Method for controlling a safety system in a vehicle

• US 20060149449A1
• Filed: 12/22/2004
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Neuberger, Ralph, Baur, Richard, Lu, Yan
• Granted Patent: US 7,158,017 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01068 between different sensors and airbag control unit
• 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

Abstract

In a method for controlling a safety system in a vehicle, wherein an output signal of at least one impact sensor is subjected to frequency analysis in an evaluation unit which is integrated into an electronic control unit, the frequency analysis is performed in at least one predetermined frequency range, the spectrum of the output signal is compared with references patterns, the dependence of the spectrum on the present speed of the vehicle and/or the present outside temperature of the vehicle is taken into account, and a triggering signal is generated from the control unit to trigger planned protective measures if a person to be protected is detected with at least a predetermined probability.

Claims

1-5. -5. (canceled)

6. A method for controlling a safety system in a vehicle, wherein an output signal of at least one impact sensor is subjected to frequency analysis in an evaluation unit, which is integrated into an electronic control unit, wherein the frequency analysis is performed in at least one predetermined frequency range, a spectrum of an output signal is compared with references patterns, the dependence of the spectrum on the present velocity and/or the present vehicle outside temperature ( /) is taken into account, and a triggering signal is generated from the control unit to trigger planned protective measures if a person to be protected is detected with at least a predetermined probability.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein by making use of substances with a reciprocal action as sensors, cyclic operational tests or self tests are performed by using a sensor as an actuator to excite a mechanical system and evaluating reaction signals, taking into account in particular a history of accident-caused previous damage to certain areas and/or elements of the vehicle.

8. A device for controlling a safety system in a vehicle, comprising:

at least one sensor;

an evaluation unit, coupled to an output of the at least one sensor, to supply output signals, the evaluation unit performing a frequency analysis with respect to the output signals and being integrated into a control unit,

wherein the evaluation unit and the control unit perform the frequency analysis in at least one predetermined frequency range, the spectrum of the output signals are compared with reference patterns, dependence of the spectrum on the current velocity of the vehicle and/or the current outside temperature of the vehicle are accounted for, and a triggering signal is generated to trigger planned protective measures if an impact with a person to be protected is detected with at least a predetermined probability.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the evaluation unit or the control device uses substances with a reciprocal action as sensor bodies, cyclic operational tests or self tests can be performed by using a sensor as an actuator to excite the mechanical system and evaluating reactions signals, taking into account in particular a history of previous accident-caused damage to certain areas and/or elements.

10. The device according to one of claim 8, wherein the device comprises a network of sensors, which are distributed over an observation area, and which are each connected by their own separate signal lines and return lines with a central system unit and which are grouped together.

11. The device according to one of claim 9, wherein the device comprises a network of sensors, which are distributed over an observation area, and which are each connected by their own separate signal lines and return lines with a central system unit and which are grouped together.

12. A method for controlling a safety system of a vehicle based on frequency analysis, comprising the acts of:

filtering a sensor signal to produce a signal in a predetermined frequency range;

comparing the signal in the predetermined frequency range with a reference pattern;

accounting for a vehicle velocity and/or outside temperature in the frequency analysis; and

generating a safety system control signal when a person to be protected is, based on the frequency analysis, detected with at least a predetermined probability.

13. The method of claim 12, comprising the acts of:

performing test using reciprocal action sensors to excite a mechanical system; and

accounting for a history of accident-caused previous damage to certain areas and/or elements of the vehicle.