Apparatus and method for actuating a passenger restraint system in a passenger vehicle
First Claim
1. Apparatus for actuating a passenger restraint system in a passenger vehicle, comprising:
- sensor means for providing a vehicle condition signal indicative of a potential deployment condition suitable for actuating said restraint system;
means for providing a first signal so long as the value of said condition signal exceeds that of a first threshold level;
integrating means operative in response to said first signal for integrating said condition signal and providing an integrated signal and normally operative to be reset upon termination of said first signal;
means for providing a trigger signal for actuating said restraint system when the value of said integrated signal exceeds that of a second threshold level;
means for preventing said integrating means from being reset upon termination of said first signal once said first signal has had a time duration of at least time period T1;
means for resetting said integrating means after a time period T2 has taken place, wherein T2 has a duration greater than that of time period T1, so that said integrating means continues to integrate said condition signal during the interval between termination of time period T1 and termination of time period T2, even though the value of the condition signal drops below that of the first threshold level during said interval.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and method are provided for actuating a passenger restraint system in a passenger vehicle. A sensor, such as an accelerometer, provides a vehicle condition signal indicative of a potential deployment condition suitable for actuating the restraint system. A first signal is provided so long as the value of the condition signal exceeds that of a first threshold level. An integrator is operative in response to the first signal for integrating the condition signal and providing an integrated signal. The integrator is normally operative to be reset upon termination of the first signal. A trigger signal is provided for actuating the restraint system when the value of the integrated signal exceeds that of a second threshold level. The integrator is prevented from being reset upon termination of the first signal once the first signal has had a time duration of at least time period T1. The integrator is reset after a time period T2 has taken place, wherein T2 had a duration greater than that of time period T1. Consequently, the integrator continues to integrate the condition signal during the interval between the termination of time period T1 and the termination of time period T2, even though the value of the condition signal drops below that of the first threshold level during the interval.
38 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 providing a vehicle condition signal indicative of a potential deployment condition suitable for actuating said restraint system; means for providing a first signal so long as the value of said condition signal exceeds that of a first threshold level; integrating means operative in response to said first signal for integrating said condition signal and providing an integrated signal and normally operative to be reset upon termination of said first signal; means for providing a trigger signal for actuating said restraint system when the value of said integrated signal exceeds that of a second threshold level; means for preventing said integrating means from being reset upon termination of said first signal once said first signal has had a time duration of at least time period T1; means for resetting said integrating means after a time period T2 has taken place, wherein T2 has a duration greater than that of time period T1, so that said integrating means continues to integrate said condition signal during the interval between termination of time period T1 and termination of time period T2, even though the value of the condition signal drops below that of the first threshold level during said interval. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for providing a trigger signal for actuating a passenger restraint system in a passenger vehicle during a vehicle crash condition and comprising the steps of:
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sensing the magnitude of vehicle deceleration and providing a condition signal having a value which varies with that of said vehicle deceleration; integrating said condition signal so long as the value of said condition signal exceeds that of a first threshold level for a first time period T1; continuing the integrating of said condition signal for a second period of time subsequent to that of time, period T1 even though the value of said condition signal falls below the value of said first threshold level during said second period of time; and providing said trigger signal whenever the value of said integrated signal exceeds that of a second threshold level. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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Specification