Control system for an air bag with child seat detection and seat position detection

• US 6,170,866 B1
• Filed: 05/21/1999
• Issued: 01/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Lenninger, Ralf-Johannes, Popp, Peter, Heitzer, Günter
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Lanna
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ilan, Ruth
• Application Number:
  US09/316,478
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• Field of Search: 280/735, 180/271, 180/273
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01554 Seat position sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01556 Child-seat detection systems

Abstract

A control apparatus for a restraint device in a motor vehicle has a detector for detecting a child seat disposed on a vehicle seat, a pickup for determining the position of the vehicle seat, and an evaluation device. The evaluation device furnishes a control signal for the restraint device as a function of the vehicle seat position and as a function of a status signal of the detector for detecting a child seat.

Claims

1. A control apparatus for a restraint device in a motor vehicle, comprising:

a detector for detecting a child seat disposed on a vehicle seat and outputting a status signal;

a pickup for determining a position of the vehicle seat; and

an evaluation device generating a control signal in dependence on the position of the vehicle seat and in dependence on the status signal furnished by said detector, the control signal to be logically linked with a triggering signal output by an impact-detecting control device for triggering a restraint device, wherein said control signal is an enable signal for the triggering signal, if the child seat and at a same time a vehicle seat position, characterizing a minimum spacing between the vehicle seat and the restraint device, is detected;

wherein said detector is disposed in the vehicle seat.

2. The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said detector for detecting the child seat furnishes a defined status signal whenever the child seat is detected on the vehicle seat.

3. The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said detector for detecting the child seat furnishes a defined status signal whenever a forward-facing child seat is detected on the vehicle seat.

4. The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said detector for detecting the child seat furnishes a defined status signal whenever a rear-facing child seat is detected on the vehicle seat.

5. The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pickup and said evaluation device are disposed in the vehicle seat.

6. The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control signal is an enable signal for the triggering signal, if said detector for detecting the child seat does not detect any child seat.

7. The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control signal is an enable signal for the triggering signal, if a forward-facing child seat and at a same time a vehicle seat position, characterizing a minimum spacing between the vehicle seat and the restraint device, is detected.

8. In combination with a restraint device having an impact-detecting device outputting a triggering signal, a control apparatus for controlling the restraint device, the control apparatus comprising:

a detector for detecting a child seat disposed on a vehicle seat and outputting a status signal;

a pickup for determining a position of the vehicle seat;

an evaluation device generating a control signal in dependence on the position of the vehicle seat and in dependence on the status signal furnished by said detector; and

a logical link electrically connected to the restraint device and receiving the control signal and the triggering signal output by the impact-detecting control device, said logical link outputting a tripping signal for controlling the restraint device;

wherein said detector is disposed in the vehicle seat.

9. A control apparatus for a restraint device in a motor vehicle, comprising:

a detector for detecting a child seat disposed on a vehicle seat and outputting a status signal;

a pickup for determining a position of the vehicle seat; and

an evaluation device generating a control signal in dependence on the position of the vehicle seat and in dependence on the status signal furnished by said detector, the control signal to be logically linked with a triggering signal output by an impact-detecting control device for triggering a restraint device, wherein said control signal is an enable signal for the triggering signal, if the child seat and at a same time a vehicle seat position, characterizing a minimum spacing between the vehicle seat and the restraint device, is detected;

wherein said detector is disposed at the vehicle seat.

10. The control apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said detector for detecting the child seat furnishes a defined status signal whenever the child seat is detected on the vehicle seat.

11. The control apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said detector for detecting the child seat furnishes a defined status signal whenever a forward-facing child seat is detected on the vehicle seat.

12. The control apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said detector for detecting the child seat furnishes a defined status signal whenever a rear-facing child seat is detected on the vehicle seat.

13. The control apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said pickup and said evaluation device are disposed at the vehicle seat.

14. The control apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the control signal is an enable signal for the triggering signal, if a forward-facing child seat and at a same time a vehicle seat position, characterizing a minimum spacing between the vehicle seat and the restraint device, is detected.

15. The control apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the control signal is an enable signal for the triggering signal, if said detector for detecting the child seat does not detect any child seat.