Method of activating a passenger safety application in a motor vehicle

• US 20020189883A1
• Filed: 05/10/2002
• Published: 12/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Lahmann, Robert, Mattes, Bernhard, Roelleke, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 6,796,397 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/282
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0018 Roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01306 monitoring vehicle inclination
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01327 Angular velocity or angular acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2230/03 Overturn, rollover

Abstract

A method for activating a passenger safety application in a vehicle involves a rotational acceleration sensor device which is used to obtain a measurement of the rotational acceleration α_x of the vehicle, e.g., about an axis of rotation x parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The results of this measurement are analyzed by a computing unit for evaluating the vehicle situation with respect to its surrounding. Activation of a suitable safety application is performed in the event that the analysis indicates that a rollover event of the vehicle is imminent.

Claims

1. A method for activating a passenger safety application in a vehicle, comprising:

using a rotational acceleration sensor device to obtain a measurement of a rotational acceleration of the vehicle about an axis of rotation parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle;

analyzing the measurement result using a computing unit for evaluating a vehicle situation with respect to its surroundings; and

activating the passenger safety application if the analysis indicates that a rollover event of the vehicle is imminent.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the passenger safety application comprises at least one of a window airbag and a roll bar.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

converting the measurement result of the rotational acceleration, by the computing unit using an algorithm, into at least one physical quantity including at least one of a rotational speed and an expected angle of rotation.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the passenger safety application is activated by a deployment decision unit within a time period of 100 ms.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the axis of rotation is defined by points of contact of corresponding vehicle wheels.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

using at least one additional rotational acceleration sensor device to obtain a measurement of at least one translatory acceleration perpendicular to the axis of rotation; and

wherein the measurement result of the at least one translatory acceleration perpendicular to the axis of rotation is taken into account for evaluating the vehicle situation by the computing unit.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

detecting a displacement of a center of gravity of the vehicle in a certain direction, by the computing unit using an algorithm, on the basis of the at least one translatory acceleration.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein a course of the rotational acceleration is classified on the basis of vehicle tests.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one high-frequency measurement component is analyzed from the measured rotational acceleration.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the rotational acceleration sensor device has a rotational rate output for delivering a rotational speed.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

using a rotational rate sensor to measure rotational rate of the vehicle.

12. The method to claim 3, further comprising:

sending the at least one physical quantity obtained from the measured rotational acceleration along a first decision path;

sending the measured rotational acceleration along a second decision path; and

wherein the first and second decision paths converge into a deployment decision unit for a decision regarding deployment of the safety application according to one of an “

and”

criterion and an “

or”

criterion.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the rotational acceleration sensor device is a micromechanical rotational acceleration sensor.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein a measurement frequency of the rotational acceleration sensor device is greater than 100 Hz.