Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-24
2001-03-06
Culbreth, Eric (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C280S730100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06196579
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a vehicle occupant protection system, and more particularly to a rear impact occupant protection system for protecting a vehicle occupant during a rear impact crash event.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Typical rear impact restraint systems include seat belts and/or inflatable devices that are actuated in response to sensing a rear impact crash event. However, known rear impact restraint systems often are actuated regardless of whether a person is seated in the associated seat. In addition, such known systems may not adequately determine whether the vehicle occupant is properly positioned to benefit from actuation of the restraint device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a rear impact occupant protection system for protecting a vehicle occupant during a rear impact crash event. The system includes a vehicle seat having a seat back portion and an actuatable rear impact occupant protection device for, when actuated, protecting the vehicle occupant during a rear impact crash event. A first sensor senses the position of an occupant positioned on the vehicle seat and provides a signal indicative of the position of the occupant. A rear impact sensor senses a rear impact crash event and provides a signal indicative of such a crash event. A controller, in response to the first sensor signal, determines a condition according to the relative position of the occupant with respect to the vehicle seat. The controller selectively actuates the rear impact occupant protection device in response to the rear impact sensor signal and the condition.
Another feature of the present invention is directed to a method for protecting a vehicle occupant positioned within an occupant compartment of a vehicle during a rear impact crash event. The method includes the steps of sensing the position of an occupant located on a seat within the vehicle occupant compartment and providing a signal indicative of the occupant position. A rear impact crash event is sensed and a signal indicative of the rear impact crash event is provided. In response to the occupant position signal, a condition is determined according to the relative position of the occupant with respect to the vehicle seat. An actuatable rear impact occupant protection device is selectively actuated in response to the condition and the rear impact crash event signal.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5202831 (1993-04-01), Blackburn et al.
patent: 5330226 (1994-07-01), Gentry et al.
patent: 5366241 (1994-11-01), Kithil
patent: 5461567 (1995-10-01), Kelley et al.
patent: 5466001 (1995-11-01), Gotomyo et al.
patent: 5653462 (1997-08-01), Breed et al.
patent: 5670853 (1997-09-01), Bauer
Bowers Paul A.
Heilig Alexander
Culbreth Eric
Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell Tummino & Szabo L.L.P.
TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
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