Apparatus and method for tripping a system for the protection of occupants of a vehicle

• US 5,737,224 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 04/07/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Henne, Michael, Jeenicke, Edmund, Condne, Claus, Mattes, Bernhard
• Primary Examiner(s): LOUIS JACQUES, JACQUES H
• Application Number:
  US08/478,075
• Time in Patent Office: 1,035 Days
• Field of Search: 364/424.05, 364/424.01, 280/735, 280/806, 280/756, 280/734, 280/801.1, 280/802, 340/436, 340/669, 180/282, 180/271, 180/274, 180/268, 307/10.1, 307/9.1, 242/384.4, 242/384.6
• US Class Current: 701/45
• 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 21/01338 using vector analysis

Abstract

An apparatus for tripping a system for the protection of occupants of a vehicle has a first sensor (10) for sensing the acceleration of the vehicle in its direction of forward motion and a second sensor (12) for sensing the acceleration of the vehicle in a direction transverse to its direction of forward motion. The two sensors are under the control of control means (14,16) which triggers the occupant protection system in dependence upon the signals from the first and second sensors (10,12).

Claims

1. An apparatus for actuating a safety device for the protection of at least one occupant of a vehicle, comprising:

a first sensor for generating a first signal indicative of an acceleration of the vehicle along a first axis oriented in the direction of forward motion of the vehicle;

a second sensor for generating a second signal indicative of an acceleration of the vehicle along a second axis oriented at an angle relative to the first axis; and

a control unit coupled to the first and second sensors and to the safety device, the control unit actuating the safety device as a function of the first signal, the second signal, or a combination thereof exceeding a threshold value, the control unit adjusting the threshold value as a function of the value of at least one of the first signal and the second signal.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second axis is oriented at a right angle relative to the first axis.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit changes an evaluation algorithm for evaluating at least one of the first and second signals as a function of the second signal.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second sensors are located centrally on the vehicle.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second sensors are located within a housing.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit includes a first channel coupled to the first sensor to receive the first signal therefrom, and a second channel coupled to the second sensor to receive the second signal therefrom, the first and second channels simultaneously evaluating the first and second signals, respectively.

7. An apparatus for actuating a safety device for the protection of occupants of a vehicle, comprising:

a first sensor for generating first signals indicative of an acceleration of the vehicle along a first axis oriented in the direction of forward motion of the vehicle;

a second sensor for generating second signals indicative of an acceleration of the vehicle along a second axis oriented at an angle relative to the first axis; and

a control unit coupled to the first and second sensors and to the safety device, the control unit actuating the safety device based on the first signals, the second signals, or a combination thereof exceeding a threshold value, the control unit adjusting the threshold value based on the value of either the first or second signals;

wherein the control unit includes a first evaluation unit coupled to the first sensor for receiving the first signals therefrom, and a second evaluation unit coupled to the first evaluation unit and to the second sensor for receiving the second signals therefrom, wherein the second evaluation unit transmits an output signal based on the second signal to the first evaluation unit, and the first evaluation unit, in turn, changes an evaluation algorithm for evaluating the first signal based thereon.

8. A method of actuating a safety device for the protection of at least one occupant of a vehicle, comprising:

(a) sensing an acceleration of the vehicle along a first axis oriented in the direction of forward motion of the vehicle and generating a first signal indicative thereof;

(b) sensing an acceleration of the vehicle along a second axis oriented at an angle relative to the first axis and generating a second signal indicative thereof;

(c) adjusting a threshold value indicative of a vehicle collision as a function of the value of at least one of the first signal and the second signal;

(d) comparing the value of the first signal or the second signal, or the value of a combination of the first and second signals, to the threshold value; and

(e) actuating the safety device as a function of the comparison.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the second axis is oriented at a right angle relative to the first axis.

10. An apparatus for actuating a safety device for the protection of at least one occupant of a vehicle, comprising:

a first sensor for generating a first signal indicative of an acceleration of the vehicle along a first axis;

a second sensor for generating a second signal indicative of an acceleration of the vehicle along a second axis oriented at an angle relative to the first axis; and

a control unit coupled to the first and second sensors and to the safety device, the control unit controlling actuation of the safety device as a function of the first and second signals, at least one of an actuation parameter and an evaluation algorithm of the control unit being adjusted as a function of at least one of the first signal and the second signal.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the second axis is oriented at a right angle relative to the first axis.

12. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the second axis is oriented at an acute angle relative to the first axis.

13. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the first axis is oriented in the direction of forward motion of the vehicle.

14. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the safety device includes at least one airbag.

15. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the safety device includes a plurality of occupant restraint devices.

16. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the first and second sensors are located centrally on the vehicle.

17. An apparatus according the claim 10, wherein the first and second sensors are located within a housing.

18. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the control unit includes a first channel coupled to the first sensor to receive the first signal therefrom, and a second channel coupled to the second sensor to receive the second signal therefrom, the first and second channels simultaneously evaluating the first and second signals, respectively.

19. A method of actuating a safety device for the protection of at least one occupant of a vehicle, comprising:

(a) sensing an acceleration of the vehicle along a first axis and generating a first signal indicative thereof;

(b) sensing an acceleration of the vehicle along a second axis oriented at an angle relative to the first axis and generating a second signal indicative thereof;

(c) adjusting at least one of an actuation parameter and a signal evaluation algorithm as a function of at least one of the first signal and the second signal; and

(d) actuating the safety device as a function of the first and second signals.

20. An apparatus for actuating a safety device for the protection of an occupant of a vehicle, comprising:

a first sensor for generating a first signal indicative of an acceleration of the vehicle along a first axis;

a second sensor for generating a second signal indicative of an acceleration of the vehicle along a second axis oriented at an angle relative to the first axis; and

a controller coupled to the first and second sensors and to the safety device, the controller controlling actuation of the safety device as a function of the first and second signals, the safety device being actuated if the value of the first signal exceeds an actuation threshold value, regardless of the value of the second signal.

21. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the controller determines an accident direction in response to the first and second signals.

22. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the safety device includes a plurality of occupant restraint devices, and the controller determines which of the plurality of occupant restraint devices is or are actuated as a function of the determined accident direction.

23. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the second axis is oriented at a right angle relative to the first axis.

24. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the second axis is oriented at an acute angle relative to the first axis.

25. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the first axis is oriented in the direction of forward motion of the vehicle.

26. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the first and second sensors are located centrally with respect to the vehicle.

27. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the first and second sensors are located within a housing.

28. A method of actuating a safety device for the protection of an occupant of a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

sensing an acceleration of the vehicle along a first axis and generating a first signal indicative thereof;

sensing an acceleration of the vehicle along a second axis oriented at an angle relative to the first axis and generating a second signal indicative thereof;

controlling actuation of the safety device as a function of the first and second signals; and

actuating the safety device if the value of the first signal exceeds a threshold value, regardless of the value of the second signal.

29. An apparatus for actuating a safety device for the protection of at least one occupant of a vehicle, comprising:

a first sensor for generating a first signal indicative of an acceleration of the vehicle along a first axis;

a second sensor for generating a second signal indicative of an acceleration of the vehicle along a second axis oriented at an angle relative to the first axis;

a controller coupled to the first and second sensors and to the safety device, the controller controlling actuation of the safety device as a function of the first and second signals;

wherein the first and second sensors are arranged in a centralized unit.

30. An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the centralized unit is a housing.

31. An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the first axis is oriented in the direction of forward motion of the vehicle.

32. An apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the second axis is oriented at a right angle relative to the first axis.