Passive safety system and determination device

• US 20050165530A1
• Filed: 12/21/2004
• Published: 07/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Higuchi, Hiroshi, Ide, Seiya
• Granted Patent: US 7,606,646 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01034 Controlling a plurality of restraint devices
• 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 21/01332 by frequency or waveform analysis
• 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 21/0156 by deceleration

Abstract

A determination device includes a single acceleration sensor that measures an acceleration of a vehicle and a determination circuit that is electrically connected with the acceleration sensor. The determination circuit has a plastic deformation pulse detection section and a severity determination section. The plastic deformation pulse detection section detects a plastic deformation pulse by separating the plastic deformation pulse from an acceleration waveform produced by the acceleration sensor. The severity determination section determines severity of a collision in a vehicle accident based on the detected plastic deformation pulse. A passive safety device is operated according to the determined severity.

Claims

1. A determination device for a passive safety device that operates according to severity of a collision in a vehicle accident comprising:

a single acceleration sensor that measures an acceleration of a vehicle; and

a determination circuit that includes a plastic deformation pulse detection section and a severity determination section, wherein

the determination circuit is electrically connected with the acceleration sensor,

the plastic deformation pulse detection section detects a plastic deformation pulse by separating the plastic deformation pulse from an acceleration waveform produced by the acceleration sensor, and

the severity determination section determines the severity of a collision based on the plastic deformation pulse.

2. The determination device according to claim 1, wherein the plastic deformation pulse detection section includes a high pass filter;

and

the plastic deformation pulse detection section separates the plastic deformation pulse by filtering the acceleration waveform with the high pass filter.

3. The determination device according to claim 1, further includes an elastic deformation pulse detection section that detects an elastic deformation pulse by separating the elastic deformation pulse from the acceleration waveform.

4. The determination device according to claim 3, wherein:

the elastic deformation pulse detection section includes a low pass filter, and

the elastic deformation pulse detection section separates the elastic deformation pulse by filtering the acceleration waveform with the low pass filter.

5. The determination device according to claim 3, wherein the plastic deformation pulse detection section detects the plastic deformation pulse by removing an elastic deformation pulse component corresponding to the elastic deformation pulse detected by the elastic deformation pulse detecting section from the acceleration waveform.

6. A passive safety system comprising:

a single acceleration sensor that measures an acceleration of a vehicle;

a determination device that includes a determination circuit having a plastic deformation pulse detection section and a severity determination section; and

a passive safety device that protects an occupant from injury in a vehicle accident, wherein

the determination device and the passive safety device are electrically connected with the acceleration sensor and the determination device, respectively,

the plastic deformation pulse detection section detects a plastic deformation pulse by separating the plastic deformation pulse from an acceleration waveform produced by the acceleration sensor,

the severity determination section determines the severity of a collision based on the plastic deformation pulse, and

the passive safety device operates according to the severity.

7. The passive safety system according to claim 6, wherein:

the passive safety device is an airbag system having multiple inflators and an airbag that is inflated by at least one of the inflators for reducing an impact of a collision on the occupant; and

the determination device determines actuation of each inflator based on the severity.

8. The passive safety system according to claim 6, further includes an electronic control unit for controlling operation of the passive safety device, wherein the acceleration sensor and the determination, device are modularized and arranged inside the electronic control unit.

9. The passive safety system according to claim 8, wherein the electronic control unit is arranged in about a middle of a side-to-side line of the vehicle.