SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING WHEN TO DEPLOY A VEHICLE SAFETY SYSTEM

• US 20130131929A1
• Filed: 11/22/2011
• Published: 05/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Veoneer US Safety Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bortolin, Dino
• Granted Patent: US 9,346,428 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01027 Safing sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01336 using filtering
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0136 responsive to actual contact with an obstacle , e.g. to vehicle deformation, bumper displacement or bumper velocity relative to the vehicle monitoring crash strength in combination with passenger seat detection B60R21/01558

Abstract

A system and method for determining when to deploy a vehicle safety system includes a processor and inertial sensor. The inertial sensor has a filtered output and an unfiltered or lightly filtered output. The unfiltered or lightly filtered output is in communication with the processor and provides inertial information relating to the vehicle. The filtered output of the inertial sensor is in communication with a vehicle stability control system. The processor is further configured to monitor the unfiltered or lightly filtered output of the inertial sensor and determine if the inertial information indicates that the vehicle has been involved in a collision. If the vehicle has been involved in a collision, the processor is configured to deploy a vehicle safety system.

Claims

1. A system for determining when to deploy a vehicle safety system, the system comprising:

a processor;

an inertial sensor, the inertial sensor having a filtered output and an unfiltered or lightly filtered output, wherein the unfiltered or lightly filtered output is in communication with the processor and provides inertial information relating to the vehicle and the filtered output is in communication with a vehicle stability control system;

where the processor is configured to use the filtered output for inertial measurement unit purposes;

wherein the processor is configured to monitor the unfiltered or lightly filtered output of the inertial sensor to determine if the inertial information indicates that the vehicle has been in a collision; and

wherein the processor is configured to deploy a vehicle safety system when the inertial information indicates that the vehicle has been in a collision.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle safety system is an airbag.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one satellite sensor mounted adjacent to a bumper of the vehicle and being in communication with the processor, wherein the at least one satellite sensor outputs to the processor vehicle impact information;

wherein the processor is configured to deploy a vehicle safety system when the inertial information indicates that the vehicle has been in a collision and the at least one satellite sensor indicates that the vehicle has been in a collision.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a brake control module in communication with the vehicle stability control system;

at least one vehicle brake unit in communication with the brake control module;

wherein the vehicle stability control system is configured to engage the at least one vehicle brake via the brake control module when the inertial information indicates that the vehicle is not stable.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a powertrain control module in communication with the vehicle stability control system;

a vehicle powertrain in communication with the powertrain control module;

wherein the vehicle stability control system is configured to engage the powertrain via the powertrain control module when the inertial information indicates that the vehicle is not stable.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the inertial sensor utilizes a transfer function (z⁰+4z⁻

1+8z<sup>−

2</sup>+10z<sup>−

3</sup>+8z<sup>−

4</sup>+4z<sup>−

5</sup>+z<sup>−

6</sup>) for generating the unfiltered or lightly filtered output.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein a group delay for the unfiltered or lightly filtered output is about 2 milliseconds or less.

8. A method for determining when to deploy a vehicle safety system, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving from an inertial sensor an unfiltered or lightly filtered output, wherein the unfiltered provides inertial information relating to the vehicle and the filtered output is in communication with a vehicle stability control system;

filtering the unfiltered or lightly filtered output for inertial measurement unit purposes;

monitoring the unfiltered or lightly filtered output of the inertial sensor to determine if the inertial information indicates that the vehicle has been in a collision; and

deploying a vehicle safety system when the inertial information indicates that the vehicle has been in a collision.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the vehicle safety system is an airbag.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of deploying a vehicle safety system when the inertial information indicates that the vehicle has been in a collision and at least one satellite sensor indicates that the vehicle has been in a collision.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of engaging at least one vehicle brake via a brake control module when the inertial information indicates that the vehicle is not stable.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of engaging a powertrain via a powertrain control module when the inertial information indicates that the vehicle is not stable.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the inertial sensor utilizes a transfer function (z⁰+4z⁻

1+8z<sup>−

2</sup>+10z<sup>−

3</sup>+8z<sup>−

4</sup>+4z<sup>−

5</sup>+z<sup>−

6</sup>) for generating the unfiltered or lightly filtered output.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein a group delay for the unfiltered or lightly filtered output is about 2 milliseconds or less.