Activaton control unit and control method thereof for occupant protection apparatus

• US 20040243294A1
• Filed: 07/15/2004
• Published: 12/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Iyoda, Motomi, Miyata, Yujiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,350,808 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01027 Safing sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01322 comprising variable thresholds, e.g. depending from other collision parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0132 responsive to vehicle motion parameters , e.g. to vehicle longitudinal or transversal deceleration or speed value
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0133 by integrating the amplitude of the input signal

Abstract

A floor sensor (14) is disposed at a center portion of a vehicle body (10) and front sensors (16, 18) are disposed at front portions of the vehicle body (10). An airbag apparatus (30) always activates when a value determined by the relationship between a floor deceleration (GF) detected by the floor sensor (14) and a change in floor velocity (Vn) exceeds a High Map toward the high side of the floor velocity. The airbag apparatus (30) also activates on the condition that the value determined by the relationship between the front deceleration (Gs*) detected by the front sensors (16, 18) and the change in floor velocity (Vn) exceeds a Front Map toward the high side of the floor deceleration (GF) when the value determined by the relationship between the floor deceleration (GF) detected by the floor sensor (14) and the change in floor velocity (Vn) exceeds the Low Map but does not exceed the High Map toward the high side of the floor velocity.

Claims

1. An activation control unit (12) for an occupant protection apparatus (30) comprising:

a first sensor (14) disposed in a predetermined location in a vehicle (10), the first sensor (14) outputting a signal indicative of a deceleration acting on the vehicle (10);

second sensors (16, 18) disposed farther forward than the location in which the first sensor (14) is disposed in the vehicle (10), the second sensors (16, 18) outputting signals indicative of a deceleration acting on the vehicle (10); and

activation controlling means for determining whether to activate the occupant protection apparatus (30) mounted in the vehicle (10), characterised in that;

the activation controlling means makes a determination to activate the occupant protection apparatus (30) when

i) a deceleration (GF) obtained based on an output signal from the first sensor (14) exceeds a first threshold value (High), or

ii) the deceleration (GF) obtained based on the output signal from the first sensor (14) exceeds a second threshold value (Low) that is smaller than the first threshold value (High) and a deceleration (Gs*) obtained based on output signals from the second sensors (16, 18) exceeds a third threshold value (Gs1,Gs2,Gs3) which changes according to a predetermined pattern.

2. The activation control unit (12) according to claim 1, characterised in that:

the third threshold value (Gs1,Gs2,Gs3) changes in accordance with an integrated value (Vn) of the deceleration (GF) obtained based on the output signal from the first sensor (14).

3. The activation control unit (12) according to claim 2, characterised in that:

the third threshold value (Gs1,Gs2,Gs3) is set to a predetermined value (Gs2) when the integrated value (Vn) exceeds a first value (Vn1);

the third threshold value (Gs1,Gs2,Gs3) is set to a value (Gs3) that is larger than the predetermined value (Gs2) when the integrated value (Vn) is equal to, or less than, a second value (Vn2) that is smaller than the first value (Vn1); and

the third threshold value (Gs1,Gs2,Gs3) is set to a value (Gs1) that is smaller than the predetermined value (Gs2) when the integrated value (Vn) exceeds the second value (Vn2) and is equal to, or less than, the first value (Vn1).

10. The activation control unit (12) according to any one of claims 1 through 9, characterised in that:

one of the second sensors (16, 18) is disposed on the left side of the vehicle (10) and the other of the second sensors (16, 18) is disposed on the right side of the vehicle (10).

11. The activation control unit (12) according to any one of claims 1 through 10, characterised in that:

the occupant protection apparatus (30) is an airbag (36).

12. The activation control unit (12) according to any one of claims 1 through 10, characterised in that:

the occupant protection apparatus (30) is a seatbelt pretensioner.

4. An activation control unit (12) for an occupant protection apparatus (30), comprising:

a first sensor (14) disposed in a predetermined location in a vehicle (10), the first sensor (14) detecting a signal indicative of a deceleration acting on the vehicle (10);

second sensors (16, 18) disposed farther forward than the location in which the first sensor (14) is disposed in the vehicle (10), the second sensors (16, 18) detecting signals indicative of a deceleration acting on the vehicle (10) and;

activation determining means for determining whether to activate the occupant protection apparatus (30) based on whether the deceleration (GF) obtained based on the output signal from the first sensor (14) exceeds the first threshold value (High, Low),

characterised by comprising

threshold value changing means for changing the first threshold value (High, Low) in accordance with whether the deceleration (Gs*) obtained based on the output signals from the second sensors (16, 18) exceeds a second threshold value (Gs1,Gs2,Gs3) that changes in predetermined pattern.

5. The activation control unit (12) according to claim 4, characterised in that:

the threshold value changing means makes the first threshold value (High, Low) smaller when the deceleration (Gs*) obtained based on the output signals from the second sensors (16, 18) exceeds the second threshold value (Gs1,Gs2,Gs3), than when that deceleration (Gs*) does not exceed the second threshold value (Gs1,Gs2,Gs3).

8. The activation control unit (12) according to any one of claims 4 through 7, characterised in that:

the second threshold value (Gs1,Gs2,Gs3) changes in accordance with an integrated value (Vn) of the deceleration (GF) obtained based on the output signal from the first sensor (14).

9. The activation control unit (12) according to claim 8, characterised in that:

the second threshold value (Gs1,Gs2,Gs3) is set to a predetermined value (Gs2) when the integrated value (Vn) exceeds a first value (Vn1);

the second threshold value (Gs1,Gs2,Gs3) is set to a value (Gs3) that is larger than the predetermined value (Gs2) when the integrated value (Vn) is equal to, or less than, a second value (Vn2) that is smaller than the first value (Vn1); and

the second threshold value (Gs1,Gs2,Gs3) is set to a value (Gs1) that is smaller than the predetermined value (Gs2) when the integrated value (Vn) both exceeds the second value (Vn2) and is equal to, or less than, the first value (Vn1).

6. An activation control unit (12) for an occupant protection apparatus (30), comprising:

a first sensor (14) disposed in a predetermined location in a vehicle (10), the first sensor (14) detecting a signal indicative of a deceleration acting on the vehicle (10);

second sensors (16, 18) disposed farther forward than the location in which the first sensor (14) is disposed in the vehicle (10), the second sensors (16, 18) detecting signals indicative of a deceleration acting on the vehicle (10);

threshold value setting means for setting one value, from among at least two values (High, Low), as the first threshold value based on the output signals from the second sensors (16, 18); and

activation determining means for determining whether to activate the occupant protection apparatus (30) based on whether the deceleration (GF) obtained based on the output signal from the first sensor (14) exceeds the fist threshold value set by the threshold value setting means,

characterised in that

the threshold value setting means sets one value, from among at least two values (High, Low), as the first threshold value when the deceleration (Gs*) obtained based on the output signals from the second sensors (16, 18) does not exceed the second threshold value (Gs1,Gs2,Gs3); and

the threshold value setting means sets the other value, from among the at least two values (High, Low), as the first threshold value when the deceleration (Gs*) obtained based on the output signals from the second sensors (16, 18) exceeds the second threshold value (Gs1,Gs2,Gs3).

7. The activation control unit (12) according to claim 6, characterised in that:

the threshold value setting means sets the first threshold value (High/Low) smaller when the deceleration (Gs*) obtained based on the output signals of the second sensors (16, 18) exceeds the second threshold value (Gs1,Gs2,Gs3), than when that deceleration (Gs*) does not exceed the second threshold value (Gs1,Gs2,Gs3).

13. An control method of an activation control unit (12) for an occupant protection apparatus (30), characterised by comprising the steps of:

detecting a first deceleration (GF) acting on a predetermined location in a vehicle (10);

detecting a second deceleration (Gs*) acting on a location farther forward than the predetermined location in the vehicle (10); and

making a determination to activate the occupant protection apparatus (30) when

i) the first deceleration (GF) exceeds a first threshold value (High), or

ii) the first deceleration (GF) exceeds a second threshold value (Low) that is smaller than a first threshold value (High), and the second deceleration (Gs*) exceeds a third threshold value (Gs1,Gs2,Gs3) which changes according to a predetermined pattern.

14. An control method of an activation control unit (12) according to claim 13, characterised by comprising the step of:

changing the third threshold value (Gs1,Gs2,Gs3) in accordance with an integrated value (Vn) of the first deceleration (GF).

15. An control method of an activation control unit (12) according to claim 14, characterised by comprising the steps of:

setting the third threshold value (Gs1,Gs2,Gs3) to a predetermined value (Gs2) when the integrated value (Vn) exceeds a first value (Vn1);

setting the third threshold value (Gs1,Gs2,Gs3) to a value (Gs3) that is larger than the predetermined value (Gs2) when the integrated value (Vn) is equal to, or less than, a second value (Vn2) that is smaller than the first value (Vn1); and

setting the third threshold value (Gs1,Gs2,Gs3) to a value (Gs1) that is smaller than the predetermined threshold value (Gs2) when the integrated value (Vn) exceeds the second value (Vn2) and is equal to, or less than, the first value (Vn1).

16. An control method of an activation control unit (12) for an occupant protection apparatus (30), characterised by comprising the steps of:

detecting a first deceleration (GF) acting on a predetermined location in a vehicle (10);

detecting a second deceleration (Gs*) acting on a location farther forward than the predetermined location in the vehicle (10); and

determining whether to activate the occupant protection apparatus (30) based on whether the first deceleration (GF) exceeds a first threshold value (High, Low) which is set according to whether the second deceleration (Gs*) exceeds a second threshold (Gs1,Gs2,Gs3) that changes in a predetermined pattern; and

changing the first threshold value (High, Low) in accordance with whether the second deceleration (Gs*) exceeds the second threshold value (Gs1,Gs2,Gs3).

17. An control method of an activation control unit (12) according to claim 16, characterised by comprising the step of:

making the first threshold value (High, Low) smaller when the second deceleration (Gs*) exceeds the second threshold value (Gs1,Gs2,Gs3), than when that deceleration (Gs*) does not exceed the second threshold value (Gs1,Gs2,Gs3).

20. An control method of an activation control unit (12) according to any one of claims 16 through 19, characterised by comprising the step of:

changing the second threshold value (Gs1,Gs2,Gs3) in accordance with an integrated value (Vn) of the first deceleration (GF).

21. An control method of an activation control unit (12) according to claim 20, characterised by comprising the steps of:

setting the second threshold value (Gs1,Gs2,Gs3) to a predetermined value (Gs2) when the integrated value (Vn) exceeds a first value (Vn1);

setting the second threshold value (Gs1,Gs2,Gs3) to a value (Gs3) that is larger than the predetermined value (Gs2) when the integrated value (Vn) is equal to, or less than, a second value (Vn2) that is smaller than the first value (Vn I); and

setting the second threshold value (Gs1,Gs2,Gs3) to a value (Gs1) that is smaller than the predetermined value (Gs2) when the integrated value (Vn) exceeds a second value (Vn2) and is equal to, or less than, the first value (Vn1).

18. An control method of an activation control unit (12) for an occupant protection apparatus (30), characterised by comprising the steps of:

detecting a first deceleration (GF) acting on a predetermined location in a vehicle (10);

detecting a second deceleration (Gs*) acting on a location farther forward than the predetermined location in the vehicle (10);

setting one value, from among at least two values (High, Low), as a first threshold value;

based on the second deceleration (Gs*);

determining whether to activate the occupant protective apparatus (30) mounted in the vehicle (10) based on whether the first deceleration (GF) exceeds the set first threshold value (High, Low); and

setting one value, from among at least two values (High, Low), as the first threshold value (High) when the second deceleration (Gs*) does not exceed the second threshold value (Gs1,Gs2,Gs3) and setting the other value (Low), from among the at least two values (High, Low), as the first threshold value when the second deceleration (Gs*) exceeds the second threshold value (Gs1,Gs2,Gs3).

19. An control method of an activation control unit (12) according to claim 18, characterised by comprising the step of:

setting the first threshold value (Low) smaller when the second deceleration (Gs*) exceeds the second threshold value (Gs1,Gs2,Gs3), than when that deceleration (Gs*) does not exceed the second threshold value (Gs1,Gs2,Gs3).