Method, device and crash sensor for activating occupant protection systems in a motor vehicle
First Claim
1. A method of activating occupant protection systems in a motor vehicle relevant to a risk to occupants in the event of a crash, the method comprising the acts of:
- detecting and preprocessing, directly at crash sensor mounting sites, signatures generated by effects on the vehicle body by means of a crash sensor system, the crash sensor system including a plurality of similar multifunctional peripheral crash sensors arranged at different sites of the vehicle body;
evaluating the preprocessed signatures or variables derived therefrom by means of a crash algorithm assigned to a processor-based triggering system according to a type, an intensity, a direction and a time of crash, signatures and/or occupant risk signatures, and triggering crash-relevant occupant protection devices at respective triggering points in time defined according to the achievable occupant protection effect of the occupant protection devices when occupant risk threshold values are exceeded.
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Abstract
Occupant protection systems in a motor vehicle are activated in the event of a crash that puts the occupants of the vehicle at risk. A processor-based trigger system evaluates signals of crash sensors and actuates the occupant protection systems. Signatures that are produced by impacts on the vehicle body by means of a crash sensor system are detected and preprocessed directly on site of the crash sensor mounting areas. The crash sensor system includes a plurality of similar multifunctional peripheral crash sensors located in various areas of the vehicle body. The preprocessed signatures or variables derived therefrom are evaluated by means of a crash algorithm associated with the trigger system, in terms of kind, intensity, direction and time of the crash signatures and/or occupant risk signatures. Crash-relevant occupant protection systems are triggered at respective times determined in terms of the achievable protective effect of the occupant protection system when occupant risk threshold values are exceeded.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method of activating occupant protection systems in a motor vehicle relevant to a risk to occupants in the event of a crash, the method comprising the acts of:
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detecting and preprocessing, directly at crash sensor mounting sites, signatures generated by effects on the vehicle body by means of a crash sensor system, the crash sensor system including a plurality of similar multifunctional peripheral crash sensors arranged at different sites of the vehicle body;
evaluating the preprocessed signatures or variables derived therefrom by means of a crash algorithm assigned to a processor-based triggering system according to a type, an intensity, a direction and a time of crash, signatures and/or occupant risk signatures, and triggering crash-relevant occupant protection devices at respective triggering points in time defined according to the achievable occupant protection effect of the occupant protection devices when occupant risk threshold values are exceeded. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A device for activating occupant protection systems in a motor vehicle relevant to a risk to occupants in the event of a crash, the device comprising:
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a crash sensor system, including at least three similar multifunctional peripheral crash sensors arranged at different sites of a vehicle body, wherein, by way of the crash sensor system, physically diverse signatures generated by effects to the vehicle body are detected and preprocessed directly at crash sensor mounting sites, the signatures being relevant to a type, an intensity, a direction and a time of crash signatures and/or occupant risk signatures; and
a processor-based triggering system configured to evaluate signals of the crash sensors and actuate the occupant protection systems. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A crash sensor for a device that activates occupant protection systems in a motor vehicle relevant to a risk to occupants in the event of a crash, the device including a processor-based triggering system for evaluating signals of the crash sensor and actuating the occupant protection systems, the crash sensor comprising:
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a housing constructed from a cylindrical hollow body and plastically coupled to a vehicle body by way of a signal-conducting carrier;
a plug-type connection, leading laterally out of the housing, that can be connected with a coupling element arranged on the vehicle body; and
at least one sensitive element that is assigned to the plug-type connection and that is arranged on an electronic printed circuit board inside the housing while being operatively connected with the signal-conducting carrier. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A motor vehicle having a device for activating occupant protection systems relevant to a risk to occupants in the event of a crash, the device including a processor-based triggering system for evaluating crash sensor signals and actuating the occupant protection systems, the motor vehicle comprising:
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at least one crash-relevant structural element on the vehicle body, wherein the at least one crash-relevant structural element includes one or more materials having a structure-borne ultrasound sensitivity in the event of a plastic deformation, and/or wherein the at least one crash-relevant structural element is at least one of alloyed, coated, plated, reinforced, and doped by means of the one or more materials. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
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Specification