Method and apparatus for controlling an actuatable restraining device in response to discrete control zones

• US 5,626,359 A
• Filed: 03/22/1995
• Issued: 05/06/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Vos, Thomas H., Steffens, Charles E. Jr., Mazur, Joseph F., Blackburn, Brian K., Gentry, Scott B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): English, Peter C.
• Application Number:
  US08/408,488
• Time in Patent Office: 776 Days
• Field of Search: 280/735, 280/734, 280/730.1, 280/732, 280/731, 280/728.1, 280/739, 280/736, 180/268, 180/273, 180/282
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/208 by automatic or remote control means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/288 with means to adjust or regulate the amount of energy to be absorbed
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4685 with means to adjust or regulate the tensioning force in relation to external parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01512 Passenger detection systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01536 using ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01548 sensing the amount of belt winded on retractor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01554 Seat position sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01558 monitoring crash strength
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01562 by speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/045 associated with the instrument panel or dashboard
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/185 with stopping means for acting directly upon the belt in an emergency, e.g. by clamping or friction B60R22/195 takes precedence; combined with the retractor B60R22/42
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/20 adjustable in position, e.g. in height
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/28 incorporating energy-absorbing devices belt anchors provided with energy-absorbing means for protecting the occupants in case of physical contact therewith B60R21/055; belt retractors comprising energy-absorbing means B60R22/341, B60R22/4676

Abstract

An apparatus for controlling an occupant restraint system, such as an air bag (102), includes sensors (30, 36, 60, 64, 70, 80, 84, 86, 88, 90, 502, 504, 506) for sensing at least two parameters that could affect an occupant restraining function of the restraint system. The sensors are connected to a controller (24). A regulating valve (120) is connected to a reaction can (103) of the air bag (102) and is controlled by a control signal from the controller (24). The controller (24) selects one of a plurality of discrete control zones dependant upon the at least two sensed parameters and provides the control signal based on the selected one of the discrete control zones.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling an occupant restraint system, said apparatus comprising:

sensing means for sensing at least two parameters that could affect an occupant restraining function of said restraint system;

regulating means operatively connected to an occupant restraining device of said occupant restraint system for regulating the occupant restraining function of said occupant restraining device in response to a control signal; and

control means operatively connected to said sensing means and to said regulating means for selecting one of a plurality of discrete control zones dependent upon said at least two sensed parameters and for providing said control signal based on the selected one of said discrete control zones, said control means including a look-up table having a matrix of control characterization blocks, said control characterization blocks being defined by boundary lines so that said control characterization blocks are non-uniform.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least some of said boundary lines are linear.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least some of said boundary lines are non-linear.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said control characterization blocks are grouped to define said control zones.

5. A method for controlling an occupant restraint system comprising the steps of:

sensing at least two parameters that could affect an occupant restraining function of said restraint system;

selecting one of a plurality of discrete predetermined control zones dependent upon said at least two sensed parameters;

providing a control signal based on the selected one of said discrete control zones;

regulating said occupant restraining function of said occupant restraint system in response to said control signal; and

providing a look-up table having a matrix of control characterization blocks wherein said control characterization blocks are defined by boundary lines so that said control characterization blocks are non-uniform.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said control characterization blocks are grouped to define said control zones.

7. An apparatus for controlling an occupant restraint system, said apparatus comprising:

sensing means for sensing at least first and second parameters that could affect an occupant restraining function of said restraint system;

regulating means operatively connected to an occupant restraining device of said occupant restraint system for regulating the occupant restraining function of said occupant restraining device in response to a control signal; and

control means operatively connected to said sensing means and to said regulating means and including means for determining in which of a plurality of discrete first parameter ranges said sensed first parameter falls and in which of a plurality of discrete second parameter ranges said sensed second parameter falls, said control means selecting one of a plurality of discrete control zones dependant upon said determined discrete first parameter range and said determined discrete second parameter range and providing said control signal based on the selected one of said discrete control zones.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said control means includes a look-up table having a matrix of control characterization blocks.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said control characterization blocks are defined by boundary lines so that said control characterization blocks are non-uniform.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein at least some of said boundary lines are linear.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein at least some of said boundary lines are non-linear.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said control characterization blocks are grouped to define said control zones.

13. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein each of said sensed parameters are selected from different ones of (1) occupant weight, (2) occupant position, (3) occupant height, (4) occupant girth, (5) crash severity, (6) temperature, (7) seat position and/or incline, (8) pre-crash speed of the vehicle, (9) determined pre-crash severity, and (10) sensed crash direction.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 including zone modifying means for modifying said selected one of said control zones in response to a zone modifier.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said zone modifying means includes a non-selected one of said (1) occupant weight, (2) occupant position, (3) occupant height, (4) occupant girth, (5) crash severity, (6) temperature, (7) seat position and/or incline, (8) pre-crash speed of the vehicle, (9) determined pre-crash severity, and (10) sensed crash direction.

16. A method for controlling an occupant restraint system comprising the steps of:

sensing at least first and second parameters that could affect an occupant restraining function of said restraint system;

determining in which of a plurality of discrete first parameter ranges said sensed first parameter falls;

determining in which of a plurality of discrete second parameter ranges said sensed second parameter falls;

selecting one of a plurality of discrete predetermined control zones dependant upon said determined discrete first parameter range and determined discrete second parameter range;

providing a control signal based on the selected one of said discrete control zones; and

regulating said occupant restraining function of said occupant restraint system in response to said control signal.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said step of sensing said first and second parameters includes the step of sensing selected ones of (1) occupant weight, (2) occupant position, (3) occupant height, (4) occupant girth, (5) crash severity, (6) temperature, (7) seat position and/or incline, (8) pre-crash speed of the vehicle, (9) determined pre-crash severity, and (10) sensed crash direction.

18. The method of claim 17 further including the step of modifying said selected one of said control zones in response to a zone modifier.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said step of modifying a zone includes modifying said zone in response to a non-selected at least one of said (1) occupant weight, (2) occupant position, (3) occupant height, (4) occupant girth, (5) crash severity, (6) temperature, (7) seat position and/or incline, (8) pre-crash speed of the vehicle, (9) determined pre-crash severity, and (10) sensed crash direction.

20. An apparatus for controlling an occupant restraint system, said apparatus comprising:

sensing means for sensing at least two parameters that could affect an occupant restraining function of said restraint system;

regulating means operatively connected to an occupant restraining device of said occupant restraint system for regulating the occupant restraining function of said occupant restraining device in response to a control signal; and

control means operatively connected to said sensing means and to said regulating means for selecting one of a plurality of discrete control zones dependent upon said at least two sensed parameters and for providing said control signal based on the selected one of said discrete control zones, wherein each of said sensed parameters are selected from different ones of (1) occupant weight, (2) occupant position, (3) occupant height, (4) occupant girth, (5) crash severity, (6) temperature, (7) seat position and/or incline, (8) pre-crash speed of the vehicle, (9) determined pre-crash severity, and (10) sensed crash direction.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 including zone modifying means for modifying said selected one of said control zones in response to a zone modifier.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said zone modifying means includes a non-selected one of said (1) occupant weight, (2) occupant position, (3) occupant height, (4) occupant girth, (5) crash severity, (6) temperature, (7) seat position and/or incline, (8) pre-crash speed of the vehicle, (9) determined pre-crash severity, and (10) sensed crash direction.

23. A method for controlling an occupant restraint system comprising the steps of:

sensing at least two parameters that could affect an occupant restraining function of said restraint system;

selecting one of a plurality of discrete predetermined control zones dependent upon said at least two sensed parameters;

providing a control signal based on the selected one of said discrete control zones; and

regulating said occupant restraining function of said occupant restraint system in response to said control signal, wherein said step of sensing at least two parameters includes the step of sensing selected different ones of (1) occupant weight, (2) occupant position, (3) occupant height, (4) occupant girth, (5) crash severity, (6) temperature, (7) seat position and/or incline, (8) pre-crash speed of the vehicle, (9) determined pre-crash severity, and (10) sensed crash direction.

24. The method of claim 23 further including the step of modifying said selected one of said control zones in response to a zone modifier.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein said step of modifying a zone includes modifying said zone in response to a non-selected one of said (1) occupant weight, (2) occupant position, (3) occupant height, (4) occupant girth, (5) crash severity, (6) temperature, (7) seat position and/or incline, (8) pre-crash speed of the vehicle, (9) determined pre-crash severity, and (10) sensed crash direction.