Method for Controlling a Safety-Relevant Component of a Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Comprising a Preventively Activated Safety System

• US 20080071446A1
• Filed: 04/21/2005
• Published: 03/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Company LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Schindler, Wolfgang, Brauner, Horst, Kiessling, Lutz, Roehm, Hans
• Application Number:
  US11/587,819
• Publication Number:
  US 20080071446A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01311 monitoring the braking system, e.g. ABS
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01313 monitoring the vehicle steering system or the dynamic control system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01552 detecting position of specific human body parts, e.g. face, eyes or hands

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for controlling at least one safety-related component of a motor vehicle, in particular of a passenger car, as a function of vehicle movement dynamics of the motor vehicle which are detected by means of sensors, the actuation of the safety-related component being carried out as a function of at least one predefined and adaptable threshold value which characterizes vehicle movement dynamics which are critical for driving safety, in such a way that a risk of injury to a vehicle occupant and/or another party to a collision is reduced. According to the invention, the adaptation of the threshold value is coupled to the driver-end power request in such a way that the actuation of the safety-related component does not take place until vehicle movement dynamics which result from the current driver-end power request and are critical for safety are evaluated as a driving state which is brought about in a random and uncontrolled fashion. Furthermore, the invention relates to a motor vehicle which is actuated in this manner.

Claims

1-10. -10. (canceled)

11. A method for controlling at least one safety-related component of a motor vehicle as a function of vehicle movement dynamics of the motor vehicle which are detected by sensors, actuation of the safety-related component being carried out as a function of at least one predefined and adaptable threshold value characterizing vehicle movement dynamics that are critical for driving safety in such a way that a risk of injury to a vehicle occupant, another party, or both the vehicle occupant and the other party in a collision is reduced, comprising:

evaluating a driver-end power request, and

coupling adaptation of the threshold value to the driver-end power request in such a way that the actuation of the safety-related component does not take place until vehicle movement dynamics, which result from the driver-end power request and are critical for safety, are evaluated as a driving state which is brought about in a random and uncontrolled fashion.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein a signal which is proportional to a position of an accelerator pedal is used to evaluate the driver-end power request.

13. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the actuation of the safety-related component takes place when a driver-end reduction in the power request is exceeded while the vehicle movement dynamics that are critical for safety are present.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the safety-related component is actuated as a function of a gradient of the reduction in the power request.

15. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the actuation of the safety-related component is carried out as a function of a body reaction by a driver which indicates an emergency situation, a stress situation, or both emergency and stress situations.

16. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the safety-related component is actuated as a function of a time period between release of a power request element and activation of a brake pedal.

17. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the threshold value is adapted by means of a jump function.

18. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the threshold value is adapted by means of a ramp function.

19. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the actuation of the safety-related component takes place when a driver-end reduction in the power request is exceeded while the vehicle movement dynamics that are critical for safety are present.

20. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the safety-related component is actuated as a function of a gradient of the reduction in the power request.

21. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the actuation of the safety-related component is carried out as a function of a body reaction by a driver which indicates an emergency situation, a stress situation, or both emergency and stress situations.

22. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the safety-related component is actuated as a function of a time period between release of a power request element and activation of a brake pedal.

23. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the threshold value is adapted by means of a jump function.

24. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the threshold value is adapted by means of a ramp function.

25. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein evaluating the driver-end power request includes determining a desired driving behavior from a profile of accelerator pedal actuation over time.

26. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein evaluation of the driving state which is brought about in a random and uncontrolled fashion is determined by fast release of an accelerator pedal.

27. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the vehicle movement dynamics that are critical for safety are lateral vehicle movement dynamics.

28. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the vehicle movement dynamics that are critical for safety are lateral vehicle movement dynamics.

29. A motor vehicle, comprising:

at least one safety-related component which can be actuated by a control device, the safety-related component being actuated as a function of operating state variables characterizing vehicle movement dynamics in order to reduce a risk of an accident and/or a risk of injury to a vehicle occupant and/or another party in a collision,

sensors by which said vehicle movement dynamics are detected, and

a data evaluation device by which said vehicle movement dynamics are evaluated,

wherein the operating state variables are compared with at least one threshold value,

wherein the safety-related component is actuated when the threshold value is exceeded, and

wherein the threshold value is adapted as a function of a driver-end power request in such a way that the safety-related component is actuated only if vehicle movement dynamics which are detected correspond to a driving state which is brought about in a random and uncontrolled fashion.

30. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 29, wherein the safety-related component is actuated as a function of detected lateral dynamics.