Method of triggering a vehicle occupant restraining device

• US 20030057685A1
• Filed: 09/26/2002
• Published: 03/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Maurer, Christian, Link, Andrea, Urbahn, Jan, Watzka, Willibald, Niess, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 6,848,712 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01265 Seat belts
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over

Abstract

In a method of triggering a vehicle occupant restraining device, at least one sensor signal generated by a crash sensor is supplied to an analyzing device, which determines the crash severity, and a time for the triggering of the restraining device based on the crash severity. When a first low crash severity occurs, a timer is started and the restraining device is triggered by the analyzing unit only when a higher crash severity is reached during the running time of the timer.

Claims

1. A method of triggering a vehicle occupant restraining device, in which a crash sensor supplies at least one sensor signal to an analyzing device, which determines from the sensor signal a crash severity and a time for triggering of the restraining device, wherein:

when a first low crash severity occurs, a timer having a set running time is started; and

when a higher crash severity occurs during the running time of the timer, the restraining device is triggered by the analyzing unit only upon expiration of said running time.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the restraining device is triggered by the analyzing unit at the end of a triggering time defined by the timer.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

when defined conditions occur, the timer can be reset; and

after its running time and when the higher crash severity is reached;

the timer triggers the restraining device as long as the timer has not yet been reset.

2. A method for triggering a vehicle occupant restraining device, in which a crash sensor supplies at least one sensor signal to an analyzing device, which determines from the sensor signal supplied to it a crash severity and a time for triggering of the restraining device, wherein:

when a first low crash severity occurs, a timer having a set running time is started; and

when a higher crash severity occurs after a running time of the timer has expired, the restraining device is triggered by the analyzing unit upon occurrence of said higher crash severity.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein:

when defined conditions occur, the timer can be reset; and

after its running time and when the higher crash severity is reached, the timer triggers the restraining device as long as the timer has not yet been reset.

6. A method for triggering a vehicle safety device, comprising:

sensing occurrence of a crash event and determining a severity thereof;

upon occurrence of a low severity crash, starting timing of a fixed time period; and

thereafter, triggering said vehicle safety device immediately when both of the following conditions have been fulfilled

expiration of the fixed time period; and

occurrence of a high severity crash prior to a resetting of timing of the fixed time period.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein resetting of the timing occurs upon fulfillment of conditions confirming that no crash has occurred.