System for activating passenger-protecting device mounted on automotive vehicle

• US 20040026151A1
• Filed: 07/09/2003
• Published: 02/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Ide, Seiya, Ogata, Yoshihisa
• Granted Patent: US 7,134,521 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/282
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0018 Roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01322 comprising variable thresholds, e.g. depending from other collision parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01327 Angular velocity or angular acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0132 responsive to vehicle motion parameters , e.g. to vehicle longitudinal or transversal deceleration or speed value

Abstract

Angular velocity in a rolling action of a vehicle is detected by an angular velocity sensor, and a difference between two angular velocities detected in a short time interval is calculated. The calculated angular velocity difference is compared with a predetermined threshold value. If the angular velocity difference is larger than the threshold value, a passenger-protecting device is activated. A rolling angle of the vehicle may be calculated by integrating the detected angular velocity, and a combination of the rolling angle and the angular velocity may be compared with a predetermined threshold. If the combination exceeds the threshold, it is determined that the vehicle is rolling over and the passenger-protecting device is activated.

Claims

1. A system for activating a passenger-protecting device mounted on an automotive vehicle according to behavior of the vehicle, the activating system comprising:

an angular velocity sensor for detecting rolling angular velocity of the vehicle;

means for calculating a difference between two angular velocities detected in a predetermined time interval;

means for determining that the vehicle is rolling over when the difference between two angular velocities exceeds a predetermined value; and

means for activating the passenger-protecting device when the determining means determines that the vehicle is rolling over.

6. The system for activating a passenger-protecting device as in claim 1, wherein:

the passenger-protecting device includes at least one device selected from a group consisting of a curtain airbag, a seatbelt with a pretensioner and a device for repeatedly winding a seatbelt by a motor.

2. A system for activating a passenger-protecting device mounted on an automotive vehicle according to behavior of the vehicle, the activating system comprising:

an angular velocity sensor for detecting rolling angular velocity of the vehicle;

first calculating means for calculating a rolling angle of the vehicle based on the angular velocity detected by the angular velocity sensor;

first determining means for determining that the vehicle is rolling over when the detected rolling angle velocity and the calculated rolling angle satisfy a predetermined threshold;

second calculating means for calculating a difference between two angular velocities detected in a predetermined time interval;

second determining means for determining that the vehicle is rolling over when the difference between two angular velocities exceeds a predetermined value; and

means for activating the passenger-protecting device when either the first or the second determining means determines that the vehicle is rolling over.

7. The system for activating a passenger-protecting device as in claim 2, wherein:

the passenger-protecting device includes at least one device selected from a group consisting of a curtain airbag, a seatbelt with a pretensioner and a device for repeatedly winding a seatbelt by a motor.

3. A system for activating a passenger-protecting device mounted on an automotive vehicle according to behavior of the vehicle, the activating system comprising:

an angular velocity sensor for detecting rolling angular velocity of the vehicle;

first calculating means for calculating a rolling angle of the vehicle based on the angular velocity detected by the angular velocity sensor;

means for determining that the vehicle is rolling over when the detected angular velocity and the calculated rolling angle satisfy a predetermined threshold;

means for activating the passenger-protecting device when the determining means determines that the vehicle is rolling over;

second calculating means for calculating a difference between two angular velocities detected by the angular velocity sensor in a predetermined time interval; and

means for changing the predetermined threshold according to the difference between two angular velocities.

4. The system for activating a passenger-protecting device as in claim 3, wherein:

the predetermined threshold defines a rollover region and a non-rollover region on a two-dimensional coordinate having an abscissa showing the rolling angle thereon and an ordinate showing the angular velocity thereon, the non-rollover region being located in an area including the origin of the two-dimensional coordinate; and

the determining means determines that the vehicle is rolling over when a locus of the detected angular velocity and the calculated rolling angle on the two-dimensional coordinate crosses the threshold and enters into the rollover region from the non-rollover region.

5. The system for activating a passenger-protecting device as in claim 4, wherein:

the changing means moves the predetermined threshold toward the origin of the two-dimensional coordinate as the difference between two angular velocities becomes larger.

8. The system for activating a passenger-protecting device as in claim 3, wherein:

the passenger-protecting device includes at least one device selected from a group consisting of a curtain airbag, a seatbelt with a pretensioner and a device for repeatedly winding a seatbelt by a motor.