Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication – Vehicle subsystem or accessory control
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-07
2001-08-28
Camby, Richard M. (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication
Vehicle subsystem or accessory control
C280S735000, C180S272000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06282473
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention is directed to a system and method for controlling actuation of a vehicle occupant protection device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A typical vehicle occupant protection system includes a crash sensor, such as an accelerometer, an inflatable air bag, and an actuation circuit that controls the actuation of the air bag in response to an output signal from the crash sensor. The actuation circuit includes a controller that evaluates the output signal from the crash sensor signal and provides an actuation signal when it determines that a vehicle crash event is occurring for which actuation of the air bag is desired.
Systems have been developed to control the amount of inflation of the air bag in response to a detected occupant position and/or occupant weight. Examples of this type of system are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,330,226 to Gentry et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,626,359 to Steffens, Jr. et al.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a system for controlling a vehicle occupant protection device associated with a vehicle seat. The system includes a weight sensor operative to sense a weight condition of an occupant of the vehicle seat and provide a weight sensor signal. A second sensor is operative to sense a second condition of the occupant and provide a second sensor signal. A controller receives the weight sensor signal and second sensor signal. The controller analyzes the weight sensors signal and second sensor signal to determine inconsistencies between the weight sensor signal and second sensor signal. The controller enables actuation of the occupant protection device if the weight sensor signal and the second sensor signal are inconsistent.
Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a sensing system for use in a vehicle. The system includes at least two sensors. Each of the sensors is operative to sense a different condition of a vehicle occupant associated with a vehicle seat and to provide a sensor signal indicative of the sensed condition. An acceleration sensor is operative to sense acceleration of the vehicle and provide an acceleration signal. A controller is responsive to the sensor signals and the acceleration signal. The controller has a first operating mode when the acceleration signal indicates vehicle acceleration less than or equal to a first acceleration threshold. The controller has a second operating mode when the acceleration signal indicates acceleration greater than the first acceleration threshold. When the controller is in the first operating mode, it is operative to control actuation of a vehicle occupant protection device based on the sensed occupant condition being indicated by each of the sensor signals and the acceleration signal exceeding a second acceleration threshold. When the controller is in the second operating mode, it is operative to determine an occupant characteristic indicative of how each of the occupant conditions sensed by the occupant condition sensors varies over time. The controller controls actuation of the vehicle occupant protection device, when in the second operating mode, based on the acceleration signal exceeding the second acceleration threshold and based on the determined occupant characteristics.
Yet another aspect of the present invention is directed to a method for helping to protect an occupant located in a vehicle seat. The method includes the steps of sensing vehicle acceleration and providing an acceleration signal based on the sensed acceleration. First and second vehicle occupant condition signals are sampled over time. A determination is made as to how each of the first and second occupant conditions changes over a plurality of sampling intervals. Actuation of an occupant protection device is enabled if the first and second occupant conditions change inconsistently over the plurality of sampling intervals.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5330226 (1994-07-01), Gentry et al.
patent: 5626359 (1997-05-01), Steffens, Jr. et al.
patent: 5785347 (1998-07-01), Adolph et al.
patent: 5848802 (1998-12-01), Breed et al.
patent: 5904368 (1999-05-01), Blackburn et al.
patent: 5947514 (1999-09-01), Keller et al.
patent: 5954775 (1999-09-01), Cluff
patent: 6036225 (2000-03-01), Foo et al.
patent: 6094610 (2000-07-01), Steffens, Jr. et al.
patent: 6116639 (2000-09-01), Breed et al.
Camby Richard M.
Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell Tummino & Szabo L.L.P.
TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
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