Method and apparatus for controlling an actuatable restraint device using crash severity indexing
First Claim
1. An apparatus for controlling an actuatable occupant restraint device for a vehicle, said restraining device having a plurality of actuatable stages, said apparatus comprising:
- crash sensing means for sensing crash acceleration and providing a crash acceleration signal indicative thereof;
velocity determining means responsive to said crash acceleration signal for determining a velocity value and providing a velocity signal indicative thereof;
control means coupled to said actuatable device for (i) effecting actuation of a first of said actuatable stages when said determined velocity value exceeds a first threshold value, and (ii) upon said determined velocity value exceeding a second threshold value, determining a crash severity index having a value related to a time interval from when said determined velocity value exceeds said first threshold value to when said determined velocity value exceeds said second threshold value, said control means controlling actuation of a second of said actuatable stages in response to said crash severity index value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for controlling an actuatable occupant restraint device for a vehicle, the restraining device having a plurality of actuatable stages (24, 26), the apparatus including a crash sensor (14, 16) for sensing crash acceleration and providing a crash acceleration signal indicative thereof. A controller (22) includes an integrator (72, 172) for determining a velocity value from the crash acceleration signal and for providing a velocity signal (74, 174). The controller (22) is coupled to the actuatable device for (i) effecting actuation of a first of the actuatable stages (24) when the determined velocity value exceeds a first threshold value, and (ii) upon the determined velocity value exceeding a second threshold value, determining a crash severity index (112, 212) having a value related to a time interval from when the determined velocity value (74, 174) exceeds the first threshold value (88, 188) to when the determined velocity value exceeds the second threshold value (96, 196). The controller effects actuation of a second of the actuatable stages (26) in response to the crash severity index value (112, 212).
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. An apparatus for controlling an actuatable occupant restraint device for a vehicle, said restraining device having a plurality of actuatable stages, said apparatus comprising:
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crash sensing means for sensing crash acceleration and providing a crash acceleration signal indicative thereof; velocity determining means responsive to said crash acceleration signal for determining a velocity value and providing a velocity signal indicative thereof; control means coupled to said actuatable device for (i) effecting actuation of a first of said actuatable stages when said determined velocity value exceeds a first threshold value, and (ii) upon said determined velocity value exceeding a second threshold value, determining a crash severity index having a value related to a time interval from when said determined velocity value exceeds said first threshold value to when said determined velocity value exceeds said second threshold value, said control means controlling actuation of a second of said actuatable stages in response to said crash severity index value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus for controlling an actuatable occupant restraint device having a plurality of actuatable stages, said apparatus comprising:
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a crash sensor for sensing crash acceleration and providing a crash acceleration signal indicative thereof; a velocity determiner responsive to said crash acceleration signal for determining a velocity value and providing a velocity signal indicative thereof; first and second actuatable stages; and a controller operatively coupled to said first and second actuatable stages, said controller effecting actuation of said first actuatable stage upon said determined velocity value exceeding a first threshold value, and said controller determining a crash severity index having a value according to a time interval from when said determined velocity value exceeds said first threshold value to when said determined velocity value exceeds a second threshold value, said controller effecting actuation of said second actuatable stage in response to said crash severity index value. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method for controlling actuation of an actuatable occupant restraint device having a plurality of stages, said method comprising the steps of:
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sensing crash acceleration and providing a crash acceleration signal indicative thereof; determining a velocity value in response to said crash acceleration signal; effecting actuation of a first of said actuatable stages upon said determined velocity value exceeding a first threshold value; determining, upon said velocity value exceeding a second threshold value, a crash severity index having a value according to a time interval from when said determined velocity value exceeds said first threshold value to when said determined velocity value exceeds said second threshold value; and effecting actuation of a second of said actuatable stages in response to said crash severity index value. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification