Apparatus and method for enhancing performance of an occupant restraint system in a vehicle
First Claim
1. In an occupant restraint system for a vehicle having at least one sensor for sensing a state of at least one accident avoidance system, and control means for periodically performing a diagnostic subroutine function with respect to at least one crash sensor, the improvement comprising:
- means for generating a signal based on vehicle dynamics corresponding to said sensed state by said at least one accident avoidance system sensor; and
safety means for selectively placing at least one safety module in a heightened state of awareness in response to said signal, wherein said heightened state of awareness includes temporarily suspending periodic performance of said diagnostic subroutine function by said control means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus enhances performance of an occupant restraint system of a vehicle. A signal is generated based on vehicle dynamics and selectively places at least one safety module in a heightened state of awareness in response to the signal. The vehicle dynamics can include at least one parameter based on wheel movement. The parameter based on wheel movement can be provided by an anti-lock brake control system and/or a traction control system, or the like. The safety module capable of being placed in a heightened state of awareness can include a three-point seatbelt, an airbag, a pyrotechnic buckle pretensioner and/or an electro-mechanical retractor pretensioner or the like.
65 Citations
20 Claims
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1. In an occupant restraint system for a vehicle having at least one sensor for sensing a state of at least one accident avoidance system, and control means for periodically performing a diagnostic subroutine function with respect to at least one crash sensor, the improvement comprising:
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means for generating a signal based on vehicle dynamics corresponding to said sensed state by said at least one accident avoidance system sensor; and safety means for selectively placing at least one safety module in a heightened state of awareness in response to said signal, wherein said heightened state of awareness includes temporarily suspending periodic performance of said diagnostic subroutine function by said control means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. In an occupant restraint system for a vehicle having at least one sensor for sensing a state of at least one accident avoidance system, and control means for periodically performing a diagnostic subroutine function with respect to at least one crash sensor, the improvement comprising:
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means for generating a signal based on vehicle dynamics including at least one parameter of wheel movement corresponding to said sensed state by said at least one accident avoidance system sensor; and safety means for selectively placing at least one safety module in a heightened state of awareness in response to said signal based on at least one parameter of wheel movement, wherein said heightened state of awareness includes temporarily suspending periodic performance of said diagnostic subroutine function by said control means. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. In a method for enhancing performance of an occupant restraint system for a vehicle having at least one sensor for sensing a state of at least one accident avoidance system, and control means for periodically performing a diagnostic subroutine function with respect to at least one crash sensor, the improvement comprising the steps of:
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generating a signal based on vehicle dynamics corresponding to said sensed state by said at least one accident avoidance system sensor; and in response to said signal, selectively placing at least one safety module in a heightened state of awareness with safety means, wherein said heightened state of awareness includes temporarily suspending periodic performance of said diagnostic subroutine function by said control means. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. In an occupant restraint system for a vehicle having at least one sensor for sensing a state of at least one accident avoidance system and control means for periodically performing a diagnostic subroutine function with respect to at least one crash sensor, the improvement comprising:
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signal means for generating a signal corresponding to a sensed state of said at least one sensor of said at least one accident avoidance system; and means responsive to said signal for temporarily suspending said diagnostic subroutine function of said control means for providing an increased rate of monitoring of said at least one sensor, for enhancing performance of said occupant restraint system, and for defining a heightened state of awareness of said occupant restraint system. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification