Control configuration for an occupant protection system for side collision protection in a vehicle

• US 6,256,562 B1
• Filed: 04/30/1999
• Issued: 07/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Frimberger, Manfred, Mader, Gerhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): To, Tuan C
• Application Number:
  US09/302,656
• Time in Patent Office: 795 Days
• Field of Search: 701/45, 701/46, 280/734, 280/735, 280/736
• 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: B60R 21/0133 by integrating the amplitude of the input signal

Abstract

In a control configuration for an occupant protection system for side collision protection in a vehicle, an enable signal of a protection configuration generated as a function of transverse acceleration, is delivered to a timer. The timer furnishes an enable signal of a fixed minimum duration for triggering the occupant protection system.

Claims

1. A control configuration for an occupant protection system for side collision protection in a vehicle, comprising:

a sensor configuration for detecting a transverse acceleration acting on a vehicle, said sensor configuration having a first electronic acceleration pickup outputting a first transverse acceleration signal and a second electronic acceleration pickup outputting a second transverse acceleration signal;

at most two paths leaving said sensor configuration, a first of said two paths being electrically connected to said first acceleration pickup and carrying said first transverse acceleration signal, a second of said two paths being electrically connected to said second electronic acceleration pickup carrying said second transverse acceleration signal;

an evaluation device connected to said first of said two paths, said evaluation device receiving and evaluating the first transverse acceleration signal and generating a first enable signal in dependence on the first transverse acceleration signal;

a protection configuration connected to said second of said two paths, said protection configuration receiving and evaluating the second transverse acceleration signal and generating a second enable signal in dependence on the second transverse acceleration signal, said second enable signal being generated earlier than said first enable signal;

a timer receiving the second enable signal and generating a third enable signal with a fixed minimum duration in dependence on the second enable signal; and

an enabling device receiving the first enable signal and the third enable signal and generating a control signal for an occupant protection system in dependence on the first enable signal and the third enable signal.

2. The control configuration according to claim 1, wherein said second electronic acceleration pickup outputting the second transverse acceleration signal is integrated with said protection circuit, the second transverse acceleration signal is compared with a threshold value, and the second enable signal is generated if the threshold value is exceeded by the second transverse acceleration signal.

3. The control configuration according to claim 1, wherein said protection circuit simulates a mechanical acceleration switch that can be under the influence of a picked up transverse acceleration resulting in a simulated mechanical acceleration switch, said simulated mechanical acceleration switch while under the influence of the picked up transverse acceleration deflecting a fictitious seismic mass, and the second enable signal is generated if said fictitious seismic mass has covered a defined distance.

4. The control configuration according to claim 1, wherein said sensor configuration is two sensors configurations and one of said sensor configurations is disposed in each half of the vehicle.

5. The control configuration according to claim 1, wherein said timer is a multivibrator.

6. The control configuration according to claim 1, wherein the control signal is intended for tripping the occupant protection system.

7. A control configuration for an occupant protection system for side collision protection in a vehicle, comprising:

a sensor configuration for detecting a transverse acceleration acting on a vehicle, said sensor configuration having a first electronic acceleration pickup outputting a first transverse acceleration signal and a second electronic acceleration pickup outputting a second transverse acceleration signal;

at most two paths leaving said sensor, a first of said two paths being electrically connected to said first acceleration pickup and carrying said first transverse acceleration signal, a second of said two paths being electrically connected to said second electronic acceleration pickup carrying said second transverse acceleration signal;

an evaluation device connected to said first of said two paths, said evaluation device receiving and evaluating the first transverse acceleration signal and generating a first enable signal in dependence on the first transverse acceleration signal;

a protection configuration connected to said second of said two paths, said protection configuration receiving and evaluating the second transverse acceleration signal and generating a second enable signal in dependence on the second transverse acceleration signal;

said protection configuration simulating a mechanical acceleration switch that can be under the influence of a picked up transverse acceleration resulting in a simulated mechanical acceleration switch, said simulated mechanical acceleration switch while under the influence of the picked up transverse acceleration deflecting a fictitious seismic mass, and the second enable signal being generated if said fictitious seismic mass has covered a defined distance;

a timer receiving the second enable signal and generating a third enable signal with a fixed minimum duration in dependence on the second enable signal; and

an enabling device receiving the first enable signal and the third enable signal and generating a control signal for an occupant protection system in dependence on the first enable signal and the third enable signal.