System for Controlling the Deployment of an External Safety Device

• US 20160200275A1
• Filed: 09/05/2013
• Published: 07/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Veoneer Sweden Safety Systems AB
• Original Assignee: Veoneer Sweden AB (SSW Partners LP)
• Inventors: Loisy, Aurore, Mensales, Alexandre, Le Merrer, Yann
• Granted Patent: US 10,196,024 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01286 Electronic control units
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/36 using airbags

Abstract

A vehicle safety system having an external safety system for protecting a pedestrian, and a device for activating the external safety system the device being connected to a pre-crash sensor system (10, 11) and an in-crash sensor system (16). The device is arranged to perform an object classification of a first signal from the pre-crash sensor system and to determine a threshold (T1, T2) for the in-crash sensor system as a function of the object classification.

Claims

1. A vehicle safety system comprising:

an external safety system for protecting a pedestrian, and a device including an electronic control module for activating the external safety system the device being connected to a pre-crash sensor system and an in-crash sensor system, the device being configured to perform an object classification of a first signal from the pre-crash sensor system and to determine a threshold for the in-crash sensor system as a function of the object classification;

the device is configured to set a first threshold, lower than a nominal threshold, as a function of a first signal indicating an object classified as a pedestrian;

the device is configured to set a second threshold, higher than the nominal threshold, as a function of the first signal indicating an object classified as a non-pedestrian;

the device is configured to interpolate the set first or second threshold between the nominal threshold and a threshold limit value as a function of the probability of an accurate classification for the first signal; and

the device is configured compare a second signal from the in-crash sensor system with the threshold, whereby the external safety system is activated if the set first or second threshold is exceeded.

2. A vehicle safety system according to claim 1, further comprising in that the device is configured to set the first threshold equal to a minimum of the threshold limit value if the probability of accurate classification has a maximum value, as a function of the first signal indicating that an object classified as the pedestrian is detected.

3. A vehicle safety system according to claim 1, further comprising that the device is configured to set the first threshold higher than a minimum threshold limit value if the probability of accurate classification is between a minimum and a maximum value, as a function of the first signal indicating no object or that an object classified as a possible pedestrian is detected.

4. A vehicle safety system according to claim 1, further comprising that the device is configured to set a second threshold equal to a maximum of the threshold limit value if the probability of accurate classification has a maximum value, as a function of the first signal indicating that an object classified as a non-pedestrian is detected.

5. A vehicle safety system according to claim 1, further comprising that the device is configured to set the second threshold lower than a maximum of the threshold limit value if the probability of accurate classification between a minimum and a maximum value, as a function of the first signal indicating that an object classified as a possible non-pedestrian is detected.

6. A vehicle safety system according to claim 1, further comprising that the device is configured to set the first or the second threshold equal to the nominal threshold, if no pre-crash sensor input is detected or pre-crash sensor failure is detected.

7. A vehicle safety system according to claim 1, further comprising that the device is configured to set a threshold equal to a minimum of the threshold limit value, as a function of a first signal indicating no object detected.

8. A vehicle safety system according to in claim 1 further comprising that the probability of accurate classification is determined by the device is a function of the first signal and at least one additional detected vehicle related parameter.

9. A vehicle safety system according to claim 8, further comprising that the at least one additional detected vehicle related parameter is a detected brake actuation.

10. A vehicle safety system according to claim 8, further comprising that the at least one additional detected vehicle related parameter is a detected steering wheel actuation.

11. A vehicle safety system according to claim 1 further comprising that the nominal threshold is a linear function of the probability of accurate classification between maximum and minimum threshold limit values.

12. A vehicle safety system according to claim 1 further comprising the probability of accurate classification of the first signal is a function of the sensors confidence level.

13. A vehicle safety system according to claim 1 further comprising that the pre-crash sensor system has a field of view less than 180°

.

14. A vehicle safety system according to claim 1 further comprising that the external safety system comprises multiple pyrotechnic components arranged to be activated sequentially.

15. A vehicle safety system according to claim 1 further comprising that the external safety system comprises at least a pyrotechnic hood lifter.

16. A vehicle safety system according to claim 1 further comprising that the external safety system comprises at least one pedestrian protection airbag.

17. A vehicle safety system according claim 1 further comprising that the external safety system comprises two or more zones provided with the pre-crash sensor system.

18. A vehicle safety system according to claim 17, further comprising that the device is arranged to determine individual first and second thresholds for each zone, as a function of a first signal from the pre-crash sensor system.

19. A vehicle safety system according to claim 18, further comprising that the external safety system in each zone is activated individually if the set first or second threshold is exceeded.

20. A device including an electronic control unit for activating an external safety system for protecting a pedestrian, the device being connected to a pre-crash sensor system and an in-crash sensor system, comprising the device configured:

for performing an object classification of a first signal from the pre-crash sensor system;

for determining at least one threshold for the in-crash sensor system as a function of the object classification;

for setting a first threshold, lower than a nominal threshold, as a function of a first signal indicating no object detected or an object classified as a pedestrian;

for setting a second threshold, higher than the nominal threshold, as a function of a first signal indicating an object classified as a non-pedestrian;

for interpolating the set first or second threshold between the nominal threshold and a threshold limit value as a function of the probability of accurate classification for the first signal and

for comparing a second signal from the in-crash sensor system with the threshold, the device being activated if the threshold is exceeded.

21. A device according to claim 20, further comprising the device configured for setting the first threshold equal to a minimum of the threshold limit value if the probability of accurate classification has a maximum value, as a function of the first signal indicating that an object classified as a pedestrian is detected.

22. A device according to claim 20, further comprising the device configured for setting the first threshold higher than a minimum of the threshold limit value if the probability of accurate classification is below the maximum value, as a function of the first signal indicating no object or that an object classified as a possible pedestrian is detected.

23. A device according to claim 20, further comprising the device configured for setting the second threshold equal to a maximum of the threshold limit value if the probability of accurate classification has a maximum value, as a function of the first signal indicating that an object classified as a non-pedestrian is detected.

24. A device according to claim 20, further comprising the device configured for setting the second threshold lower than a maximum of the threshold limit value if the probability of accurate classification has a maximum value, as a function of the first signal indicating that an object classified as a possible non-pedestrian is detected.

35. A method according to claim 24, further comprising determining the first or the second threshold as a linear function of the probability of accurate classification between maximum and minimum threshold limit values.

25. A method for activating an external safety system for protecting a pedestrian which system of the type having a device including an electronic control unit for activating the external safety system, the device being connected to a pre-crash sensor system and an in-crash sensor system and being arranged to perform an object classification of a first signal from the pre-crash sensor system;

the method comprising the steps of;

performing an object classification of a first signal from the pre-crash sensor system;

determining at least one threshold for the in-crash sensor system as a function of the object classification;

setting a first threshold, lower than a nominal threshold, as a function of a first signal indicating no object detected or an object classified as a pedestrian;

setting a second threshold, higher than the nominal threshold, as a function of a first signal indicating an object classified as a non-pedestrian;

interpolating the set threshold between the nominal threshold and a threshold limit value as a function of the probability of accurate classification for the first signal; and

comparing a second signal from the in-crash sensor system with the first or second threshold, and activating the device if the threshold is exceeded.

26. A method according to claim 25, further comprising setting the first threshold equal to a minimum threshold limit value if the probability of accurate classification has a maximum value, as a function of the first signal indicating that an object classified as a pedestrian is detected.

27. A method according to claim 25, further comprising setting the first threshold higher than a minimum threshold limit value if the probability of accurate classification is below the maximum value, as a function of the first signal indicating no object or that an object classified as a possible pedestrian is detected.

28. A method according to claim 25, further comprising setting the second threshold equal to a maximum threshold limit value if the probability of accurate classification has a maximum value, as a function of the first signal indicating that an object classified as a non-pedestrian is detected.

29. A method according to claim 25, further comprising setting the second threshold lower than a maximum of the threshold limit value if the probability of accurate classification has a maximum value, as a function of the first signal indicating that an object classified as a possible non-pedestrian is detected.

30. A method according to claim 25, further comprising setting the first or second threshold equal to the nominal threshold, if no pre-crash sensor input is detected or if pre-crash sensor failure is detected.

31. A method according to claim 25, further comprising setting the first or second threshold equal to a minimum threshold limit value, as a function of the first signal indicating no object detected or pre-crash sensor failure.

32. A method according to claim 25, further comprising determining the probability of accurate classification as a function of the first signal and at least one additional detected vehicle related parameter,

33. A method according to claim 32, further comprising the at least one additional detected vehicle related parameter is a detected brake actuation.

34. A method according to claim 32, further the at least one additional detected vehicle related parameter is a detected steering wheel actuation

36. A method according to claim 25 further comprising estimating the probability of accurate classification as a function of the sensors confidence level.

37. A method according to claim 25 further comprising using an external safety system comprising two or more zones, each provided with an pre-crash sensor system, and performing an object classification of the first signal from the pre-crash sensor system.

38. A method according to claim 37, further comprising determining an individual first or second threshold for each zone, as a function of the first signal from the pre-crash sensor system.

39. A method according to claim 38, further comprising that the external safety system in each zone is activated individually if the set threshold is exceeded.