Vehicle collision damage reduction system
First Claim
1. A vehicle collision damage reduction system comprising:
- means for sequentially detecting distance information to an object to be impacted moving relatively;
means for determining a collision danger level using the distance information;
means for absorbing collision energy in a vehicle structure formed to support part of the vehicle structure and absorbing collision energy applied thereto in a collision; and
means for controlling the collision absorbing energy means by outputting an operational command, before the collision, on the basis of either the object detecting means or the collision danger level means.
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Abstract
A vehicle collision damage reduction system is provided. The system works by detecting the relative speed between the vehicle and an object, such as another vehicle. A danger level is calculated based on parameters such as speed and distance to the object; the danger level could be at an “emergency level” or at some lower level. Based on the danger level, different corrective measures and the degree of the corrective measures can be adjusted to attempt to minimize occupant injury. For example, the airbag can be adjusted to better protect the occupant, a pre-tensioner can be activated at a certain level, and the inclination of a child restraint seat may be adjusted as well.
48 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A vehicle collision damage reduction system comprising:
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means for sequentially detecting distance information to an object to be impacted moving relatively;
means for determining a collision danger level using the distance information;
means for absorbing collision energy in a vehicle structure formed to support part of the vehicle structure and absorbing collision energy applied thereto in a collision; and
means for controlling the collision absorbing energy means by outputting an operational command, before the collision, on the basis of either the object detecting means or the collision danger level means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A vehicle collision damage reduction system comprising:
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an object detector for detecting distance information to an object to be impacted by the vehicle;
an electronic control unit for using the distance information and speed information of at least the speed of the vehicle to determine a collision danger level;
an airbag positioned to support a portion of the vehicle structure for absorbing collision energy applied thereto in a collision, the airbag being inflatable in response to a signal from the electronic control unit. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A vehicle collision damage reduction system comprising:
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means for sequentially detecting distance information to an object to be impacted moving relatively;
means for determining a collision danger level using the distance information;
means for absorbing at least a portion of the collision energy to which a vehicle occupant is exposed to in a secondary collision following a vehicle collision; and
,means for controlling the collision absorbing energy means by outputting an operational command, before the collision, on the basis of either the object detecting means or the collision danger level means. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21)
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15. A vehicle collision damage reduction system comprising:
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an object detector for sequentially detecting distance information to an object to be impacted moving relatively;
a mechanism capable of shortening a steering column at least in part in its axial direction, so as to increase the distance between the occupant and the steering column or a shaft; and
,an electronic control unit for determining a collision danger level using the distance information and for outputting an operational command in response to the collision danger level to adjust the axial length of the steering wheel column.
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19. A vehicle collision damage reduction system comprising:
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means for sequentially detecting distance information to an object to be impacted moving relatively;
means for determining a collision danger level using the distance information;
a seat adjusting mechanism capable of adjusting seat sliding, reclining, and seat height of a seat independently or simultaneously; and
,means for controlling the seat adjusting mechanism by outputting an operational command, before the collision, on the basis of either the object detecting means or the collision danger level means.
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22. A vehicle collision damage reduction system comprising
an object detector for sequentially detecting distance information to an object to be impacted and moving relatively; -
a detector for detecting the physique and a seating state of an occupant;
a seat adjustment mechanism capable of adjusting seat sliding, reclining, and seat height of a seat independently or simultaneously; and
,an electronic control unit for determining a collision danger level using the distance information and for outputting an operational command to the seat adjustment mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (23, 25, 26, 28, 29)
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24. A vehicle collision damage reduction system comprising:
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means for sequentially detecting distance information to an object to be impacted moving relatively;
means for determining a collision danger level using the distance information;
a seatbelt pre-tensioner for a seatbelt take-up device of a seat; and
means for controlling the pre-tensioner by outputting an operational command, before the collision, on the basis of either the object detecting means or the collision danger level means, wherein the operational command controls webbing retraction.
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27. A vehicle collision damage reduction system comprising:
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an object detector for sequentially detecting distance information to an object to be impacted moving relatively;
a seatbelt pre-tensioner for a seatbelt take-up device of a seat;
an electronic control unit for determining a collision danger using the distance information and for outputting an operational command of webbing retraction to the seatbelt pre-tensioner on the basis of the collision danger level.
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30. A vehicle collision damage reduction system comprising:
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means for sequentially detecting distance information to an object to be impacted moving relatively;
means for determining a collision danger level using the distance information;
a child seat installed on a seat and capable of being adjusted at different reclining angles; and
,means for controlling the adjustment amount of the reclining angle of the child seat on the basis of either the object detecting means or the collision danger level means. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32)
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33. A vehicle collision damage reduction system comprising:
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an object detector that sequentially detects distance information to an object to be impacted moving relatively;
a child seat installed on a seat and capable of being adjusted at different reclining angles; and
,an electronic control means for calculating a collision danger using the distance information and for outputting an operational command of a predetermined adjustment amount of the reclining angle to the child seat on the basis of the collision danger level. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35)
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36. A vehicle collision damage reduction system comprising:
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an object detector for sequentially detecting distance information to an object to be impacted moving relatively; and
,an electronic control unit means for determining a collision danger level using the distance information and for outputting an operational command, before the collision, to activate a safety device in response to the collision danger level.
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Specification