Activation-Control Device for Occupant Crash-Protection Apparatus

• US 20080269991A1
• Filed: 12/01/2005
• Published: 10/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Inventors: Yamashita, Toshiyuki
• Application Number:
  US11/884,446
• Publication Number:
  US 20080269991A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0132 responsive to vehicle motion parameters , e.g. to vehicle longitudinal or transversal deceleration or speed value

Abstract

A colliding-initial detecting section detects colliding-initial timing at which an impact level detected by an acceleration sensor in the inside of a vehicle reaches a predetermined threshold, and when the colliding-initial timing is detected, a one-shot timer is set. Meanwhile, an impact-judging section detects strong-impact occurrence timing at which the impact level detected by an acceleration sensor on the front reaches a predetermined threshold. When the strong-impact occurrence timing is within a time set by the one-shot timer from the colliding-initial timing, an And circuit outputs an activating signal activating an air bag to a driving section.

Claims

1. An activation-control device for an occupant crash-protection apparatus comprising:

a room acceleration sensor that is provided at a predetermined position in the inside of a vehicle, and detects an impact level given to its installation position;

a front acceleration sensor that is provided at a predetermined position in the front of the vehicle, and detects an impact level given to its installation position;

an occupant crash-protection apparatus control means for actuating and controlling the occupant crash-protection apparatus; and

a colliding-judgment control section that detects colliding-initial timing at which the impact level detected by the room acceleration sensor reaches a preset first threshold, detects strong-impact occurrence timing at which the impact level detected by the front acceleration sensor reaches a second threshold, which is previously set to a value larger than the first threshold, and, when the strong-impact occurrence timing is within a time previously set from the colliding-initial timing, outputs an activating signal activating the occupant crash-protection apparatus to the occupant crash-protection apparatus control means.

2. The activation-control device for an occupant crash-protection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the colliding-judgment control section shares the front acceleration sensor in place of the room acceleration sensor, and detects timing at which the impact level detected by the front acceleration sensor reaches a preset third threshold, as colliding-initial timing.

3. The activation-control device for an occupant crash-protection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the front acceleration sensor is an electromechanical acceleration sensor.

4. An activation-control device for an occupant crash-protection apparatus comprising:

a room acceleration sensor that is provided at a predetermined position in the inside of a vehicle, and detects an impact level given to its installation position;

a front acceleration sensor that is provided at a predetermined position in the front of the vehicle, and detects an impact level given to its installation position;

an occupant crash-protection apparatus control means for controlling an occupant crash-protection apparatus by dividing an actuation of the protection apparatus into a first-stage actuation and a second-stage actuation, which are partially actuated in the occupant crash-protection apparatus; and

a colliding-judgment control section, when the impact level detected by the room acceleration sensor is more than a preset forth threshold, or when the impact level detected by the room acceleration sensor is more than a preset fifth threshold, and the impact level detected by the front acceleration sensor is more than a sixth threshold, which is previously set to a value larger than the fifth threshold, outputs an activating signal causing the occupant crash-protection apparatus to get into a state of the first-stage actuation to the occupant crash-protection apparatus control means; and

after the first-stage actuation is activated, when the impact level detected by the room acceleration sensor is more than the forth threshold, or when colliding-initial timing at which the impact level detected by the room acceleration sensor reaches the fifth threshold is detected, while strong-impact occurrence timing at which the impact level detected by the front acceleration sensor reaches the sixth threshold is detected, and the strong-impact occurrence timing is within a time previously set from the colliding-initial timing, outputs an activating signal causing the occupant crash-protection apparatus to get into a state of the second-stage actuation to the occupant crash-protection apparatus control means.

5. The activation-control device for an occupant crash-protection apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the front acceleration sensor is an electromechanical acceleration sensor.