Device and Method for Side Impact Detection in a Vehicle

• US 20100042286A1
• Filed: 07/17/2006
• Published: 02/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Lich, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 8,032,275 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/31
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0006 Lateral collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0119 Plausibility check
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01313 monitoring the vehicle steering system or the dynamic control system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0132 responsive to vehicle motion parameters , e.g. to vehicle longitudinal or transversal deceleration or speed value

Abstract

A method and a device for side impact detection in a vehicle. A first signal is generated by a side impact sensor system. A plausibility sensor system determines the direction and magnitude of a lateral speed of the vehicle and/or a slip angle as a plausibility signal. A processor is provided which detects the side impact as a function of the first signal and the plausibility signal.

Claims

1-6. -6. (canceled)

7. A device for side impact detection in a vehicle, comprising:

a side impact sensor system which generates a first signal;

a plausibility sensor system which determines a direction and a magnitude of a lateral velocity of the vehicle and/or a slip angle of the vehicle as a plausibility signal; and

a processor which detects the side impact as a function of the first signal and the plausibility signal.

8. The device according to claim 7, further comprising a CAN bus for connecting the plausibility sensor system to the processor.

9. A method for side impact detection in a vehicle, comprising:

generating a first signal by a side impact sensor system;

determining a direction and a magnitude of a lateral velocity of the vehicle and/or a slip angle of the vehicle as a plausibility signal; and

detecting the side impact as a function of the first signal and the plausibility signal.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising holding the plausibility signal for a predefined time.

11. The method according to claim 9, further comprising setting a flag when the first signal exceeds a noise threshold.

12. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

starting a counter when the magnitude of the lateral velocity exceeds a predefined threshold; and

comparing the counter to the predefined time.