Intelligent air bag system

• US 20010047344A1
• Filed: 05/16/2001
• Published: 11/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IMS Incorporated (Wesco International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: IMS Incorporated (Wesco International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Basir, Otman, Karray, Fakhri
• Granted Patent: US 6,889,215 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 706/8
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01068 between different sensors and airbag control unit
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01293 programmable for use in different vehicles or with different airbags configurations
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0153 using field detection presence sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01544 detecting seat belt parameters, e.g. length, tension or height-adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01546 using belt buckle sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01556 Child-seat detection systems

Abstract

An intelligent air bag system includes a controller communicating with a sensor suite and the air bag. The controller preferably includes a fuzzy inference engine. The sensor suite includes a plurality of sensors such as weight sensors, acceleration sensors, seat belt activation sensors, and the like. The fuzzy inference engine determines deployment by using a rule base including a multiple of parameters. The decision to deploy the air bag and the strength of the air bag deployment is determined by controller using fuzzy logic to more particularly tailor deployment to present conditions.

Claims

1. An air bag system comprising:

a controller including a fuzzy inference engine responding to a rule base;

a sensor suite communicating with said controller; and

an air bag communicating with said controller, said controller operable to activate said air bag in response to said sensor suite and said rule base.

2. The system as recited in

claim 1

, wherein said sensor suite includes a weight sensor.

3. The system as recited in

claim 1

, wherein said sensor suite includes a seat belt activation sensor.

4. The system as recited in

claim 1

, further comprising a database in communication with said controller.

5. A method of activating an air bag system comprising the steps of:

(1) defining a rule base relating a multiple of air bag deployment parameters and conditions;

(2) communicating inputs from a sensor suite to a controller operating upon the rule base; and

(3) determining whether to deploy an air bag in response to the rule base and said inputs.

6. A method as recited in

claim 5

, wherein said step (3) further comprises determining a strength of deployment of the air bag in response to the rule base and said inputs.

7. A method as recited in

claim 6

, wherein said step (3) is based in part upon whether a seat belt is fastened.

8. A method as recited in

claim 6

, wherein said step (3) is based in part upon vehicle type.

9. A method as recited in

claim 6

, wherein said step (3) is based in part upon passenger weight.

10. A method as recited in

claim 6

, wherein said step (3) is based in part upon classifying a severity of collision.