Communication control device for passenger protection device

• US 20060058959A1
• Filed: 09/08/2005
• Published: 03/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Keihin Corporation (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Keihin Corporation (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Takahashi, Masaaki, Ozawa, Hideaki, Seikai, Hiroshi, Narita, Syoji
• Granted Patent: US 7,606,647 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/216
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01184 Fault detection or diagnostic circuits in power circuits B60R2021/01129
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• 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 21/0136 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

Abstract

A communication control device for passenger protection device includes a satellite sensor unit and an ECU being connected to the satellite sensor unit via a communication line. The satellite sensor unit includes a satellite sensor main body, which detects an impact against a vehicle, and a controller, which obtains a measurement from a signal detected by the satellite sensor main body. The ECU includes a main controller which determines deployment of a passenger protection device. The controller of the satellite sensor unit is adapted to compares the measurement or a calculated value which is calculated based on the measurement with a preset reference value range, and, when the measurement or the calculated value is within the reference value range, the controller transmits a communication from the satellite sensor unit to the ECU at an interval which is longer than a predetermined time interval.

Claims

1. A communication control device for passenger protection device, comprising:

a satellite sensor unit which is installed at a predetermined position on a vehicle and comprises a satellite sensor main body, which detects an impact against the vehicle, and a controller, which obtains a measurement from a signal detected by the satellite sensor main body; and

an ECU which is installed at a predetermined position on the vehicle and comprises a main controller which determines deployment of a passenger protection device, the ECU being connected to the satellite sensor unit via a communication line, wherein

the controller is adapted to compare the measurement or a calculated value which is calculated based on the measurement with a preset reference value range, and, when the measurement or the calculated value is within the reference value range, the controller transmits a communication from the satellite sensor unit to the ECU at an interval which is longer than a predetermined time interval.

2. The communication control device for passenger protection device according to claim 1, wherein, when the measurement changes from a state where in which the measurement exceeds the reference value range to a state where in which the measurement is within the reference value range, the controller transmits a communication from the satellite sensor unit to the ECU at an interval which is longer than a predetermined time interval after a predetermined time has elapsed.

3. The communication control device for passenger protection device according to claim 1, wherein, when the controller detects a malfunction in the satellite sensor unit, the controller transmits a communication from the satellite sensor unit to the ECU at the predetermined time interval.

4. The communication control device for passenger protection device according to claim 2, wherein, when the controller detects a malfunction in the satellite sensor unit, the controller transmits a communication from the satellite sensor unit to the ECU at the predetermined time interval.