Method For Crash Testing A Motor Vehicle
First Claim
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1. A method of deploying and testing an inflatable restraint, comprising the steps of:
- selecting a firing map defining firing of an inflatable restraint upon a vehicle crash, the firing map having a first deployment pattern and a second deployment pattern, the firing map having at least three zones, at least one first zone where the inflatable restraint fires in the first deployment pattern, at least one second zone where the inflatable restraint fires in the second deployment pattern, and at least one transition zone between the first zone and the second zone where various characteristics define whether the inflatable restraint fires in the first or the second deployment pattern;
defining a regulation zone comprising crash test requirements, wherein the regulation zone and the at least one transition zone do not overlap, wherein the regulation zone uses a single pre-selected deployment pattern chosen from the first deployment pattern and the second deployment pattern throughout the entire regulation zone, wherein the regulation zone comprises at least a speed condition and at least one additional condition;
conducting a crash test in the regulation zone; and
deploying the inflatable restraint according to the firing map.
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Abstract
A method for crash testing a motor vehicle is disclosed. The method provides a crash test routine where an inflatable restraint is deployed using a single deployment pattern throughout at least one government regulation zone. This helps to prevent overlap of a transition zone and can help make the deployment of the inflatable restraint more predictable. This can increase occupant safety and simply testing.
28 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of deploying and testing an inflatable restraint, comprising the steps of:
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selecting a firing map defining firing of an inflatable restraint upon a vehicle crash, the firing map having a first deployment pattern and a second deployment pattern, the firing map having at least three zones, at least one first zone where the inflatable restraint fires in the first deployment pattern, at least one second zone where the inflatable restraint fires in the second deployment pattern, and at least one transition zone between the first zone and the second zone where various characteristics define whether the inflatable restraint fires in the first or the second deployment pattern; defining a regulation zone comprising crash test requirements, wherein the regulation zone and the at least one transition zone do not overlap, wherein the regulation zone uses a single pre-selected deployment pattern chosen from the first deployment pattern and the second deployment pattern throughout the entire regulation zone, wherein the regulation zone comprises at least a speed condition and at least one additional condition; conducting a crash test in the regulation zone; and deploying the inflatable restraint according to the firing map. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of deploying an inflatable restraint comprising the steps of:
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using a firing map having at least one transition zone disposed between a first deployment pattern and a second deployment pattern, wherein the transition zone includes probabilities of deploying the inflatable restraint using either the first deployment pattern or the second deployment pattern, and wherein a regulation zone comprising crash test requirements is separated from every transition zone in the firing map so that the regulation zone uses a pre-selected deployment pattern throughout the entire regulation zone, wherein the pre-selected deployment pattern is selected from a group consisting of the first deployment pattern and the second deployment pattern; crashing a vehicle during a crash test according to the crash test requirements; and executing the pre-selected deployment pattern. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for testing an inflatable restraint system that utilizes a dual charge system, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a firing map for a regulation zone, wherein the regulation zone comprises a speed range and a flat barrier, and wherein the firing map specifies deployment patterns for the inflatable restraint; wherein the firing map consists essentially of a no fire deployment mode and a delay deployment mode; conducting a crash test in the regulation zone; and deploying the inflatable restraint according to the firing map. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification