Method for Operating a Pre-Crash Sensing System to Deploy Airbags Using Confidence Factors Prior to Collision

• US 20070228705A1
• Filed: 03/30/2006
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Rao, Manoharprasad, Cuddihy, Mark, Yopp, Wilford
• Granted Patent: US 9,663,052 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01034 Controlling a plurality of restraint devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01512 Passenger detection systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01544 detecting seat belt parameters, e.g. length, tension or height-adjustment

Abstract

A method of operating a vehicle includes determining a pre-crash collision confidence factor and estimating a time to collision. The method further includes deploying a reversible restraint in response to the confidence factor and the time to collision and deploying a non-reversible restraint in response to the confidence factor and the time to collision.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

scanning a frontal zone with a pre-crash sensing system and generating a pre-crash signal;

classifying a collision in response to the pre-crash signal;

determining a pre-crash collision confidence factor; and

when the confidence factor is high, deploying a restraint system in pre-collision mode;

when the confidence factor is low, confirming a collision with vehicle collision sensors and deploying the restraint system in collision mode.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein classifying a collision comprises determining a collision classification as a collision overlap.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein classifying a collision comprises determining a collision type.

4. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein the collision type comprises a front or rear collision.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising determining a time to collision and wherein deploying comprises deploying in response to the time to collision.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising determining occupant information and wherein deploying comprises deploying in response to the occupant information.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising determining a relative velocity and wherein deploying a restraint system comprises deploying a restraint system in response to the relative velocity.

8. A method of operating a restraint system having a reversible restraint and a non-reversible restraint comprising:

determining a pre-crash collision confidence factor;

estimating a time to collision;

deploying the reversible restraint in response to the confidence factor and the time to collision; and

deploying the non-reversible restraint in response to the confidence factor and the time to collision.

9. A method as recited in claim 8 further comprising monitoring a seatbelt status and wherein deploying the non-reversible restraint comprises deploying the non-reversible restraint in response to the seatbelt status.

10. A method as recited in claim 8 further comprising monitoring a seatbelt status and wherein deploying the reversible restraint comprises deploying the reversible restraint in response to the seatbelt status.

11. A method as recited in claim 8 further comprising determining a collision classification and monitoring a seatbelt status and wherein deploying the non-reversible restraint comprises deploying the non-reversible restraint in response to the collision classification and the seatbelt status.

12. A method as recited in claim 8 further comprising determining a collision classification and monitoring a seatbelt status and wherein deploying the reversible restraint comprises deploying the reversible restraint in response to the collision classification and the seatbelt status.

13. A method as recited in claim 12 wherein determining a collision classification comprises determining the collision classification as a front or rear collision.

14. A method as recited in claim 12 wherein determining a collision classification comprises determining the collision classification as a collision overlap

15. A method as recited in claim 8 further comprising determining occupant information and wherein deploying the non-reversible restraint comprises deploying the non-reversible restraint in response to the occupant information.

16. A method as recited in claim 15 wherein determining occupant information comprises determining belted or unbelted status.

17. A method as recited in claim 15 wherein determining occupant information comprises determining a weight range.

18. A method as recited in claim 15 wherein determining occupant information comprises determining a seat position.

19. A method as recited in claim 8 further comprising determining an occupant information and wherein deploying the reversible restraint comprises deploying the reversible restraint in response to the occupant information.

20. A method as recited in claim 8 wherein deploying a reversible restraint is initiated before deploying a non-reversible restraint.