Method and apparatus for sensing a vehicle crash using energy and velocity as measures of crash violence
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for providing a passenger restraint actuation signal for use in controlling actuation of a passenger restraint system in a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
- sensing means mounted to the vehicle body for sensing a vehicle crash condition, said sensing means providing a time varying electric signal having an electrical characteristic functionally related to the vehicle crash deceleration;
means for determining from said time varying electric signal at least one energy value functionally related to the energy of the crash dissipated in the vehicle body;
timing means for providing a time signal;
means for comparing within a time period timed by said timing means the determined at least one energy value against an associated limit indicative of a maximum energy level beyond which the passenger restraint device needs to be actuated to maximize protection of the passengers; and
means for providing said passenger restraint actuation signal when said comparing means indicates that at least one of the compared energy values is equal to or greater than its associated limit within said time period.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus is disclosed for providing a passenger restraint actuation signal for use in an actuatable passenger restraint system in a vehicle is provided. The method comprises a sensor for providing a time varying electric signal proportional to vehicle deceleration. A crash energy is determined and compared against a predetermined limit. If the determined crash energy equals or exceeds the predetermined limit, a passenger restraint actuation signal is provided.
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Citations
104 Claims
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1. An apparatus for providing a passenger restraint actuation signal for use in controlling actuation of a passenger restraint system in a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
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sensing means mounted to the vehicle body for sensing a vehicle crash condition, said sensing means providing a time varying electric signal having an electrical characteristic functionally related to the vehicle crash deceleration; means for determining from said time varying electric signal at least one energy value functionally related to the energy of the crash dissipated in the vehicle body; timing means for providing a time signal; means for comparing within a time period timed by said timing means the determined at least one energy value against an associated limit indicative of a maximum energy level beyond which the passenger restraint device needs to be actuated to maximize protection of the passengers; and means for providing said passenger restraint actuation signal when said comparing means indicates that at least one of the compared energy values is equal to or greater than its associated limit within said time period. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus for providing a passenger restraint actuation signal for use in controlling actuation of a passenger restraint system in a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
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sensing means mounted to the vehicle body for sensing a vehicle crash condition, said sensing means providing a time varying electric signal having an electrical characteristic proportional to the vehicle crash deceleration; means for determining from said time varying electric signal at least one energy value functionally related to the energy of the crash dissipated in the vehicle body; means for determining from said time varying electric signal a vehicle velocity value; means for comparing the determined at least one energy value and the vehicle velocity value against associated limits; and means for providing said passenger restraint actuation signal when said comparing means indicates that each of the compared values is equal to or greater than its associated limit. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. An apparatus for providing a passenger restraint actuation signal for use in controlling actuation of a passenger restraint system in a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
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sensing means mounted to the vehicle body for sensing a vehicle crash condition, said sensing means providing a time varying electric signal having an electrical characteristic proportional to the vehicle crash deceleration; means for determining from said time varying electric signal a first energy value functionally related to the total energy of the crash dissipated in the vehicle body; means for determining from said time varying electric signal a second energy value functionally related to the energy of the crash dissipated in the vehicle body minus the energy associated with at least one predetermined frequency band; means for determining a vehicle velocity value from said time varying electric signal; means for comparing the determined first energy value, the second energy value, and the vehicle velocity value against associated limits; and means for providing said passenger restraint actuation signal when said comparing means indicates that each of the compared values is equal to or greater than its associated limit. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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54. A method for providing a passenger restraint actuation signal for use in controlling actuation of a passenger restraint system in a vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:
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mounting a sensor to the vehicle for sensing a vehicle crash condition, said sensor providing a time varying electric signal having an electrical characteristic functionally related to the vehicle crash deceleration; providing a timing signal for timing out a predetermined time period; determining from said time varying electric signal at least one energy value functionally related to the energy of the crash dissipated in the vehicle body; comparing within said predetermined time period said determined at least one energy value against an associated limit indicative of a maximum energy level beyond which the passenger restraint device needs to be actuated to maximize protection of the passengers; and providing said passenger restraint actuation signal when said comparing step indicates that at least one of the compared energy values is equal to or greater than its associated limit within said predetermined time period. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67)
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68. A method for providing a passenger restraint actuation signal for use in controlling actuation of a passenger restraint system in a vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:
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mounting a sensor to the vehicle for sensing a vehicle crash condition, said sensor providing a time varying electric signal having an electrical characteristic proportional to the vehicle crash deceleration; determining from said time varying electric signal at least one energy value functionally related to the energy of the crash dissipated in the vehicle body; determining from said time varying electric signal a vehicle velocity value; comparing the determined at least one energy value and the vehicle velocity value against associated limits; and providing said passenger restraint actuation signal when said comparing step indicates that each of the compared values is equal to or greater than its associated limit. - View Dependent Claims (69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84)
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85. A method for providing a passenger restraint actuation signal for use in controlling actuation of a passenger restraint system in a vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:
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mounting a sensor to the vehicle for sensing a vehicle crash condition, said sensor providing a time varying electric signal having an electrical characteristic proportional to the vehicle crash deceleration; determining from said time varying electric signal a first energy value functionally related to the total energy of the crash dissipated in the vehicle body; determining from said time varying electric signal a second energy value functionally related to the total energy of the crash dissipated in the vehicle body minus the energy associated with at least one predetermined frequency band; determining a vehicle velocity value from said time varying electric signal; comparing the determined first energy value, the second energy value, and the vehicle velocity value against associated limits; and providing said passenger restraint actuation signal when said comparing step indicates that each of the compared values is equal to or greater than its associated limit. - View Dependent Claims (86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104)
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Specification