Method of controlling activation of a vehicle occupant restraint system, control system and vehicle occupant restraint system
First Claim
1. A method of controlling multistage activation of a vehicle occupant restraint system including a gas generator, the vehicle occupant restraint system being adapted to be activated in a plurality of activation stages, comprising the steps of:
- a) vehicle sensitive measurement of differences in velocity occuring during a vehicle collision,b) determining a point in time as of which differences in velocity are measured,c) determining a point in time as of which a predetermined first threshold value of said differences in velocity is attained,d) determining the intensity of said vehicle collision from the time difference of said points in time established in steps b) and c), ande) furnishing different output signals depending on the values established by the steps b) and c) for initiating different ones of said plurality of activation stages in activating said restraint system, in accordance with said determined intensity of said vehicle collision.
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Abstract
A method of controlling multistage activation of a vehicle occupant restraint system having a gas generator and adapted to be activated in a plurality of activation stages includes measuring differences in velocity occurring during a vehicle collision. A point in time as of which differences in velocity are measured is determined. A point in time as of which a predetermined first threshold value of the differences in velocity is attained is determined. The intensity of the vehicle collision is determined from the time difference of the points in time. Different output signals are furnished depending on the values established by determining the points in time for initiating different ones of the plurality of activation stages in activating the restraint system, in accordance with the determined intensity of the vehicle collision.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of controlling multistage activation of a vehicle occupant restraint system including a gas generator, the vehicle occupant restraint system being adapted to be activated in a plurality of activation stages, comprising the steps of:
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a) vehicle sensitive measurement of differences in velocity occuring during a vehicle collision, b) determining a point in time as of which differences in velocity are measured, c) determining a point in time as of which a predetermined first threshold value of said differences in velocity is attained, d) determining the intensity of said vehicle collision from the time difference of said points in time established in steps b) and c), and e) furnishing different output signals depending on the values established by the steps b) and c) for initiating different ones of said plurality of activation stages in activating said restraint system, in accordance with said determined intensity of said vehicle collision. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of controlling multistage activation of a vehicle occupant restraint system including a gas generator, the vehicle occupant restraint system being adapted to be activated in a plurality of activation stages, comprising the steps of:
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a) vehicle sensitive measurement of differences in velocity occuring during a vehicle collision, b) determining a point in time as of which differences in velocity are measured, c) determining a point in time as of which a predetermined first threshold value of said differences in velocity is attained, d) determining the intensity of said vehicle collision from the time difference of said points in time established in steps b) and c), and e) furnishing different output signals depending on the values established by the steps b) and c) for initiating different ones of said plurality of activation stages in activating said restraint system, in accordance with said determined intensity of said vehicle collision, a first activation stage being initiated and, within a given short period of time from having initiated said first activation stage, it is established whether there has been a change in said velocity difference in the meantime, and if said velocity difference has increased a second activation stage is subsequently initiated, wherein said second activation stage is initiated already prior to timeout of said given period of time when a predetermined second velocity difference threshold value is attained which is greater than said first. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A method of controlling multistage activation of a vehicle occupant restraint system including a gas generator, the vehicle occupant restraint system being adapted to be activated in a plurality of activation stages, comprising the steps of:
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a) vehicle sensitive measurement of differences in velocity occuring during a vehicle collision, b) determining a point in time as of which differences in velocity are measured, c) determining a point in time as of which a predetermined first threshold value of said differences in velocity is attained, d) determining the intensity of said vehicle collision from the time difference of said points in time established in steps b) and c), and e) furnishing different output signals depending on the values established by the steps b) and c) for initiating different ones of said plurality of activation stages in activating said restraint system, in accordance with said determined intensity of said vehicle collision, said first velocity difference threshold value being elevated by a predetermined amount with increasing time as of measurement of velocity difference values.
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Specification