Process and device for estimating the seriousness of accident occurrences

• US 20050010340A1
• Filed: 07/08/2004
• Published: 01/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Mekhaiel, Moheb, Peravali, Ravindra, Dickmann, Juergen
• Granted Patent: US 7,471,998 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0027 Post collision measures, e.g. notifying emergency services
• 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 21/0156 by deceleration

Abstract

The invention concerns a process and a device for estimating the seriousness of an accident occurrence using parameters regarding the condition of movement of a vehicle during the occurrence of the accident. Therein, the time progression of the parameters regarding movement status of the vehicle are employed for estimation of the seriousness of the accident occurrence.

Claims

1. A process for estimating the seriousness of an accident occurrence using parameters regarding the movement status of the vehicle during the accident event, wherein for estimating the seriousness of the accident occurrence a time progression of the parameters regarding the movement status of the vehicle are utilized, wherein, based on the estimated seriousness of the accident occurrence, the probable degree of injury of the vehicle occupants is additionally determined.

2. A process for estimating the seriousness of an accident occurrence according to claim 1, wherein the parameters regarding movement status are acceleration values.

3. A process for estimating the seriousness of an accident occurrence according to claim 1, including determining the duration or the peak value of an acceleration pulse.

4. A process for estimating the seriousness of an accident occurrence according to claim 1, including determining a speed differential from the acquired sensor data.

5. A process for estimating the seriousness of an accident occurrence according to claim 4, wherein the speed differential is determined by time integration of the acceleration value.

6. A process for estimating the seriousness of an accident occurrence according to claim 1, wherein the parameters regarding condition of movement of the vehicle are detected in various spatial directions.

7. A process for estimating the seriousness of an accident occurrence according to claim 6, wherein the spatial direction in which the collision occurred is determined from the measured parameters.

8. A process for estimating the seriousness of an accident occurrence according to claim 1, wherein sensor data from at least one supplemental sensor is utilized for estimating the seriousness of the accident occurrence, in particular a roll over sensor, seatbelt sensor or a speed sensor.

9. A process according to claim 1 one of, wherein the information regarding the seriousness of the accident occurrence is transmitted to a center following the accident occurrence.

11. A process according to claim 1, further comprising providing rescue personnel with medical data regarding the vehicle occupants following the accident occurrence.

10. A process for estimating the seriousness of an accident occurrence, further comprising using information regarding damage to the vehicle in estimating the seriousness of the accident occurrence.

12. A device for estimating the seriousness of an accident occurrence with at least one sensor for determining parameters regarding the movement status of a vehicle during the accident occurrence as well as an evaluation unit, wherein the evaluation unit includes means for determining the seriousness of the accident occurrence from the time sequence of the parameters regarding the movement status of the vehicle, wherein the evaluation unit is adapted to use the estimated seriousness of the accident occurrence and to provide a determination of the possible degree of injury of the vehicle occupants.

13. A device for estimating the seriousness of an accident occurrence according to claim 12, wherein the sensor is an acceleration sensor.

14. A device for estimating the seriousness of an accident occurrence according to claim 13, wherein the evaluation unit is adapted to determine the duration and/or the peak value of an acceleration pulse.

15. A device for estimating the seriousness of an accident occurrence according to claim 12, wherein the evaluation unit is adapted to determine, from the acquired sensor data, the speed differential.

16. A device for estimating the seriousness of an accident occurrence according to claim 12, wherein the evaluation unit includes means to determine the speed differential by time integration of the acceleration values.

17. A device for estimating the seriousness of an accident occurrence according to claim 12, wherein the sensor or the sensors is/are adapted to detect the parameter for condition of movement of the vehicle in different spatial directions.

18. A device for estimating the seriousness of an accident occurrence according to claim 17, wherein the evaluation unit is adapted to determine, from the measured parameters, the spatial direction in which the collision occurred.

19. A device for estimating the seriousness of an accident occurrence according to claim 12, further including at least one supplemental sensor, in particular a roll over sensor, seatbelt sensor or a vehicle speed sensor.

20. A device according to claim 12, further comprising a transmitter adapted to transmit to a center information regarding the seriousness of the accident occurrence following the accident occurrence.

21. A device according to claim 12, further comprising a memory unit containing medical data concerning the vehicle occupants and adapted to providing medical data to rescue personnel following the occurrence of the accident.