Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication – Vehicle subsystem or accessory control
Reexamination Certificate
2001-04-24
2001-09-25
Camby, Richard M. (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication
Vehicle subsystem or accessory control
C340S903000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06295495
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to restraint systems for vehicles and, more specifically, to a method for multi-directional anticipatory arming of restraint systems for a motor vehicle.
It is known that motor vehicles such as automotive vehicles often employ restraint systems such as front airbags, side airbags, and pretension seat belts to help protect an occupant during an impact on the vehicle. Decision making for activation of these restraint systems is mainly based on signals from accelerometers. Sensing and deployment control algorithms embedded in a microprocessor determine whether an impact has occurred by monitoring the signals from the accelerometers. The severity of the impact is computed and the restraint systems are activated based on established thresholds. In addition to an impact sensor, a mechanical arming sensor is often employed to guard against inadvertent deployment due to electronic failure. The sensitivity of the arming sensors is selected to make sure no activation results from normal driving conditions.
For improved occupant protection and performance, restraint systems have to be robust in decision making to avoid inadvertent deployment during low speed impacts and rough driving conditions. Performance specifications, as to the restraint systems to activate under various impact conditions, are important. When an impact occurs, the sensing and control algorithms have to confirm that an impact has occurred and decide what restraint system to deploy before the energy of the impact is transmitted to the occupants of the vehicle.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide information about a potential imminent collision or impact and selectively prepare appropriate restraint systems for activation after an impact for improved occupant protection. It is also desirable to provide multi-directional arming of restraints in a vehicle for improved occupant protection. As a result, there is a need in the art to provide a method for multi-directional anticipatory arming of restraint systems in a motor vehicle that meets these desires.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention is a method for multi-directional anticipatory arming of restraint systems in a motor vehicle including the steps of monitoring outputs from impact radar sensors located on the vehicle. The method also includes the steps of determining whether an impact range is less than a predetermined value, obtaining a closing velocity (CV), and determining a supervisory time window (STW). The method further includes the steps of determining whether at least one of the CV and STW are within predetermined limits and setting a velocity arming flag to activation of the restraint systems if the CV and STW are within the predetermined limits.
One advantage of the present invention is that a method for multi-directional anticipatory arming of restraint systems is provided for a motor vehicle. Another advantage of the present invention is that the method for multi-directional anticipatory arming of restraint systems provides information about a potential imminent collision or impact and selectively prepares appropriate restraint systems for activation after an impact for improved occupant protection. Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the method for multi-directional anticipatory arming of restraint systems employs an integrated multi-variable front and side radar anticipatory sensors for supervisory arming of multiple restraint systems. Still another advantage of the present invention is that the method targets deployment of only restraint systems meeting requirements for arming and activation, which is important in optimizing restraint performance and minimizing costs. A further advantage of the present invention is that the method combines impact zone verification and closing velocity of obstacles for plausibility checks on the potential for impact. Yet a further another advantage of the present invention is that the method determines a Supervisory Time Window (STW) based on vehicle closing velocity and variable range, which sets specific time windows for tailored arming of restraints based on restraint system characteristic response. Still a further advantage of the present invention is that the method incorporates supervisory arming function, which sets range, obstacle front/side direction, and closing velocity conditional flags for additional performance reliability for restraint systems. Another advantage of the present invention is that the method incorporates a supervisory time window (STW) and threshold closing velocity (TCV) function for targeted robust non-deployment conditions at low speeds. Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the method employs an acceleration threshold adjustment, which allows variable degree of contribution from pre-crash closing velocity, impact velocity change, and initial condition thresholds for robust threshold adjustment. Still another advantage of the present invention is that the method employs an adjustment mechanism, which is an adaptive gain based on radar return degree of confidence, which is advantageous in minimizing any error due to radar signals. A further advantage of the present invention is that the method is robust in reverting to impact acceleration thresholds and the change in velocity after impact, if the radar performance is not met. Yet a further advantage of the present invention is that the method incorporates hierarchical supervisory role of the multi-directional arming function ensures additional input from the impact environment is sent to deployment control algorithms, which send signals to the restraint systems, assuring optimum performance.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood, after reading the subsequent description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5036467 (1991-07-01), Blackburn et al.
patent: 5430649 (1995-07-01), Cashler et al.
patent: 5587906 (1996-12-01), McIver et al.
patent: 5684701 (1997-11-01), Breed
patent: 5777225 (1998-07-01), Sada et al.
patent: 5826216 (1998-10-01), Lyons et al.
patent: 5835007 (1998-11-01), Kosiak
patent: 5845729 (1998-12-01), Smith et al.
patent: 5936549 (1999-08-01), Tsuchiya
patent: 6031848 (2000-02-01), Bullinger et al.
patent: 6032092 (2000-02-01), Laaser
patent: 6070115 (2000-05-01), Oestreicher et al.
patent: 6213510 (2001-04-01), Sugama
patent: 6216070 (2001-04-01), Hagashi et al.
patent: 0 728 624 A3 (1996-11-01), None
Morman Kenneth Nero
Prakah-Asante Kwaku O.
Camby Richard M.
Ford Global Technologies Inc.
Smith Gary A.
LandOfFree
Method for multi-directional anticipatory arming of vehicle... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method for multi-directional anticipatory arming of vehicle..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method for multi-directional anticipatory arming of vehicle... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2526914