ADAPTIVE SUPPRESSION OF VEHICLE RESTRAINT SYSTEM

• US 20150258954A1
• Filed: 03/17/2014
• Published: 09/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Engelman, Gerald H., Miller, Alex Maurice, Spahn, Brian Robert, Stephenson, Richard Lee, Tellis, Levasseur, Zwicky, Timothy D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,266,487 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0032 Position of passenger
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01013 Means for detecting collision, impending collision or roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01286 Electronic control units
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01554 Seat position sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01556 Child-seat detection systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23 Inflatable members B60R21/18 takes precedence; connection to inflation fluid source retainers B60R21/217
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/593 Recognising seat occupancy

Abstract

A vehicle has a restraint system with at least two restraint devices. A sensor detects a potential collision object and outputs a signal representing a relative position of the potential collision object to the vehicle. A processing device suppresses deployment of at least one of the restraint devices based at least in part on the signal output by the at least one sensor.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a restraint system having at least two restraint devices;

at least one sensor configured to detect a potential collision object and output a signal representing a relative position of the potential collision object; and

a processing device configured to suppress deployment of at least one of the restraint devices based at least in part on the signal output by the at least one sensor.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the signal indicates a principal direction of force that would be applied to the vehicle if the potential collision object were to collide with the vehicle.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising at least one seat configured to move from a first position to a second position.

4. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein the processing device is further configured to suppress deployment of at least one of the restraint devices based on whether the seat is in the first position or the second position.

5. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein the first position includes a front-facing position and wherein the second position includes a rear-facing position.

6. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein the at least two restraint devices includes a first restraint device and a second restraint device, and wherein the processing device is configured to suppress deployment of the first restraint device if the seat is in the second position.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the at least two restraint devices includes at least two airbags.

8. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the relative position of the potential collision object includes a distance of the potential collision object relative to the vehicle.

9. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the relative position of the potential collision object includes a direction of the potential collision object relative to the vehicle.

10. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes a communication module configured to receive communication signals from the potential collision object.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the processing device is configured to determine the relative position of the potential collision object based at least in part on the communication signal.

12. A method comprising:

detecting a potential collision object;

receiving a position signal representing a position of the potential collision object relative to a vehicle; and

suppressing deployment of at least one restraint device based at least in part on the position signal representing the position of the potential collision object.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the position signal indicates a principal direction of force applied to the vehicle if the potential collision object were to collide with the vehicle.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising determining a seat configuration in the vehicle.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein suppressing deployment of the restraint devices is further based at least in part on the seat configuration.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the position signal indicates a distance between the potential collision object and the vehicle.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the position signal indicates a direction of the potential collision object relative to the vehicle.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein detecting the potential collision object includes receiving a communication signal from the potential collision object.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the position of the potential collision object is determined from the communication signal.

20. A vehicle system comprising:

at least one sensor configured to detect a potential collision object and output a signal representing a relative position of the potential collision object; and

a processing device configured to suppress deployment of at least one restraint device based at least in part on the signal output by the at least one sensor and a configuration of seats located in the vehicle.