Apparatus and method for actuating a safety system for the protection of an occupant of a vehicle

• US 5,449,198 A
• Filed: 12/10/1993
• Issued: 09/12/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Mattes, Bernhard, Jeenicke, Edmund, Condne, Claus
• Primary Examiner(s): Culbreth, Eric D.
• Application Number:
  US08/166,169
• Time in Patent Office: 641 Days
• Field of Search: 280/734, 280/735, 307/10.1, 340/436, 364/426.01
• 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

An apparatus and method for actuating a safety system for protecting an occupant of a motor vehicle measures the acceleration of the vehicle with a first sensor along a first axis oriented substantially parallel to the forward direction of motion of the vehicle. The acceleration of the vehicle is also measured with a second sensor along a second axis oriented at an angle relative to the first axis. The acceleration signal generated by the first sensor is evaluated by an analog processor and the acceleration signal generated by the second sensor is evaluated by a digital processor. The safety system is then actuated based upon both the analog and digital evaluations.

Claims

1. An electronic system for activating a vehicle rider protection apparatus comprising:

an acceleration sensor which detects the acceleration of the vehicle and produces an electrical acceleration signal indicative of the detected acceleration;

digital signal processing means which detects an event of collision of the vehicle based on the acceleration signal and produces a first detection signal in response to the detection of collision;

a first analog signal processing means which detects an event of collision of the vehicle based on the acceleration signal and produces a second detection signal in response to the detection of collision; and

first circuit means for producing a trigger signal for activating the vehicle rider protection apparatus in response to only one of the first and second detection signals.

2. An electronic system for activating a vehicle rider protection apparatus, comprising:

an acceleration sensor detecting the acceleration of a vehicle and producing an acceleration signal indicative of the detected acceleration;

a digital signal processor detecting collision of the vehicle based on the acceleration signal and producing a first detection signal in response to the detection of collision;

an analog signal processor detecting collision of the vehicle based on the acceleration signal and producing a second detection signal in response to the detection of collision;

a first circuit producing a trigger signal to activate the vehicle rider protection apparatus in response to only one of the first and second detection signals.