Control device for an occupant safety device of motor vehicles

• US 5,261,506 A
• Filed: 01/23/1992
• Issued: 11/16/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: BMW AG (Bayerische Motoren Werke AG)
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Jost, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Focarino, Margaret A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DICKSON, PAUL N
• Application Number:
  US07/778,991
• Time in Patent Office: 663 Days
• Field of Search: 280/734, 280/735, 280/806, 180/282
• US Class Current: 180/282
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 9/06 Electric or photoelectric indication or reading means
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/0891 with indication of predetermined acceleration values G01P15/135 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/093 by photoelectric pick-up

Abstract

In a control device for a passenger safety apparatus, the safety apparatus is triggered by a sensor arrangement which responds to a longitudinal and/or transverse acceleration of the motor vehicle. It is also independently triggerable by an additional state-of-motion or moving-condition sensor which is configured to recognize a near weightless state of the vehicle. The safety apparatus is triggered even in an extremely critical state of motion in which the vehicle moves in a manner similar to free fall.

Claims

1. A control device for an occupant safety device of motor vehicles, comprising a sensor device responding to at least one of longitudinal and transversal acceleration for triggering the safety device, and an additional moving-condition sensor which solely and independently of the sensor device triggers the safety device only when the motor vehicle is in a substantially weightless condition for a specific time period.

2. The control device according to claim 1, wherein a time function element is connected behind the moving-condition sensor, and the safety device is configured to be triggered when the vehicle is in the substantially weightless condition for longer than a switching time of the time function element.

3. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the moving-condition sensor is a distance sensor which determines a distance of the motor vehicle from a road surface.

4. A control device according to claim 1, wherein the moving-condition sensor responds to vertical acceleration.

5. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the moving-condition sensor is a wheel rebound sensor.

6. The control device according to claim 2, wherein the moving-condition sensor is a distance sensor which determines a distance of the motor vehicle from a road surface.

7. A control device according to claim 2, wherein the moving-condition sensor responds to vertical acceleration.

8. The control device according to claim 2, wherein the moving condition sensor is a wheel rebound sensor.