Apparatus and method employing multiple crash evaluation algorithms and evaluation expertise 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 that varies in accordance with said deceleration;
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 an output circuit and having means for providing a FIRE vote signal on said output circuit when its evaluation of the deceleration signal indicates that the restraint system should be actuated;
crash evaluation expertise means associated with at least one of said plurality of crash evaluation circuits with each said expertise means having an expert output circuit and having means for providing an expert signal on its expert output circuit when the expertise means determines that its associated evaluation circuit is an expert in evaluating the type of crash condition represented by said deceleration signal;
means for summing said FIRE vote signals and said expert signals for providing a summation signal having a value dependent on the sum of said FIRE vote signals and said expert signals; and
,means for providing a trigger signal for actuating said restraint system when the value of said summation signal exceeds 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 that varies in accordance with deceleration. 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 FIRE vote signal when its evaluation of the deceleration signal indicates that the restraint system should be actuated. A crash evaluation expertise circuit is associated with all but one of the plurality of crash evaluation circuits. Each expertise circuit has an expert output circuit for providing an expert signal when the expertise circuit determines that its associated evaluation circuit is an expert in evaluating the type of crash condition represented by the deceleration signal. The FIRE vote signals and the expert signals are summed to provide a summation signal having a value dependent on the sum of the signals. The restraint systems is actuated when the value of the summation signal exceeds a threshold level.
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Citations
15 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 that varies in accordance with said deceleration; 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 an output circuit and having means for providing a FIRE vote signal on said output circuit when its evaluation of the deceleration signal indicates that the restraint system should be actuated; crash evaluation expertise means associated with at least one of said plurality of crash evaluation circuits with each said expertise means having an expert output circuit and having means for providing an expert signal on its expert output circuit when the expertise means determines that its associated evaluation circuit is an expert in evaluating the type of crash condition represented by said deceleration signal; means for summing said FIRE vote signals and said expert signals for providing a summation signal having a value dependent on the sum of said FIRE vote signals and said expert signals; and
,means for providing a trigger signal for actuating said restraint system when the value of said summation signal exceeds a threshold level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of actuating a passenger restraint system in a passenger vehicle, comprising the steps of:
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sensing vehicle deceleration and providing a deceleration signal having a value that varies in accordance with said deceleration; evaluating said deceleration signal with different crash evaluation algorithms, each algorithm evaluating said deceleration signal and determining whether the restraint system should be actuated and, if so, providing a fire signal; determining for at least one of said algorithms whether it is the expert for evaluating the deceleration signal and, if so, providing an expert signal; summing said fire signals and those of said expert signals for which a fire signal was provided for the associated algorithm and providing a summation signal having a value in accordance with the sum of said fire signals and those of said expert signals; and
,actuating said restraint system when the value of said summation signal exceeds a threshold level. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification