Proximity suppression system tester
First Claim
1. A tester for testing an airbag suppression system that monitors movement of a vehicle occupant into a suppression zone, comprising:
- an occupant model;
a positioning assembly configured to cause controlled movement of said occupant model toward the suppression zone, wherein a generally rotational motion and a generally linear motion of said occupant model are independently controllable by said positioning assembly; and
a control assembly configured to identify an actual position of said occupant model corresponding to when the suppression system detects said occupant model entering the suppression zone.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates generally to a tester and related methods for testing vehicular safety restraint systems, and more particularly, to testers and related methods for testing airbag suppression systems. A tester or method for testing an airbag suppression system according to the invention simulates movement of a vehicle occupant into a suppression zone by causing an occupant model to move toward the suppression zone, wherein a generally rotational motion and a generally linear motion of the occupant model are independently controllable by a positioning assembly. A control assembly according to the invention is able to identify the actual position of the occupant model at the time the suppression system detects the occupant model entering the suppression zone. This position may be used to evaluate the performance of the suppression system.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A tester for testing an airbag suppression system that monitors movement of a vehicle occupant into a suppression zone, comprising:
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an occupant model;
a positioning assembly configured to cause controlled movement of said occupant model toward the suppression zone, wherein a generally rotational motion and a generally linear motion of said occupant model are independently controllable by said positioning assembly; and
a control assembly configured to identify an actual position of said occupant model corresponding to when the suppression system detects said occupant model entering the suppression zone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus for simulating movement of a vehicle occupant into a suppression zone of an airbag suppression system, comprising:
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an occupant model; and
a positioning assembly configured to cause controlled movement of said occupant model toward the suppression zone, wherein a generally rotational motion and a generally linear motion of said occupant model are independently controllable by said positioning assembly. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for testing an airbag suppression system that monitors movement of a vehicle occupant into a suppression zone, comprising:
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providing an occupant model;
causing movement of said occupant model toward the suppression zone, including controlling a generally rotational motion and a generally linear motion independently of one another; and
identifying an actual position of said occupant model corresponding to when the suppression system detects said occupant model entering the suppression zone. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method for simulating movement of a vehicle occupant toward a suppression zone of an airbag suppression system, comprising:
causing movement of an occupant model toward the suppression zone, including;
controlling a generally linear motion of an occupant model toward the suppression zone; and
controlling a generally rotational motion of said occupant model independent of said generally linear motion. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
Specification