Crash sensor arrangement for controlling deployment of an occupant restraint device

• US 20030155753A1
• Filed: 12/27/2002
• Published: 08/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/1991
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Vehicular Sciences LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Automotive Technologies International Incorporated
• Inventors: Breed, David S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,635,043 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/00 Sealing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02246 Electric motors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0276 reaction to emergency situations, e.g. crash
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2863 backward facing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/483 with obstacle sensors of electric or electronic type
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0011 Rear collision or recoiling bounce after frontal collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01325 Vertical acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0136 responsive to actual contact with an obstacle , e.g. to vehicle deformation, bumper displacement or bumper velocity relative to the vehicle monitoring crash strength in combination with passenger seat detection B60R21/01558
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0152 using strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01558 monitoring crash strength
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/20 Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/21 in vehicle side panels, e.g. doors pillar mounted arrangements B60R21/213
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/33 Arrangements for non-electric triggering of inflation electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements B60R21/01
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/15 having impact absorbing means, e.g. a frame designed to permanently or temporarily change shape or dimension upon impact with another body bumpers B60R19/02; shock absorbers in general F16F
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/20 by measurement of weight, e.g. to determine the level of stored liquefied gas
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/2962 Measuring transit time of reflected waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/2965 Measuring attenuation of transmitted waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/804 containing circuits handling parameters other than liquid level
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 : Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 35/146 : operated by plastic deformation or rupture of structurally associated elements

Abstract

Crash sensor arrangement for determining whether a crash involving the vehicle requires deployment of an occupant restraint device including a first electronic crash sensor mounted in the crush zone of the vehicle for measuring a reaction of the crush zone to a crash and outputting a signal representative of the measurements and a processor coupled to the first sensor for processing the signal to determine whether the restraint device should be deployed. The first sensor may include an accelerometer, a gyroscope or an elongate member arranged to sense the reaction of the crush zone over a substantial part of the front, side or rear of the vehicle. Optionally, a second electronic crash sensor is mounted outside the crush zone to measure a reaction of the vehicle other than crush of the crush zone. Both sensors input signals to the processor which is programmed to determine whether the restraint device should be deployed using an algorithm and data from the first and/or second sensors. The second sensor may be mounted in association with the passenger compartment.

Claims

1. A vehicle having a portion defined as a crush zone which is designed to crush upon a crash involving the vehicle and an occupant restraint device;

comprising;

a crash sensor arrangement for determining whether the crash involving the vehicle requires deployment of the occupant restraint device, said arrangement comprising;

an electronic crash sensor mounted in the crush zone of the vehicle and structured and arranged to measure a reaction of the crush zone to the crash and to output a signal representative of the measurements, and

a processor coupled to said sensor and arranged to process the signal from said sensor and determine whether the occupant restraint device should be deployed.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said arrangement further comprises:

a second electronic crash sensor mounted outside of the crush zone of the vehicle and structured and arranged to measure a reaction of the vehicle by means other than crush of the crush zone of the vehicle,

said first and second electronic sensors inputting signals to said processor and said processor being arranged to determine whether the occupant restraint device should be deployed using an algorithm and data from at least one of the first and second electronic sensors.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the reaction of the crush zone to the crash which said first electronic sensor is structured and arranged to measure is at least one of displacement of the crush zone during the crash relative to a non-crushed part of the vehicle, a velocity change of the crush zone during the crash and acceleration of the crush zone during the crash.

4. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein the reaction of the vehicle to the crash which said second electronic sensor is structured and arranged to measure is at least one of relative displacement of the vehicle during the crash relative to a coordinate system moving at a pre-crash velocity, a velocity change of the vehicle during the crash and acceleration of the vehicle during the crash.

5. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein said second electronic sensor is mounted in association with the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

6. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein said first and second electronic sensors have different sensitivities to crashes.

7. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein said second electronic sensor is more sensitive to crashes than said first sensor.

8. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said first electronic sensor comprises an accelerometer or a gyroscope.

9. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said first electronic sensor comprises an elongate member and is structured and arranged to sense the reaction of the crush zone over a substantial part of the front, side or rear of the vehicle.

10. A vehicle having a portion defined as a crush zone which crushes upon a crash involving the vehicle and an occupant restraint device, comprising;

a crash sensor arrangement for determining whether the crash involving the vehicle requires deployment of the occupant restraint device, said arrangement comprising

a processor;

a first electronic crash sensor mounted outside of the crush zone of the vehicle and structured and arranged to measure the reaction of the vehicle to the crash by means other than crush of the crush zone of the vehicle and to provide information about the measured reaction to said processor, and

a second electronic crash sensor mounted in the crush zone of the vehicle, said second electronic sensor being structured and arranged to provide information about a reaction of the crush zone to the crash to said processor,

said processor being arranged to receive the information about the reaction of the vehicle to the crash from said first electronic sensor and the reaction of crush zone of the vehicle from said second electronic sensor and determine based on the information from at least one said first and second electronic sensors whether the occupant restraint device should be deployed.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the reaction of the crush zone to the crash upon which said second electronic sensor provides information is crush of the crush zone.

12. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the reaction of the crush zone to the crash which said second electronic sensor provides information about is at least one of displacement of the crush zone during the crash, a velocity change of the crush zone during the crash and acceleration of the crush zone during the crash.

13. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein said processor embodies a pattern recognition algorithm to determine whether to deploy the occupant restraint device.

14. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein said first electronic sensor is arranged to measure the reaction of the entire vehicle or a part of the vehicle other than the crush zone of the vehicle to the crash.

15. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein said first electronic sensor measures at least one of acceleration of the vehicle and a change in velocity of the vehicle.

16. A method for determining whether the crash involving the vehicle requires deployment of an occupant restraint device, the vehicle having a portion defined as a crush zone that is designed to crush upon a crash involving the vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

mounting an electronic crash sensor in the crush zone of the vehicle, the electronic sensor measuring the reaction of the crush zone of the vehicle to the crash, and

enabling deployment of the occupant restraint device based of an analysis of the measurements of the electronic sensor.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the steps of:

mounting a second electronic crash sensor outside of the crush zone of the vehicle, the second electronic sensor measuring a reaction of the vehicle to the crash by means other than crush of the crush zone of the vehicle, and

enabling deployment of the occupant restraint device based of an analysis of the measurements of the first and second electronic sensors.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the reaction of the crush zone to the crash which the first electronic crash sensor measures is crush of the crush zone.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the reaction of the crush zone to the crash which the first electronic sensor measures is at least one of displacement of the crush zone during the crash, a velocity change of the crush zone during the crash and acceleration of the crush zone during the crash.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

directing a signal indicative of the measurements of the first electronic sensor to a processor,

directing a signal indicative of the measurements of the second electronic sensor to the processor,

considering whether the conditions for deploying the occupant restraint device are met by the measurements from the first electronic sensor or the measurements from the second electronic sensor or a combination of the measurements from both electronic sensors, and

deploying the occupant restraint device when the conditions are met.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the second electronic sensor is arranged to measure at least one of a change in velocity of the vehicle and acceleration of the vehicle, further comprising the steps of:

directing a signal indicative of triggering of the first electronic sensor to the processor,

directing a signal indicative of triggering of the second electronic sensor to the processor,

considering whether the at least one of the measured velocity change and measured acceleration of the second electronic sensor in conjunction with the measurements of the first electronic sensor, are sufficient to require deploying the occupant restraint device, and if so,

deploying the occupant restraint device.

22. A method for determining whether a crash involving a vehicle requires deployment of an occupant restraint device, the vehicle having a portion defined as a crush zone which is designed to crush upon a crash involving the vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

mounting a first electronic crash sensor outside of the crush zone of the vehicle, the first electronic sensor structured and arranged to measure the reaction of the vehicle to a crash by means other than crush of the crush zone of the vehicle, and

mounting a second electronic crash sensor in the crush zone of the vehicle such that the second electronic sensor generates information about a reaction of the crush zone of the vehicle to a crash,

providing the information about the reaction of the crush zone of the vehicle to the crash from the second sensor and the first sensor to the processor, and

controlling deployment of the occupant restraint device via the first electronic sensor based on the information about the reaction of the crush zone of the vehicle to the crash provided by the second electronic sensor.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the reaction of the crush zone to the crash which the second electronic sensor generates information about is crush of the crush zone.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the reaction of the crush zone to the crash which the second electronic sensor generates information about is at least one of displacement of the crush zone during the crash, a velocity change of the crush zone during the crash and acceleration of the crush zone during the crash.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the step of controlling deployment of the occupant restraint device via the first electronic sensor comprises the steps of:

considering whether an algorithm or parameters which determine deploying of the occupant restraint device by the first electronic sensor should be modified based on the information about crush of the vehicle provided by the second electronic sensor, and if so

modifying the algorithm or parameters.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the step of controlling deployment of the occupant restraint device comprises the steps of:

considering whether the at least one of the acceleration and velocity change required for deployment of the occupant restraint device by the first electronic sensor should be modified based on the information about crush of the vehicle provided by the second sensor, and if so,

modifying the requirements.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein the information about the reaction of the crush zone of the vehicle to the crash generated by the second electronic sensor is an indication of the amount of crush measured by the second electronic sensor.

28. A vehicle having an occupant restraint device and a portion defined as a crush zone which is designed to crush upon a crash involving the vehicle, comprising:

a crash sensor arrangement for determining whether the crash involving the vehicle requires deployment of the occupant restraint device, said arrangement comprising

a first electronic crash sensor mounted in the crush zone of the vehicle and structured and arranged to measure a reaction of the crush zone to the crash, and

a second electronic crash sensor mounted outside of the crush zone of the vehicle and structured and arranged to trigger by means other than crush of the crush zone of the vehicle,

said first and second sensors being coupled to one another such that a signal to deploy the occupant restraint device is generated in consideration of the measured reaction of the crush zone to the crash and the measured reaction of a part of the vehicle that is not in the crush zone to the crash,

said second sensor being arranged to receive a signal indicative of the measured reaction of the crush zone to the crash by said first sensor, consider whether an algorithm or triggering criteria which determines deployment of the restraint should be modified based on the signal and if so, modify the algorithm or triggering criteria.

29. A vehicle having an occupant restraint device and a portion defined as a crush zone which is designed to crush upon a crash involving the vehicle, comprising:

a crash sensor arrangement for determining whether the crash involving the vehicle requires deployment of the occupant restraint device, said arrangement comprising;

a first electronic crash sensor mounted in the crush zone of the vehicle and structured and arranged to measure a reaction of the crush zone to the crash, and

a second electronic crash sensor mounted outside of the crush zone of the vehicle and structured and arranged to measure the reaction of a part of the vehicle that is not in the crush zone of the vehicle,

said first and second sensors being coupled to one another such that a signal to deploy the occupant restraint device is generated in consideration of the measured reaction of the crush zone to the crash and the measured reaction of the vehicle to the crash,

said second sensor being arranged to receive a signal indicative of the measured reaction of the crush zone to the crash by said first sensor, consider whether its sensitivity to trigger should be modified based on the signal and if so, modify its sensitivity.

30. A vehicle having an occupant restraint device and a portion defined as a crush zone which is designed to crush upon a crash involving the vehicle, comprising:

an electronic crash sensor arrangement for determining whether the crash involving the vehicle requires deployment of the occupant restraint device, said arrangement comprising;

an electronic crash sensor mounted in the crush zone of the vehicle and structured and arranged to measure a reaction of the crush zone to the crash and to generate a signal representative of the reaction, and

a processor coupled to said electronic sensor for analyzing the signal and determining whether the occupant restraint device should be deployed.

31. A method for determining whether the crash involving the vehicle requires deployment of an occupant restraint device, the vehicle having a portion defined as a crush zone which is designed to crush upon a crash involving the vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

mounting an electronic crash sensor in the crush zone of the vehicle,

measuring a reaction of the crush zone to the crash by means of the sensor,

directing a signal indicative of the measured reaction of the crush zone to the crash to a processor, and

considering whether the conditions for triggering of the restraint are met based on the measured reaction of the crush zone to the crash, and if so, deploying the occupant restraint device in consideration of the measured reaction of the crush zone to the crash.

32. A method for determining whether the crash involving the vehicle requires deployment of an occupant restraint device, the vehicle having a portion defined as a crush zone which is designed to crush upon a crash involving the vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

mounting an electronic crash sensor in the crush zone of the vehicle,

measuring a reaction of the crush zone to the crash by means of the sensor, the sensor being an electronic discriminating sensor arranged to trigger based on at least one of a change in velocity of the crush zone and acceleration of the crush zone, and

deploying the occupant restraint device in consideration of the measured reaction of the crush zone to the crash.