Control system for occupant restraint system

• US 5,407,228 A
• Filed: 01/06/1994
• Issued: 04/18/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Shibata, Jun, Hashimoto, Yukio, Kimura, Makoto, Takaya, Seiji, Yamanoi, Toshimi, Fukuzumi, Shuzo, Hitotsumatsu, Atsushi, Yoshikawa, Hironori, Obayashi, Hiroaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Focarino, Margaret A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): English, Peter C.
• Application Number:
  US08/178,171
• Time in Patent Office: 467 Days
• Field of Search: 280/735, 280/734, 280/728 R, 180/282, 180/271, 364/424.05, 340/436, 340/438, 307/10.1
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0132 responsive to vehicle motion parameters , e.g. to vehicle longitudinal or transversal deceleration or speed value
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0133 by integrating the amplitude of the input signal

Abstract

A control system for an occupant restraint system including an airbag which is mounted on an automotive vehicle to protect a vehicle occupant from coming into direct contact with a steering wheel and/or a windshield. The control system comprises a control circuit including a microcomputer. The microcomputer is adapted to execute the following control. A decision is made to operate (inflate) the airbag when a vehicle deceleration exceeds a predetermined threshold level. The threshold level is changed at a timing which is set in accordance with a physical amount representative of a deceleration condition of the vehicle, thereby securely operating the airbag merely by making a simple adjustment to the control system.

Claims

1. A control system for an occupant restraint system mounted on a vehicle, comprising:

means for detecting a deceleration of the vehicle;

means for making a decision to operate the occupant restraint system when the deceleration exceeds a predetermined threshold level;

means for calculating a physical amount representative of a deceleration condition of the vehicle;

means for setting a changing timing at which the threshold level is changed, in accordance with the physical amount; and

means for changing the threshold level at the changing timing.

2. A control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said physical amount determines the deceleration detected by said deceleration detecting means.

3. A control system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said physical amount is the deceleration detected by said deceleration detecting means.

4. A control system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said physical amount is an integrated value of the deceleration detected by said deceleration detecting means.

5. A control system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said physical amount is a differentiated value of the deceleration detected by said deceleration detecting means.