Method and apparatus for controlling an airbag
First Claim
1. A method for controlling deployment of an airbag, comprising the steps of:
- determining the position of an occupant to be protected by deployment of the airbag;
assessing the probability that a crash requiring deployment of the airbag is occurring; and
enabling deployment of the airbag in consideration of the determined position of the occupant and the assessed probability that a crash is occurring.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Method and system for controlling deployment of an airbag in which the position of an occupant to be protected by deployment of the airbag is determined, the probability that a crash requiring deployment of the airbag is occurring is assessed and deployment of the airbag enabled in consideration of the determined position of the occupant and the assessed probability that a crash is occurring. Deployment of the airbag may be enabled by analyzing the assessed probability relative to a pre-determined threshold whereby deployment of the airbag is enabled only when the assessed probability is greater than the threshold. The threshold may be adjusted based on the determined position of the occupant.
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Citations
66 Claims
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1. A method for controlling deployment of an airbag, comprising the steps of:
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determining the position of an occupant to be protected by deployment of the airbag;
assessing the probability that a crash requiring deployment of the airbag is occurring; and
enabling deployment of the airbag in consideration of the determined position of the occupant and the assessed probability that a crash is occurring. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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18. A method for controlling deployment of an airbag, comprising the steps of:
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determining the position of an occupant to be protected by deployment of the airbag; and
adjusting a threshold used in a sensor algorithm which enables or suppresses deployment of the airbag based on the determined position of the occupant
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34. A system for controlling deployment of an airbag, comprising:
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determining means for determining the position of an occupant to be protected by deployment of the airbag;
sensor means for assessing the probability that a crash requiring deployment of the airbag is occurring; and
circuit means coupled to said determining means, said sensor means and the airbag for enabling deployment of the airbag in consideration of the determined position of the occupant and the assessed probability that a crash is occurring.
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51. A system for controlling deployment of an airbag, comprising:
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a crash sensor for providing information on a crash involving the vehicle;
a position determining arrangement for determining the position of an occupant to be protected by deployment of the airbag; and
a circuit coupled to the airbag, said crash sensor and said position determining arrangement and arranged to issue a deployment signal to the airbag to cause deployment of the airbag, said circuit being arranged to consider a deployment threshold which varies based on the determined position of the occupant - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66)
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Specification