Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication – Vehicle subsystem or accessory control
Patent
1998-01-02
2000-04-18
Louis-Jacques, Jacques H.
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication
Vehicle subsystem or accessory control
701 36, 701 29, 280734, 280735, 280733, 180274, 180282, 340436, G06G 776, B60R 2132
Patent
active
060526343
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a safety device applicable to a vehicle, and more particularly to an automobile.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
Pyrotechnic safety devices used in automobiles usually consist of safety circuits made up of an electrical power source supplying a certain voltage to the terminals of a pyrotechnic initiator connected, in series, with one or several acceleration sensors. The initiator having a fixed internal resistance, the sensors are generally shunted by a resistance having a nominal value greater than that of the internal resistance of the initiator. In this way, the initiator has a small current passing through it that is insufficient to cause it to be triggered. When a collision or a large deceleration of the vehicle is detected, one or more sensors are closed successively, causing a large increase in the current passing in the initiator.
The mechanism is then ignited, activating a mechanism which is linked to it. Typically the mechanism is a safety air bag.
A major disadvantage of these safety devices is that they are designed to collect information solely from acceleration sensors. Other important parameters, such as the speed of the vehicle or the level of braking are not taken into account.
Another disadvantage of these devices is that they do not memorise information relating to the conditions of the progress of a journey. They cannot therefore act as a black box in the event of an accident, nor diagnose, with accuracy the source of a breakdown.
Furthermore, these devices impose the simultaneous triggering of the whole of the safety systems provided in a vehicle.
Moreover, the correct operation of elements of the device is verified by ensuring an electrical continuity. This method, usable for resistive elements, is not suitable in the presence of semi-conducting elements. It is therefore not possible to integrate pyrotechnic initiators built around semiconducting bridges.
Another disadvantage appears when there is a fault in one of the sensors linked to an initiator. Usually, coherent information from two acceleration sensors detecting a large deceleration of the vehicle causes ignition of the initiator. If one of the two sensors closes and not the other, the safety device is deactivated. In this way, if a passenger remains safe from a premature or untimely triggering of the safety systems, his safety is no longer guaranteed in the event of a crash.
Also, the existing devices necessitate fixing right from the stalr the elements which are included in it. The sensors and the initiators present in the device must be predetermined in type and in number. It is therefore difficult to integrate them into different vehicles corresponding to distinctive measurement means and safety mechanisms.
Another disadvantage is apparent in the presence of one or several initiators built around semi-conducting bridges. In effect, it is essential to be able periodically to verify their functionality. This is usually called out in an indirect way. A veil, typically of tungsten is deposited on the semi-conducting bridge and its condition is checked. This indirect method has proved to be both rather impractical and only moderately reliable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The aim of the invention is to remedy these various disadvantages.
In particular, the aim of the invention is a safety device with a modular architecture, making it possible to modify its elements simply.
Another object of the invention is to keep information about the conditions of a journey in such a way that it is used as a black box and a diagnostic box.
The invention also has the aim of being able to integrate pyrotechnic initiators built around semi-conducting bridges, whilst periodically checking their working condition in a simple way and with high reliability.
Another object of the invention is to be able to sequence precisely the successive triggering of several safety systems.
The invention also aims at a systematic validation of an order of putting a safety mechanism into action.
To this end, t
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A. Hartl et al., "Airbag Systems--Their Permanent Monitoring and Its Meaning to the User", Vehicle Electronics in the 90's, No.-, Oct. 1990, pp. 187-193.
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Pathe Claude
Trousselle Raphael
Davey Bickford
Louis-Jacques Jacques H.
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