Triggering device for safety apparatus

• US 5,904,723 A
• Filed: 06/04/1996
• Issued: 05/18/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd. (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd. (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Kiribayashi, Shinichi, Masegi, Mitsuhiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Gary
• Application Number:
  US08/658,667
• Time in Patent Office: 1,078 Days
• Field of Search: 701/45, 701/46, 701/47, 280/734, 280/735, 180/274, 180/282, 307/10.1, 340/436, 340/438, 340/667
• 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: G01P 15/08 with conversion into electric or magnetic values

Abstract

A triggering device for a safety apparatus includes first and second deceleration detecting sensors located within first and second doors of a vehicle respectively or located at positions near the first and second doors respectively. Each of the first and second deceleration detecting sensors is operative for detecting a deceleration. A first signal processing section includes first and second signal processors for processing a detection signal of the first deceleration detecting sensor, and for implementing signal processing with two different processing levels respectively. A second signal processing section includes third and fourth signal processors for processing a detection signal of the second deceleration detecting sensor, and for implementing signal processing with two different processing levels respectively. A first safety device located at the first door is operative for protecting an occupant in the vehicle. A second safety device located at the second door is operative for protecting an occupant in the vehicle. First and second trigger components are operative for triggering the first and second safety devices respectively. One of the first and second trigger components is controlled to trigger one of the first and second safety devices on the basis of results of the signal processing by the first signal processor and the fourth signal processor. The other of the first and second trigger components is controlled to trigger the other of the first and second safety devices on the basis of results of the signal processing by the second signal processor and the third signal processor.

Claims

1. A triggering device for a safety apparatus, comprising:

first and second deceleration detecting means, located within first and second doors of a vehicle respectively or located at positions near the first and second doors respectively, each for detecting a deceleration;

first signal processing means including first and second signal processors for processing a detection signal of the first deceleration detecting means, and for implementing signal processing with two different processing levels respectively;

second signal processing means including third and fourth signal processors for processing a detection signal of the second deceleration detecting means, and for implementing signal processing with two different processing levels respectively;

a first safety device located at the first door for protecting an occupant in the vehicle;

a second safety device located at the second door for protecting an occupant in the vehicle;

first and second triggering means for triggering the first and second safety devices respectively;

the first signal processor in the first signal processing means processes the detection signal of the first deceleration detecting means, and detects whether or not a result of the process is smaller than a first given level;

the second signal processor in the first signal processing means processes the detection signal of the first deceleration detecting means, and detects whether or not a result of the process is smaller than a second given level greater than the first given level;

the third signal processor in the second signal processing means processes the detection signal of the second deceleration detecting means, and detects whether or not a result of the process is smaller than a third given level; and

the fourth signal processor in the second signal processing means processes the detection signal of the second deceleration detecting means, and detects whether or not a result of the process is smaller than a fourth given level greater than the third given level, wherein

the first triggering means triggers the first safety device on the basis of results of the signal processing by the first signal processor and the second signal processor in the first signal processing means and the fourth signal processor in the second signal processing means; and

the second triggering means triggers the second safety device on the basis of results of the signal processing by the third signal processor and the fourth signal processor in the second signal processing means and the second signal processor in the first signal processing means.

2. A triggering device comprising:

first and second deceleration detecting means, located within first and second doors of a vehicle respectively or located at positions near the first and second doors respectively, each for detecting a deceleration;

first signal processing means including first and second signal processors for processing a detection signal of the first deceleration detecting means, and for implementing signal processing with two different processing levels respectively;

second signal processing means including third and fourth signal processors for processing a detection signal of the second deceleration detecting means, and for implementing signal processing with two different processing levels respectively;

a first safety device located at the first door for protecting an occupant in the vehicle;

a second safety device located at the second door for protecting an occupant in the vehicle;

first and second triggering means for triggering the first and second safety devices respectively;

the first signal processor in the first signal processing means processes the detection signal of the first deceleration detecting means, and detects whether or not a result of the process is smaller than a first given level;

the second signal processor in the first signal processing means processes the detection signal of the first deceleration detecting means, and detects whether or not a result of the process is smaller than a second given level greater than the first given level;

the third signal processor in the second signal processing means processes the detection signal of the second deceleration detecting means, and detects whether or not a result of the process is smaller than a third given level; and

the fourth signal processor in the second signal processing means processes the detection signal of the second deceleration detecting means, and detects whether or not a result of the process is smaller than a fourth given level greater than the third given level, wherein

the first triggering means triggers the first safety device on the basis of results of the signal processing by the first signal processor and the second signal processor in the first signal processing means and the third signal processor in the second signal processing means; and

the second triggering means triggers the second safety device on the basis of results of the signal processing by the third signal processor and the fourth signal processor in the second signal processing means and the first signal processor in the first signal processing means.