Apparatus and method employing multiple crash evaluation algorithms for actuating a restraint system in a passenger vehicle
First Claim
1. Apparatus for actuating a passenger restraint system in a passenger vehicle, comprising:
- sensor means for sensing vehicle deceleration and providing a deceleration signal having a value which varies in accordance therewith;
a plurality of crash evaluation circuits each responsive to said deceleration signal for evaluating said deceleration signal in accordance with respectively different crash evaluation algorithms, each said evaluation circuit having a vote and each providing a vote signal when its evaluation of the deceleration signal indicates that the restraint system should be actuated;
summing means for summing said vote signals to provide a summation signal having a fractional value dependent upon the ratio of the number of vote signals to the total number of evaluation votes; and
,means for providing a trigger signal for actuating said restraint system when the value of said summation signal exceeds that of a threshold level.
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Abstract
Apparatus and method are presented for actuating a passenger restraint system in a passenger vehicle. A sensor senses vehicle deceleration and provides a deceleration signal having a value which varies in accordance therewith. A plurality of crash evaluation circuits each respond to the deceleration signal for evaluating the deceleration signal in accordance with respectively different crash evaluation algorithms. Each evaluation circuit provides a vote signal when its evaluation of the deceleration signal indicates that the restraint system should be actuated. The vote signals are summed to provide a summation signal. The summation signal has a fractional value dependent upon the ratio of the number of vote signals to the total number of evaluation votes. The restraint sytsem is actuated when the summation signal exceeds a threshold level.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. Apparatus for actuating a passenger restraint system in a passenger vehicle, comprising:
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sensor means for sensing vehicle deceleration and providing a deceleration signal having a value which varies in accordance therewith; a plurality of crash evaluation circuits each responsive to said deceleration signal for evaluating said deceleration signal in accordance with respectively different crash evaluation algorithms, each said evaluation circuit having a vote and each providing a vote signal when its evaluation of the deceleration signal indicates that the restraint system should be actuated; summing means for summing said vote signals to provide a summation signal having a fractional value dependent upon the ratio of the number of vote signals to the total number of evaluation votes; and
,means for providing a trigger signal for actuating said restraint system when the value of said summation signal exceeds that of a threshold level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. Apparatus for actuating a passenger restraint system in a passenger vehicle, comprising:
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sensor means for sensing vehicle deceleration and providing a deceleration signal having a value that varies in accordance therewith; a plurality of crash evaluation circuits, each responsive to said deceleration signal for evaluating said deceleration signal in accordance with respectively different crash evaluation algorithms, each said evaluation circuit having a vote and having an output circuit for providing a vote signal when evaluation of the deceleration signal by said evaluation circuit indicates that the restraint system should be actuated; means assigning different weights to said vote signals to provide weighted vote signals each having a different magnitude dependent upon the weight assigned thereto; summing means for summing said weighted vote signals to provide a summation signal having a value dependent on the sum of said weighted vote signals; and
,means for providing a trigger signal for actuating said restraint system when said summation signal exceeds a threshold level. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. A method for actuating a passenger restraint system in a passenger vehicle comprising the steps of:
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sensing the magnitude of vehicle deceleration and providing a deceleration signal having a value that varies in accordance therewith; evaluating said deceleration signal in accordance with a plurality of different crash evaluation algorithms, each having a vote, and providing a vote signal for each algorithm when the evaluation of the deceleration signal by said algorithm indicates that the restraint system should be actuated; summing the vote signals to determine a fractional value representative of the number of vote signals compared with the total number of possible evaluation votes; and
,actuating the restraint system when the fractional value exceeds a threshold level. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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Specification