Apparatus and method for tripping a safety system for the protection of an occupant of a vehicle
First Claim
1. A system for actuating at least one safety device for the protection of an occupant of a vehicle, comprising:
- a first acceleration sensor for sensing a first acceleration of the vehicle and for providing a first acceleration signal based thereon;
a second acceleration sensor for sensing a second acceleration of the vehicle and for providing a second acceleration signal based thereon;
a digital controller coupled to the first and second acceleration sensors for providing a first trigger signal as a function of the first and second acceleration signals, the first trigger signal being indicative of whether the safety device should be actuated;
an analog evaluation circuit for receiving the first acceleration signal and the first trigger signal and for providing a second trigger signal as a function of the first acceleration signal and the first trigger signal at an analog circuit output of the analog evaluation circuit, the second trigger signal indicating whether the safety device should be actuated; and
an output stage having an input connected to the analog circuit output for receiving the second trigger signal from the analog evaluation circuit and for actuating the safety device as a function of the second trigger signal.
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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.
16 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A system for actuating at least one safety device for the protection of an occupant of a vehicle, comprising:
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a first acceleration sensor for sensing a first acceleration of the vehicle and for providing a first acceleration signal based thereon; a second acceleration sensor for sensing a second acceleration of the vehicle and for providing a second acceleration signal based thereon; a digital controller coupled to the first and second acceleration sensors for providing a first trigger signal as a function of the first and second acceleration signals, the first trigger signal being indicative of whether the safety device should be actuated; an analog evaluation circuit for receiving the first acceleration signal and the first trigger signal and for providing a second trigger signal as a function of the first acceleration signal and the first trigger signal at an analog circuit output of the analog evaluation circuit, the second trigger signal indicating whether the safety device should be actuated; and an output stage having an input connected to the analog circuit output for receiving the second trigger signal from the analog evaluation circuit and for actuating the safety device as a function of the second trigger signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for actuating at least one safety device for the protection of an occupant of a vehicle, comprising:
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a first acceleration sensor for sensing a first acceleration of the vehicle and for providing a first acceleration signal based thereon; a second acceleration sensor for sensing a second acceleration of the vehicle and for providing a second acceleration signal based thereon; a first analog-to-digital converter coupled to an output of the first acceleration sensor; a second analog-to-digital converter coupled to the output of the first acceleration sensor and to an output of the second acceleration sensor; a first digital controller coupled to an output of the first analog-to-digital converter for providing a first trigger signal indicative of whether the safety device should be actuated; a second digital controller coupled to the first digital controller and to an output of the second analog-to-digital converter for providing a second trigger signal indicative of whether the safety device should be actuated; an analog evaluation circuit for receiving the first acceleration signal and the first trigger signal and for providing a third trigger signal as a function of the first acceleration signal and the first trigger signal at an analog circuit output of the analog evaluation circuit, the third trigger signal being indicative of whether the safety device should be actuated; and an output stage having an input connected to the analog circuit output for actuating the safety device as a function of the third trigger signal. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification