Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-01
2001-04-24
Rice, Kenneth R. (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
active
06220628
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The subject invention relates to vehicle occupant protection device control, and is particularly directed to control of a plurality of actuatable protection device stages.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Occupant protection systems for use in vehicles are known in the art. One example type of a protection system includes an actuatable inflatable restraint device, which has an inflatable restraint cushion. The inflatable cushion is commonly referred to as an air bag and the device is referred to as an air bag module.
A controller determines whether the air bag module is to be actuated to inflate the air bag within a vehicle passenger compartment. The air bag module is actuated by the controller upon the occurrence of a predetermined condition for which a vehicle occupant is to be cushioned by the air bag. For example, when a crash sensor that is operatively connected to the controller senses a vehicle condition indicative of a vehicle crash condition, the air bag module is actuated.
Actuation of the air bag module includes initiation of a source of inflation fluid. An inflation fluid source includes gas generating material and/or a gas storage container. In one example type, fluid source initiation involves ignition of an igniter via electrical actuation. Often the igniter is a pyrotechnic squib. When an air bag module containing a squib is to be actuated, an electric current of sufficient magnitude and duration is passed through the squib to ignite the squib.
One particular type of air bag module is known in the art as a multi-stage system and includes a plurality of actuatable stages. Such a multi-stage air bag module typically includes two or more separate sources of inflation fluid controlled by actuation of associated squibs.
Turning to the condition that results in air bag module actuation, the typical condition is a vehicle crash condition. It is common to use a crash sensor that is an accelerometer to sense the vehicle crash condition. The accelerometer is typically sensitive along a single axis (e.g., a fore-two-aft vehicle axis). Such an accelerometer can have a full-scale sensitivity of 50 G, but may not be sensitive enough to detect pre-crash braking. Often, it may be desirable to detect pre-crash braking (i.e., as a pre-crash cursor to a potential vehicle crash condition). Also, rough roads may effect the accelerometer. The effect imposed upon the accelerometer by rough roads is inversely related to the sensitivity of the accelerometer.
In view of the characteristics of the accelerometer, there is often a need for a redundant “safing” crash sensor in some occupant protection systems. The accelerometer is a primary sensor in such a system, and both the primary and the safing sensor must respond to a condition (e.g., vehicle deceleration) that is indicative of a vehicle crash condition in order for the protection device (e.g., the air bag module) to be actuated.
Turning again to multi-stage air bag systems, often it is desirable to initiate the stages at different times (e.g., second stage initiation subsequent to first stage initiation). It is known to control initiation of the multiple stages based upon a timer function, the idea being that a time period is tolled for a second stage while first stage initiation occurs. In one example, a timer for the second stage is started at a beginning of a crash event. However, it is often difficult to monitor for the beginning of the crash event to start the timer. False starts (and stops) of the timer could occur due to spurious signals generated as the result of road noise.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with a first aspect, the present invention provides a vehicle occupant protection apparatus. Protection means of the apparatus has first and second stages that are actuatable to protect a vehicle occupant. First stage actuator means actuates the first stage of the protection means, and second stage actuator means actuates the second stage of the protection means. Enable means of the apparatus is responsive to actuation of the first stage of the protection means and enables actuation of the second stage of the protection means.
In accordance with another aspect, the apparatus includes sensor means for sensing actuation of the first stage of the protection means. Enable means of the apparatus permits actuation of the second stage of the protection means in response to sensed actuation of the first stage of the protection means.
In accordance with yet another aspect, the present invention provides a vehicle occupant protection apparatus. The apparatus includes protection means that has first and second stages that are actuatable for protecting an occupant. First stage initiator means is initiatable for actuating the first stage of the protection means. The first stage initiator means is initiated in response to a flow of initiating electrical energy. Second stage initiator means is initiatable for actuating the second stage of the restraint means. First actuation determination means determines whether to initiate the first stage initiator means and provides an electrical potential for the initiating electrical energy. Safing means, operative in response to a condition indicative of a need to protect the occupant with the protection means, permits the flow of the initiating electrical energy from the potential to the first stage actuator means. Second actuation determination means, responsive to the flow of the electrical energy initiating the first stage actuator means and responsive to the operation of the safing means, determines whether to initiate the second stage initiator means.
In accordance with still another aspect, the present invention provides a method of controlling a vehicle occupant protection apparatus that has a protection means with first and second stages actuatable for protecting a vehicle occupant. The first stage of the protection means is actuated. Actuation of the second stage of the protection means is enabled in response to the actuation of the first stage of the protection means.
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Rice Kenneth R.
Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell Tummino & Szabo L.L.P.
TRW Inc.
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