Discrete hardware safing circuit

• US 20070168097A1
• Filed: 01/18/2006
• Published: 07/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TK Holdings Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Automotive Systems Laboratory, Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Vanderley, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US11/333,261
• Publication Number:
  US 20070168097A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01322 comprising variable thresholds, e.g. depending from other collision parameters
• 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 21/0173 Diagnostic or recording means therefor

Abstract

A discrete hardware safing circuit includes a sensor the provides a signal indicating a vehicle acceleration in a direction and at least one comparator that determines if the vehicle acceleration exceeds a predetermined threshold. A capacitive switch is activated based on a determination from the at least one comparator that the predetermined threshold was exceeded and remains activated as long as the predetermined threshold is exceeded and for an additional time period. A router routes an enable signal based on the activation of the capacitive switch.

Claims

1. A discrete hardware safing circuit, comprising:

a sensor that provides a signal indicating a vehicle acceleration in a direction;

at least one comparator that determines if the vehicle acceleration exceeds a predetermined threshold;

a capacitive switch activated based on a determination from the at least one comparator that the predetermined threshold was exceeded and remaining activated as long as the predetermined threshold is exceeded and for an additional time period; and

a router that routes an enable signal based on the activation of the capacitive switch.

2. The discrete hardware safing circuit according to claim 1, wherein the threshold can be dynamically adjusted.

3. The discrete hardware safing circuit according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle acceleration is in the x direction.

4. The discrete hardware safing circuit according to claim 1, wherein the enable signal is provided to a microprocessor.

5. The discrete hardware safing circuit according to claim 1, wherein the enable signal is provided to a pin logic circuit.

6. The discrete hardware safing circuit according to claim 4, wherein the enable signal is used for a diagnostic test.

7. The discrete hardware safing circuit according to claim 4, wherein the enable signal is used for a simulation test.

8. The discrete hardware safing circuit according to claim 5, wherein the enable signal is used to activate an occupant protection device.

9. A vehicle occupant protection system, comprising:

a sensor that provides a signal indicating a vehicle acceleration in a direction;

at least one comparator that determines if the vehicle acceleration exceeds a predetermined threshold;

a capacitive switch activated based on a determination from the at least one comparator that the predetermined threshold was exceeded and remaining activated as long as the predetermined threshold is exceeded and for an additional time period;

a router that routes an enable signal based on the activation of the capacitive switch to an enable logic circuit for pin activation

a processor providing a vehicle crash condition signal;

a deployment device that deploys an occupant protection device based on the vehicle crash condition signal and the pin activation.

10. The vehicle occupant protection system according to claim 9, wherein, the threshold can be dynamically adjusted

11. The vehicle occupant protection system according to claim 9, wherein, the vehicle acceleration is in the x direction.

12. The vehicle occupant protection system according to claim 9, wherein the enable signal is provided to a microprocessor.

13. The vehicle occupant protection system according to claim 12, wherein the enable signal is used for a diagnostic test.

14. The vehicle occupant protection system according to claim 12, wherein the enable signal is used for a simulation test.

15. A method for operating a discrete hardware safing circuit, comprising:

providing a signal indicating a vehicle acceleration in a direction;

determining if the vehicle acceleration exceeds a predetermined threshold;

activating a capacitive switch based on a determination that the predetermined threshold was exceeded and keeping the capacitive switch activated as long as the predetermined threshold is exceeded and for an additional time period; and

routing an enable signal based on the activation of the capacitive switch.

16. The method for operating a discrete hardware safing circuit according to claim 15, further comprising dynamically adjusting the threshold.

17. The method for operating a discrete hardware safing circuit according to claim 15, further comprising providing the vehicle acceleration in the x direction.

18. The method for operating a discrete hardware safing circuit according to claim 15, further comprising providing the enable signal to a microprocessor.

19. The method for operating a discrete hardware safing circuit according to claim 15, further comprising providing the enable signal to a pin logic circuit.

20. The method for operating a discrete hardware safing circuit according to claim 18, further comprising using the enable signal for a diagnostic test.