Method for adjusting the trigger threshold of vehicle occupant protection devices
First Claim
1. A method for preventing a premature deployment of a protection device for occupants of a vehicle, said method comprising the following steps:
- (a) sensing a vehicle motion signal;
(b) sensing a precrash signal (S1);
(c) sensing a crash signal (S2);
(d) generating a first high threshold level (TH, VTH) for preventing said premature deployment as long as said motion signal remains lower than said first high threshold level;
(e) combining said precrash signal (S1) and said crash signal (S2) for activating a second low threshold level (TL, VTL) lower than said first high threshold level (TH, VTH) in response to said crash signal (S2) following said precrash signal (S1); and
(f) comparing said vehicle motion signal with said second lower threshold level (TL, VTL) for producing a deployment signal (DS) for said protection device when said vehicle motion signal is higher than said second lower threshold level (TL, VTL) when said crash signal (S2) is following said precrash signal (S1).
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Accused Products
Abstract
The safety of occupants in a vehicle is increased by avoiding an unnecessary deployment of a safety device, such as an air bag in the vehicle. For this purpose the trigger signal for deploying the safety device is generated either in response to a vehicle motion signal exceeding a high threshold level or in response to the vehicle motion signal exceeding a low threshold level as determined by a precrash signal (S1) followed by a crash signal (S2) preferably within a limited time duration (TMAX). For this purpose the signals (S1) and (S2) are logically linked and the resulting signal at the output of an AND-gate or at the output of a timing circuit determines whether the vehicle motion signal is compared with the high threshold level or with the low threshold level for generating the trigger or deployment signal (DS). Only when this double condition occurs, is the trigger threshold lowered for deploying the safety device. An optical sensor is preferably used as the crash signal generator.
64 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method for preventing a premature deployment of a protection device for occupants of a vehicle, said method comprising the following steps:
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(a) sensing a vehicle motion signal;
(b) sensing a precrash signal (S1);
(c) sensing a crash signal (S2);
(d) generating a first high threshold level (TH, VTH) for preventing said premature deployment as long as said motion signal remains lower than said first high threshold level;
(e) combining said precrash signal (S1) and said crash signal (S2) for activating a second low threshold level (TL, VTL) lower than said first high threshold level (TH, VTH) in response to said crash signal (S2) following said precrash signal (S1); and
(f) comparing said vehicle motion signal with said second lower threshold level (TL, VTL) for producing a deployment signal (DS) for said protection device when said vehicle motion signal is higher than said second lower threshold level (TL, VTL) when said crash signal (S2) is following said precrash signal (S1). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification