×

Method for controlling actuation of a vehicle safety device using filtered vehicle deceleration data

  • US 5,521,822 A
  • Filed: 12/08/1994
  • Issued: 05/28/1996
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/08/1994
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
Patent Images

1. A method for controlling actuation of a vehicle safety device comprising, in combination, the steps of:

  • sampling vehicle deceleration data at a predetermined sampling rate to obtain discrete values of deceleration;

    comparing the discrete values of deceleration with a deceleration threshold to detect the onset of a crash event;

    calculating, upon the onset of a detected crash event, a first crash severity parameter value as a function of the discrete values of deceleration;

    calculating, upon the onset of a detected crash event, values for at least one additional crash severity parameter, each as a function of the discrete values of deceleration;

    updating the values of the first and additional crash severity parameters at predetermined time intervals; and

    comparing the value of the first crash severity parameter at the conclusion of a predetermined time period to a first threshold value, a value of the first crash severity parameter not exceeding the first threshold value indicative of a minor crash event not necessitating actuation of the vehicle safety device, and a value of the first crash severity parameter exceeding the first threshold value indicative of a potentially severe crash event requiring further crash severity discrimination for determining the necessity of actuating the vehicle safety device, such further crash severity discrimination comprising, in combination, the steps of;

    setting the value of the first crash severity parameter to zero wherein the vehicle deceleration values sampled prior to the end of the predetermined time period are discarded and do not contribute to subsequently calculated values of the first crash severity parameter;

    comparing the values of the first crash severity parameter with a second threshold value and the values of the additional crash severity parameters with respective additional threshold values; and

    actuating the vehicle safety device when (i) a value of the first crash severity parameter exceeds the second threshold value, and (ii) the values of each of the additional crash severity parameters exceed their respective additional threshold values.

View all claims
  • 3 Assignments
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×