COLLISION DETECTING SYSTEM FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE
First Claim
1. An electric collision detecting system for use with a safety device mounted on a motor vehicle, which comprises:
- a collision detector for producing a collision signal when an object contacts the motor vehicle;
a deceleration detector for producing a real deceleration signal having a magnitude proportional to the magnitude of a deceleration subjected to the motor vehicle;
a function generator connected to said collision detector and producing a reference deceleration signal upon receiving said collision signal;
a comparator connected to said function generator and to said deceleration detector and producing a drive signal when said real deceleration signal exceeds said reference deceleration signal; and
an actuator connected to said comparator and actuating the safety device upon receiving said drive signal, further comprising;
a gate signal generator producing a gate signal when said reference deceleration signal is lower than a predetermined value;
a gate for passing therethrough said drive signal from said comparator to said actuator when receiving said gate signal, and said gate includes an AND gate having one input terminal connected to an output terminal of said csmparator and the other terminal connected to an output terminal of said gate signal generator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electric collision detecting system usable for a motor vehicle safety device such as inflatable protector bag and stretchable netting. The system has a collision detector for producing a collision signal when an object contacts the motor vehicle, and a deceleration detector for producing a real deceleration signal having a magnitude in proportional to the magnitude of a deceleration subjected to the motor vehicle. The collision detector is connected to a function generator which produces a reference deceleration signal upon receipt of the collision signal and this signal is passed to a comparator. The deceleration detector is connected to the comparator and this comparator functions to produce a drive signal when the real deceleration signal exceeds the reference deceleration signal. There is an actuator connected to the comparator through a gate circuit for actuating the safety device upon receipt of the drive signal.
33 Citations
9 Claims
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1. An electric collision detecting system for use with a safety device mounted on a motor vehicle, which comprises:
- a collision detector for producing a collision signal when an object contacts the motor vehicle;
a deceleration detector for producing a real deceleration signal having a magnitude proportional to the magnitude of a deceleration subjected to the motor vehicle;
a function generator connected to said collision detector and producing a reference deceleration signal upon receiving said collision signal;
a comparator connected to said function generator and to said deceleration detector and producing a drive signal when said real deceleration signal exceeds said reference deceleration signal; and
an actuator connected to said comparator and actuating the safety device upon receiving said drive signal, further comprising;
a gate signal generator producing a gate signal when said reference deceleration signal is lower than a predetermined value;
a gate for passing therethrough said drive signal from said comparator to said actuator when receiving said gate signal, and said gate includes an AND gate having one input terminal connected to an output terminal of said csmparator and the other terminal connected to an output terminal of said gate signal generator.
- a collision detector for producing a collision signal when an object contacts the motor vehicle;
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2. An electric collision detecting system for use with a safety device mounted on a motor vehicle, which comprises:
- a collision detector for producing a collision signal when an object contacts the motor vehicle;
a deceleration detector for producing a real deceleration signal having a magnitude proportional to the magnitude of a deceleration subjected to the motor vehicle;
a function generator connected to said collision detector and producing a reference deceleration signal upon receiving said collision signal;
a comparator connected to said function generator and to said deceleration detector and producing a drive signal when said real deceleration signal exceeds said reference deceleration signal; and
an actuator connected to said comparator and actuating the safety device upon receiving said drive signal, further comprising;
a wave-shaper connected between said deceleration detector and said comparator;
a test signal generator producing a pseudo deceleration signal on its first output terminal which is connected to an input of said wave-shaper, a test trigger signal on its second output terminal which is connected to an input terminal of said function generator and a disabling signal on its third output terminal;
a checking circuit having one input terminal connected to said second output terminal of said test signal generator and the other terminal connected to said output terminal of said comparator for producing an alarM signal when receiving said trigger signal but not receiving said drive signal from said comparator;
an alarm circuit for alarming when receiving said alarm signal from said checking circuit; and
a gate interposed between said comparator and actuator for passing therethrough said drive signal when receiving said disabling signal from said third output/terminal of said test signal generator, and said checking circuit includes a flip-flop circuit having a set terminal connected to said second output terminal of said test signal generator, and a trigger circuit having an input terminal connected to said output terminal of the comparator and an output terminal connected to a reset terminal of said flip-flop circuit.
- a collision detector for producing a collision signal when an object contacts the motor vehicle;
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3. An electric collision detecting system for use with a safety device mounted on a motor vehicle, of the type which includes a deceleration detector producing a real deceleration signal proportional to a deceleration to which the motor vehicle is subjected, an actuator on the motor vehicle for actuating the safety device upon receiving a drive signal, said electric detecting system comprising:
- a collision detector producing a collision signal;
a function generator having a trigger terminal connected to said collision detector to receive the collision signal to produce a reference deceleration signal upon receiving the collision signal;
a comparator connected to said function generator to receive the reference deceleration signal and to the deceleration detector to receive the real deceleration signal to produce the drive signal on its output terminal when the real deceleration signal exceeds the reference deceleration signal; and
means connected between said comparator and said actuator for blocking the transmission of the drive signal to said actuator including another comparator to produce a gate signal when the reference deceleration signal lowers below a predetermined value and a gate means for blocking the drive signal in the absence of the gate signal.
- a collision detector producing a collision signal;
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4. An electric collision detecting system as claimed in claim 3, in which said collision detector includes a switch and a charge storing circuit connected in circuitry with said switch to produce the collision signal during a predetermined duration after the closure of said switch as far as said switch is kept closed, in which said function generator includes a charging and discharging circuit with a storing capacitor connected in ciruitry with said charge storing circuit to discharge a current of the storing capacitor thereof while the collision signal is present and an output terminal connected in circuitry with said charging and discharging circuit to produce the reference deceleration signal in the form of a voltage across the storing capacitor of said charging and discharging circuit.
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5. An electric collision detecting system as claimed in claim 4, in which said gate means includes an AND gate having a first input terminal connected to the output terminal of said first mentioned comparator and a second input terminal connected to the comparator of said blocking means to receive the drive signal and the gate signal, respectively.
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6. An electric collision detecting system as claimed in claim 4, in which said collision detector includes a second switch and a second charge storing circuit connected in circuitry with said second switch to produce a second collision signal during a predetermined duration after the closure of said second switch, and in which said function generator includes a trigger means for rendering said charging and discharging circuit to discharge a current of the storing capacitor thereof while said second collision signal is present after altering the resistance value of said charging and discharging circuit.
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7. An electric collision detecting system as claimed in claim 4, which further comprises:
- a test signal generator to produce a pseudo deceleration signal on its first output terminal which is connected to said first mentioned comparator, a test trigger signal on its second output terminal which is connected to said function generator to render said function generator to produce the reference deceleration signal and a disabling signal on its third output terminal;
a checking circuit having a first input terminal connected to the second output terminal of said test signal generator and a second input terminal connected to the output of said first mentioned comparator to receive therefrom the drive signal to produce an alarm signal when receiving the test signal only; and
a second gate means connected to said third output terminal of said test signal generator for blocking the transmission of the drive signal to the actuator when the disabling signal is present.
- a test signal generator to produce a pseudo deceleration signal on its first output terminal which is connected to said first mentioned comparator, a test trigger signal on its second output terminal which is connected to said function generator to render said function generator to produce the reference deceleration signal and a disabling signal on its third output terminal;
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8. An electric collision detecting system as claimed in claim 7, in which said checking circuit includes a flip-flop circuit having a set terminal connected to the second output terminal of said test signal generator, and a trigger circuit having an input terminal connected to said first mentioned comparator to receive the drive signal therefrom and an output terminal connected to a reset terminal of said flip-flop circuit.
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9. An electric collision detecting system for use with a safety device mounted on a motor vehicle, which comprises:
- a collision detector for producing a collision signal when an object contacts the motor vehicle;
a deceleration detector for producing a real deceleration signal having a magnitude proportional to the magnitude of a deceleration subjected to the motor vehicle;
a function generator connected to said collision detector and producing a reference deceleration signal upon receiving said collision signal;
a comparator connected to said function generator and to said deceleration detector and producing a drive signal when said real deceleration signal exceeds said reference deceleration signal; and
an actuator connected to said comparator and actuating the safety device upon receiving said drive signal, further comprising;
a gate signal generator including a comparator connected to said function generator and producing a gate signal when said reference deceleration signal is lower than a predetermined value; and
gate means connected to said gate signal generator and between said first mentioned comparator and said actuator and passing therethrough said drive signal from said first mentioned comparator to said actuator when receiving said first gate signal.
- a collision detector for producing a collision signal when an object contacts the motor vehicle;
Specification