Method for suppressing deployment of an inflatable restraint based on sensed occupant weight
First Claim
1. A method of determining whether to allow or suppress deployment of a vehicular inflatable restraint for a vehicle occupant based at least in part on an output signal of a sensor responsive to occupant weight applied to a vehicle seat, the method comprising the steps of:
- comparing a filtered version of said output signal to a threshold having a default value corresponding to a predetermined occupant weight under a given set of conditions;
determining a value of a parameter that affects a magnitude of said output signal;
adjusting said threshold above or below said default value when the determined parameter value is outside a predetermined range of values; and
allowing deployment of said restraint when the filtered version of said output signal is above said threshold, and suppressing deployment of said restraint when the filtered version of said output signal is below said threshold.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved method of selectively suppressing deployment of a vehicular inflatable restraint utilizes dynamic variation in the apparent weight of a vehicle occupant to infer a free mass of the seat occupant. The free mass of the occupant is inferred by filtering out portions of a weight-responsive signal due to occupant position adjustment and inferring the occupant free mass based on the variation of the apparent weight with respect to the variation in vertical acceleration of the vehicle. The decision to allow or suppress deployment of the restraint is determined based on a comparison of the static weight reading with at least one threshold, and the occupant free mass is used to adjust the threshold in a direction to minimize the overall variability of the system. Measures of the seat belt tension and the seat temperature are also be used to adjust the threshold in a direction to minimize system variability.
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Citations
6 Claims
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1. A method of determining whether to allow or suppress deployment of a vehicular inflatable restraint for a vehicle occupant based at least in part on an output signal of a sensor responsive to occupant weight applied to a vehicle seat, the method comprising the steps of:
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comparing a filtered version of said output signal to a threshold having a default value corresponding to a predetermined occupant weight under a given set of conditions;
determining a value of a parameter that affects a magnitude of said output signal;
adjusting said threshold above or below said default value when the determined parameter value is outside a predetermined range of values; and
allowing deployment of said restraint when the filtered version of said output signal is above said threshold, and suppressing deployment of said restraint when the filtered version of said output signal is below said threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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Specification