Method and apparatus for sensing a vehicle crash in real time using frequency domain analysis
First Claim
1. An apparatus for controlling actuation of a passenger restraint system in a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
- sensing means for providing, upon the occurrence of a vehicle crash condition, a time domain vibratory electric signal having frequency components indicative of such vehicle crash condition;
means for transforming said time domain vibratory electric signal into a frequency domain signal;
means for correlating said frequency domain signal and for providing a signal indicative of the degree of correlation; and
means for actuating the passenger restraint system when said correlation signal indicates a particular type of vehicle crash is occurring.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus is disclosed for controlling actuation of a passenger restraint system in a vehicle. The apparatus includes an accelerometer for providing a time domain vibratory electric signal having frequency components indicative of a vehicle crash condition. An A/D converter converts the accelerometer signal into a digitized signal. A fast Fourier transform device transforms the digitized time domain vibratory electric signal into a frequency domain signal. A correlator correlates the frequency domain signal and provides a signal indicative of the degree of correlation. A microcomputer monitors the correlation of the frequency domain signal and actuates the passenger restraint system when the correlation signal indicates a particular type of vehicle crash is occurring.
61 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An apparatus for controlling actuation of a passenger restraint system in a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
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sensing means for providing, upon the occurrence of a vehicle crash condition, a time domain vibratory electric signal having frequency components indicative of such vehicle crash condition; means for transforming said time domain vibratory electric signal into a frequency domain signal; means for correlating said frequency domain signal and for providing a signal indicative of the degree of correlation; and means for actuating the passenger restraint system when said correlation signal indicates a particular type of vehicle crash is occurring. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for controlling actuation of a passenger restraint system in a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
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sensing means for providing, upon the occurrence of a vehicle crash condition, a time domain vibratory electric signal having frequency components indicative of such vehicle crash condition; anti-alias filter means connected to said sensing means for filtering all frequency components from said vibratory electric signal greater than three kilo-hertz; means for transforming said filtered time domain vibratory electric signal into a frequency domain signal; means for correlating said frequency domain signal and for providing a signal indicative of the degree of correlation; and means for actuating the passenger restraint system when said correlation signal indicates a particular type of vehicle crash is occurring. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus for controlling actuation of a passenger restraint system in a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
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sensing mans for providing, upon the occurrence of a vehicle crash condition, a time domain vibratory electric signal having frequency components indicative of such vehicle crash condition; anti-alias filer means connected to said sensing means for filtering all frequency components from said vibratory electric signal greater than three kilo-hertz; analog to digital converter for converting said filtered vibratory electric signal into a digital signal; first memory means connected to said analog to digital converter means for storing digital values of said vibratory electric signal sampled at different time periods; digital transform processor connected to said first memory means for converting said digital time domain vibratory electric signal into a frequency domain signal; means for correlating said frequency domain signals from said different time periods and for providing a signal indicative of the degree of correlation; and means for actuating the passenger restraint system when said correlation signal indicates a particular type of vehicle crash is occurring. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for controlling actuation of a passenger restraint system in a vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing, upon the occurrence of a vehicle crash condition, a time domain vibratory electric signal having frequency components indicative of such vehicle crash condition; transforming said time domain vibratory electric signal into a frequency domain signal; correlating said frequency domain signal and providing a signal indicative of the degree of correlation; and actuating the passenger restraint system when said correlation signal indicates a particular type of vehicle crash is occurring. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification