Method for controlling the release of passenger restraint systems
First Claim
1. A method of controlling the release of a passenger restraint system in a vehicle comprising the following steps:
- generating a first signal indicative of the acceleration of the vehicle,integrating the first signal with respect to time to generate a second signal indicative of the velocity of the vehicle,determining a first threshold value and adjusting the first threshold value based on the value of the first signal, andcomparing the value of the second signal to the first threshold value and releasing the passenger restraint system if the value of the second signal exceeds the first threshold value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a method for controlling the release of a passenger restraint system in a vehicle, an acceleration signal is measured and integrated with respect to time to obtain a velocity signal. A release threshold value for the velocity signal is determined. If the velocity signal then falls below the release threshold value, thus indicating a vehicle collision, the passenger restraint system is released. The release threshold value is controlled depending on the type of accident situation and upon the operating parameters of the vehicle to increase the release sensitivity of the passenger restraint system. For example, the release threshold value is adjusted based on the value of the velocity signal. If the velocity signal decreases in value, then the release threshold is lowered to a more sensitive value.
80 Citations
44 Claims
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1. A method of controlling the release of a passenger restraint system in a vehicle comprising the following steps:
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generating a first signal indicative of the acceleration of the vehicle, integrating the first signal with respect to time to generate a second signal indicative of the velocity of the vehicle, determining a first threshold value and adjusting the first threshold value based on the value of the first signal, and comparing the value of the second signal to the first threshold value and releasing the passenger restraint system if the value of the second signal exceeds the first threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of controlling the release of a passenger restraint system in a vehicle comprising the following steps:
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generating a first reference signal indicative of the acceleration of the vehicle, integrating the first reference signal with respect to time to generate a second reference signal indicative of the velocity of the vehicle, comparing the second reference signal to a lower reerence threshold value and to an upper reference threshold value, the lower and upper reference threshold values defining a reference integrator range therebetween, approximately when the value of the second reference signal reaches the lower reference threshold value, measuring the time elapsed while the value of the second reference signal is within the reference integrator range, generating a first release signal indicative of the acceleration of the vehicle, adjusting the first release signal based on the measured time elapsed while the value of the second reference signal is within the reference integrator range, integrating the adjusted first release signal with respect to time to obtain a second release signal, and comparing the value of the second release signal to a release threshold value, and releasing the passenger restraint system if the value of the second release signal equals or exceeds the release threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for controlling the release of a passenger restraint system in a vehicle, said method comprising the following steps:
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generating a first signal corresponding to the acceleration of the vehicle, generating a second signal by integrating said first signal with respect to time, said second signal corresponding to the velocity of the vehicle, determining a release threshold value in response to said first signal, and releasing the passenger restraint system when said second signal'"'"'s value is about equal to said release threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method for controlling the release of an air bag in a motor vehicle comprising the following steps:
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generating an acceleration signal with an acceleration sensor mounted on the vehicle, integrating the acceleration signal with respect to time to obtain an integrated acceleration signal or velocity signal, determining a release threshold value, determining a lower threshold value which is less than the release threshold value, determining an upper threshold value which is greater than the lower threshold value, thus defining a range therebetween, decreasing the release threshold value approximately when the velocity signal equals the lower threshold value, and releasing the air bag approximately when the velocity signal equals the release threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38)
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39. A method of controlling the release of an air bag in a motor vehicle comprising the following steps:
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measuring a first signal representative of the acceleration of the vehicle, integrating the first signal with respect to time to obtain a second signal, comparing the second signal to a lower threshold value, decreasing a release threshold value approximately when the value of the second signal equals the lower threshold value, the release threshold value being greater than the lower threshold value, and releasing the air bag approximately when the second signal'"'"'s value equals the release threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification