be restrained. An example of a condition for which a vehicle occupant is to be restrained is a vehicle collision.
One type of actuatable restraint 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 collision. Another type of actuatable restraint system has a seat belt extendable across a vehicle occupant and includes an actuatable device, such as a pretensioner, to move at least a portion of the seat belt relative to the occupant. The pretensioner is actuated upon the occurrence of a condition, e.g., a vehicle collision. The pretensioner removes slack from the seat belt to limit occupant movement.
An actuatable occupant restraint system includes one or more sensors for sensing one or more parameters that are indicative of a condition for which the vehicle occupant is to be restrained. For example, one sensor is a collision sensor, which provides a signal that indicates that the vehicle is in a collision condition. The one or more sensors provide signals to a controller. The controller evaluates the signal(s) and determines whether to actuate the associated occupant restraint.
One type of actuatable restraint system is known as a “smart” type of restraint system. A smart restraint system has one or more adjustable aspects that are adjusted to change the actuation (i.e., deployment) of the restraint device. For example, in a smart restraint system that includes an air bag, the deployment profile of the air bag is adjustable. The adjustable aspects regarding the deployment profile of the air bag may include adjustment of a timing sequence for inflation, adjustment of pressure within the air bag during inflation and upon completion of inflation, and adjustment of air bag position with respect to the occupant.
To make determinations regarding adjustment within a smart restraint system, one or more characteristics of the occupant is/are sensed. For example, one or more sensors of the smart restraint system sense one or more of the following characteristics: size of the occupant, weight of the occupant, and distance between the occupant and a vehicle component surface.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A vehicle occupant restraint system, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, includes an actuatable vehicle occupant restraint device, which is adjustable in response to an adjustment signal. Parameter sensing means senses a vehicle operating parameter functionally related to vehicle crash acceleration and provides a parameter signal indicative thereof. Determination means determines whether the parameter signal exceeds a threshold value. Characteristics sensing means senses an occupant characteristic and provides an occupant characteristic signal indicative thereof. Control means determines needed adjustment of the adjustable aspect of the restraint device in response to the determination that the parameter signal exceeds the threshold value and in response to the occupant characteristic signal. The control means provides the adjustment signal indicative of the determined needed adjustment to adjust the restraint device.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a vehicle occupant restraint system includes characteristic sensing means for sensing an occupant characteristic in response to a determination that a sensed parameter signal exceeds a threshold value and for providing an occupant characteristic signal indicative thereof. The system further includes control means for determining needed adjustment of the adjustable aspect of the restraint device in response to the occupant characteristic signal.
In addition, in accordance with the present invention, a method is provided for controlling an actuatable vehicle occupant restraint device having an aspect that is adjustable for adjusting actuation of the restraint device. A vehicle operating parameter functionally related to vehicle crash acceleration is sensed. A parameter signal indicative of the sensed vehicle operating parameter is provided. A determination is made whether the parameter signal exceeds a threshold value. An occupant characteristic is sensed and an occupant characteristic signal is provided which is indicative of the sensed occupant characteristic. A needed adjustment of the adjustable aspect of the restraint device is determined in response to a determination that the parameter signal exceeds the threshold value and in response to the occupant characteristic signal. The adjustable aspect of the restraint device is adjusted in response to the determined needed adjustment.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for controlling an actuatable restraint. The method includes sensing an occupant characteristic in response to a determination that a sensed parameter signal exceeds a threshold value, providing an occupant characteristic signal indicative of the sensed occupant characteristic, and determining adjustment of an adjustable aspect of the restraint device in response to the occupant characteristic signal.
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Blackburn Brian K.
Gentry Scott B.
Mazur Joseph F.
Chin Gary
Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell Tummino & Szabo L.L.P.
TRW Inc.
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