Triggering process for passive safety devices in vehicles

• US 6,115,659 A
• Filed: 05/13/1997
• Issued: 09/05/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Atmel Corporation (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Temic Telefunken Microelectronic GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Buchheim, Timm, Schafer, Gerhard
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US08/855,645
• Time in Patent Office: 1,211 Days
• Field of Search: 701/45, 701/46, 701/47, 180/232, 180/271, 180/282, 280/734, 280/735
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01322 comprising variable thresholds, e.g. depending from other collision parameters
• 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 15/0891 with indication of predetermined acceleration values G01P15/135 takes precedence

Abstract

The invention describes a process for triggering a passive safety device for vehicle occupants inside a vehicle, in particular airbags, pretensioning systems, buckle switches, and roll-over bars, where--by means of electric sensors, an evaluation circuit evaluating the acceleration signals of these sensors, and a triggering agent--an activation of these triggering agents is effected if the acceleration signals indicate a vehicle condition which may be potentially hazardaous for the vehicle occupants. According to the invention, the sensor signals will first be quantified, followed by detection of those signals that indicate simultaneously an impact direction against the direction of vehicle travel. At the same time that such sensor signals are detected, a linearly increasing crash signal as well as a trigger threshold increasing with the clock pulse are generated. If the crash signal reaches this dynamic trigger threshold, the trigger agents will be activated. The process according to the invention will cause an excellent time behavior, that is, it will lead to a very fast ignition of the safety devices in the event of a vehicle crash hazardous to vehicle occupants.

Claims

1. A process for triggering a passive safety device for vehicle occupants inside a vehicle where--by means of electric sensors that detect a critical vehicle condition, an evaluation circuit, and a triggering agent--an activation of these triggering agents is effected in relation to the acceleration signals generated by the sensors, wherein the following process steps are involved:

a) quantification of the acceleration signals of a sensor by comparing the values of these acceleration signals with threshold values at the clock pulse of a specified first time pattern,

b) detection of those acceleration signals whose associated quantified sensor signals simultaneously indicate an impact direction against the direction of vehicle travel,

c) generation of a linearly increasing crash signal if in successive clock pulses the acceleration signals indicate an impact direction against the direction of vehicle travel,

d) generation of a trigger threshold (K₁ +R), increasing with the clock pulse of a second time pattern, at the point in time when the crash signal starts increasing linearly, and

e) activation of trigger agents if the value of the crash signal reaches the trigger threshold (K₁ +R).

2. Process according to claim 1 wherein the trigger threshold (K₁ +R) increases exponentially.

3. Process according to claim 2 wherein the trigger threshold (K₁ +R) is calculated additively from a constant value (K₁) and a counting value (R) increasing with the clock pulse of the second time pattern.

4. Process according to claim 3 wherein the clock pulse (clk1) of the second time pattern and the constant value (K₁) of the trigger threshold (K1+R) are determined in relation to the vehicle signature.

5. Process according to claim 4 wherein the quantified sensor signals are placed in intermediate storage, i.e. buffered.

6. Process according to claim 3 wherein the following process steps are involved:

a) generation of sensor characteristics from the quantified sensor signals by means of an evaluation function,

b) differentiation of the sensor characteristics,

c) calculation of the amounts of the differentiated sensor characteristics,

d) integration of the amounts of the differentiated sensor characteristics, and

e) activation of the trigger agents, if the integration value (P) reaches a trigger threshold (K₃).

7. Process according to claim 6 wherein an addition of the quantified sensor signals is implemented as an evaluation function.

8. Process according to claim 7 wherein a positive and a negative threshold are used for the quantification of sensor signals.

9. Process according to claim 6 wherein an evaluation matrix is provided as an evaluation function, and wherein a matrix value is allocated to the quantified sensor signals generated with each clock pulse.

10. Process according to claim 1 wherein a positive and a negative threshold are used for the quantification of sensor signals.

11. A device for implementing the process according to claim 1 wherein:

a) two sensors are provided which are arranged within the vehicle such that their sensitivity axes are directed at an angle of +45°

or -45°

against the longitudinal axis of the vehicle in the direction of travel,

b) for quantifying the sensor signals two quantification comparators are respectively provided for the sensors, having a positive and a negative threshold value, and

c) for detection of the acceleration signals indicating the impact direction orientated against the direction of vehicle travel, a comparator is used which generates an output signal if the quantified sensor signals of a clock pulse simultaneously feature positive signs.

12. Device according to claim 11 wherein, for generating the crash signal, a counter stage is post-connected to the comparator.

13. Device according to claim 12 which, for generating the increasing trigger threshold (K₁ +R), features a function unit operating as a shift register or counter stage, and wherein the shift pulse (clk1) of such a function unit is generated as a second time pattern by a divider stage, and wherein an adding stage is post-connected to this function unit for generating the trigger threshold (K₁ +R).