VEHICLE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM CONFIGURATION AND METHOD
First Claim
1. A vehicle supplemental restraint system (SRS) configuration, comprising:
- a vehicle including a front portion, a rear portion, a left side portion, a right side portion, a longitudinal axis extending from the front portion to the rear portion in a forward driving direction of the vehicle, a transverse axis extending from the left side portion to the right side portion and in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, an engine compartment located in the front portion of the vehicle, a driver/passenger row of seating extending substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and located between the engine compartment of the vehicle and the rear portion of the vehicle, a first passenger row of seating extending substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and located between the rear portion of the vehicle and the driver/passenger row of seating, and an instrument panel located between the driver/passenger row of seating and the front portion of the vehicle when the vehicle is viewed from a top view normal to both the longitudinal axis and transverse axis of the vehicle;
a vehicle frame including a left frame member extending substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, a right frame member extending substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, a front cross member connecting the right frame member to the left frame member and located between the driver/passenger row and the front portion of the vehicle and extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and a rearward cross member connecting the right frame member to the left frame member and located between the front cross member and rear portion of the vehicle and extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle;
an SRS control unit located at the rearward cross member of the vehicle frame and configured to receive data, to interpret the data, and to send an actuation signal based on the interpreted data;
a front sensor located at the front portion of the vehicle and configured to detect acceleration and to communicate data related to the detected acceleration to the SRS control unit;
a side sensor located at least one of the left side portion and right side portion of the vehicle and configured to detect side acceleration and communicate data related to the detected side acceleration to the SRS control unit;
a satellite sensor located under the instrument panel and between the driver/passenger row of seating and the engine compartment of the vehicle when the vehicle is viewed from a top view normal to both the longitudinal axis and transverse axis of the vehicle; and
a restraint device located in the vehicle and in communication with the SRS control unit, the restraint device configured to be actuated when an actuation signal from the SRS control unit is received.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle supplemental restraint system (SRS) can include an SRS control unit located rearward of the instrument panel in the vehicle. The SRS control unit can be located at or connected to a cross member of the vehicle frame that is located rearward of the instrument panel in the vehicle such that signals from a side sensor attached to a side portion of the vehicle frame are quickly transmitted to the SRS control unit with high signal strength. A space in the control panel or in the instrument panel of the vehicle can then be used to house a multi-axis or single axis satellite sensor to increase signal strength and sensor accuracy and speed for the front crash sensor or sensors in the vehicle. The SRS control unit can be equipped with an impact sensor. The position of the SRS control unit in combination with use of an impact sensor in the SRS control unit 10 can eliminate the need for certain saving sensors while providing for quick and efficient activation of an SRS. In addition, a method for configuring the SRS can include determining a position of the SRS based on certain side crash testing impact locations for the vehicle.
48 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A vehicle supplemental restraint system (SRS) configuration, comprising:
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a vehicle including a front portion, a rear portion, a left side portion, a right side portion, a longitudinal axis extending from the front portion to the rear portion in a forward driving direction of the vehicle, a transverse axis extending from the left side portion to the right side portion and in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, an engine compartment located in the front portion of the vehicle, a driver/passenger row of seating extending substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and located between the engine compartment of the vehicle and the rear portion of the vehicle, a first passenger row of seating extending substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and located between the rear portion of the vehicle and the driver/passenger row of seating, and an instrument panel located between the driver/passenger row of seating and the front portion of the vehicle when the vehicle is viewed from a top view normal to both the longitudinal axis and transverse axis of the vehicle; a vehicle frame including a left frame member extending substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, a right frame member extending substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, a front cross member connecting the right frame member to the left frame member and located between the driver/passenger row and the front portion of the vehicle and extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and a rearward cross member connecting the right frame member to the left frame member and located between the front cross member and rear portion of the vehicle and extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle; an SRS control unit located at the rearward cross member of the vehicle frame and configured to receive data, to interpret the data, and to send an actuation signal based on the interpreted data; a front sensor located at the front portion of the vehicle and configured to detect acceleration and to communicate data related to the detected acceleration to the SRS control unit; a side sensor located at least one of the left side portion and right side portion of the vehicle and configured to detect side acceleration and communicate data related to the detected side acceleration to the SRS control unit; a satellite sensor located under the instrument panel and between the driver/passenger row of seating and the engine compartment of the vehicle when the vehicle is viewed from a top view normal to both the longitudinal axis and transverse axis of the vehicle; and a restraint device located in the vehicle and in communication with the SRS control unit, the restraint device configured to be actuated when an actuation signal from the SRS control unit is received. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A vehicle supplemental restraint system (SRS) configuration, comprising:
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a vehicle including a front portion, a rear portion, a left side portion, a right side portion, a longitudinal axis extending from the front portion to the rear portion in a forward driving direction of the vehicle, a transverse axis extending from the left side portion to the right side portion and in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, an engine compartment located in the front portion of the vehicle, a driver/passenger row of seating extending substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and located between the engine compartment of the vehicle and the rear portion of the vehicle, a first passenger row of seating extending substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and located between the rear portion of the vehicle and the driver/passenger row of seating, and an instrument panel located between the driver/passenger row of seating and the front portion of the vehicle when the vehicle is viewed from a top view normal to both the longitudinal axis and transverse axis of the vehicle; a vehicle frame including a frame member extending substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, a front cross member located between the driver/passenger row and the front portion of the vehicle and extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and a rearward cross member located between the front cross member and rear portion of the vehicle and extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle; an SRS control unit located between the instrument panel and the rear portion of the vehicle when the vehicle is viewed from a top view normal to both the longitudinal axis and transverse axis of the vehicle, the SRS control unit configured to receive data, to interpret the data, and to send an actuation signal based on the interpreted data; a front sensor located at the front portion of the vehicle and configured to detect acceleration and to communicate data related to the detected acceleration to the SRS control unit; a side sensor located at either end of the rearward cross member and each side sensor being configured to detect side acceleration and communicate data related to the detected side acceleration to the SRS control unit; and a restraint device located in the vehicle and in communication with the SRS control unit, the restraint device configured to be actuated when an actuation signal from the SRS control unit is received. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for configuring a supplemental restraint system (SRS) for a vehicle, comprising:
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providing a vehicle including a front portion, a rear portion, a left side portion, a right side portion, a longitudinal axis extending from the front portion to the rear portion in a forward driving direction of the vehicle, a transverse axis extending from the left side portion to the right side portion and in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, an engine compartment located in the front portion of the vehicle, a driver/passenger row of seating extending substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and located between the engine compartment of the vehicle and the rear portion of the vehicle, a first passenger row of seating extending substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and located between the rear portion of the vehicle and the driver/passenger row of seating, and an instrument panel located between the driver/passenger row of seating and the front portion of the vehicle when the vehicle is viewed from a top view normal to both the longitudinal axis and transverse axis of the vehicle; providing a vehicle frame including a front cross member located between the driver/passenger row and the front portion of the vehicle and extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and a rearward cross member located between the front cross member and rear portion of the vehicle and extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle; providing an SRS control unit configured to receive data, to interpret the data, and to send an actuation signal based on the interpreted data; providing a front sensor at the front portion of the vehicle, the front sensor configured to detect acceleration and communicate data related to the detected acceleration to the SRS control unit; providing a side sensor at least one of the left side portion and right side portion of the vehicle, the side sensor configured to detect side acceleration and communicate data related to the detected side acceleration to the SRS control unit; determining a location of a testing impact point on the vehicle for at least one of SICE testing, side crash testing, and front crash testing; and locating the SRS control unit at a specific position on the vehicle based on the location of the testing impact point. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification