Optimization of a single-point frontal airbag fire threshold

• US 6,301,535 B1
• Filed: 10/26/1999
• Issued: 10/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: FCA US LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Corporation (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Xu, Lan, Nusholtz, Guy S., Shi, Yibing
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US09/426,845
• Time in Patent Office: 714 Days
• Field of Search: 701/45, 701/46, 701/47, 180/268, 180/271, 180/282, 280/735
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202

Abstract

A method of optimization of a single-point frontal airbag fire threshold. The relationship of the airbag fire distribution as a function of velocity to the airbag fire-time is characterized through the use of an optimization procedure. The optimization is conducted by abstracting the sensor algorithm and its associated constraints into a simple mathematical formulation. An airbag fire objective function is constructed that integrates the fire-rate and fire-time requirements. The function requires the input of a single acceleration time history, and it produces an output depending on the airbag fire condition. Numerical search of the optimal fire threshold curve is achieved through parameterizing this curve and applying a modified simplex search optimization algorithm that determines the optimal threshold function parameters without computing the complete objective function in the parameter space.

Claims

1. A method for determining when an airbag fires in an airbag control system, comprising the steps of:

obtaining time-histories from vehicle crash sensors;

deriving an objective function, said objective function including said time-histories as an input, wherein said objective function is a mathematical formula rating the effectiveness of an airbag firing based on firing criteria; and

determining a threshold firing curve based on said objective function, said threshold firing curve determining when an airbag fires in said airbag control system.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of obtaining firing data includes the steps of:

performing physical crash tests at specified velocities; and

recording an airbag sensor reading during the physical crash tests.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of:

performing simulations on the airbag sensor readings to obtain additional data sets.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of performing simulations on the airbag sensor readings is done using a Monte Carlo-like method.

5. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of:

extrapolating the airbag sensor readings of the physical crash tests to produce extrapolated sensor readings for velocities not used in the physical crash tests.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of:

performing simulations on the extrapolated sensor readings to obtain additional data sets.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of performing simulations on the extrapolated sensor readings is done using a Monte Carlo-like method.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of deriving an objective function includes evaluating an airbag'"'"'s firing based on firing criteria.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of deriving an objective function includes employing a velocity penalty function, where the velocity penalty function quantifies the effectiveness of an airbag firing at a certain velocity.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of deriving an objective function includes employing a time penalty function, where the time penalty function quantifies the effectiveness of an airbag firing at a time during a crash.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of deriving an objective function includes using a single acceleration time history as input.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of deriving an objective function includes using a single acceleration time history as input and producing an output dependant on whether the airbag fires.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of deriving an objective function includes employing the product of a time penalty function and a velocity penalty function, and where the time penalty function quantifies the effectiveness of an airbag firing at a time during a crash and where the velocity penalty function quantifies the effectiveness of an airbag firing at a crash velocity.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of deriving an objective function includes employing the product of a time penalty function and a velocity penalty function and where the objective function is summed over a plurality of input values, and where the time penalty function quantifies the effectiveness of an airbag firing at a time during a crash and where the velocity penalty function quantifies the effectiveness of an airbag firing at a crash velocity.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of deriving an objective function includes employing the product of a time penalty function and a velocity function, where the objective function is summed over a plurality of input values, where the objective function is normalized to the plurality of input values, and where the time penalty function quantifies the effectiveness of an airbag firing at a time during a crash and where the velocity penalty function quantifies the effectiveness of an airbag firing at a crash velocity.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining a threshold firing curve includes the steps of:

selecting a threshold firing curve; and

computing the objective function of the threshold firing curve.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of determining a threshold firing curve is repeated to evaluate a plurality of threshold firing curves.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of determining a threshold firing curve includes using a search algorithm.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining a threshold firing curve based on the objective function includes using a threshold curve that is parameterized, for a given velocity change, using a plurality of variables.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining a threshold firing curve based on the objective function includes using a threshold curve parameterized, for a given velocity change, using three variables.

21. A method for determining when an airbag fires in an airbag control system, comprising the steps of:

obtaining airbag firing data from a sensor in said airbag control system;

deriving a mathematical objective function, said objective function using said airbag firing data as input and said objective function rating the effectiveness of an airbag firing based on predetermined firing criteria;

selecting a plurality of threshold firing curves;

evaluating said plurality of firing curves using said objective function;

selecting an optimal threshold firing curve from said plurality of threshold firing curves for use in said airbag control system based on said objective function, said optimal threshold firing curve determining when an airbag fires in said airbag control system; and

using said threshold firing curve in said airbag control system.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the step of selecting an optimal threshold firing curve includes using an automated search algorithm.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein the step of deriving an objective function includes rating the effectiveness of firing the airbag based on a firing time and a firing velocity, and wherein each component of the objective function has a single acceleration as an input parameter.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein the step of deriving an objective function includes rating the effectiveness of an airbag firing using a velocity penalty function and a time penalty function.

25. The method of claim 21 wherein the step of deriving an objective function includes using the product of a velocity penalty function and a time penalty function.

26. The method of claim 21 wherein the step of deriving an objective function includes using the product of a velocity penalty function and a time penalty function summed over a plurality of input data sets.

27. The method of claim 21 wherein the step of deriving an objective function includes using the product of a velocity penalty function and a time penalty function summed over a plurality of input data sets and normalized to the number of input data sets.

28. The method of claim 21 wherein the step of evaluating said plurality of firing curves includes the steps of:

finding one threshold curve;

computing the objective function of the one threshold curve;

searching a set of possible threshold curves to find another threshold curve with a better rating, as determined by the objective function; and

repeating the process until no additional threshold curves are found with a better rating.

29. A method for determining when an airbag fires, comprising the steps of:

obtaining airbag firing data, that includes sensor time-histories recorded from a sensor used in an airbag firing system, said sensor measuring a vehicle'"'"'s acceleration;

deriving an objective function, using said sensor time-histories as input, said objective function being a mathematical formula which includes adjustable parameters based on firing criteria for the airbag firing system, said firing criteria including fire-rate and fire-time, and said objective function producing an output that evaluates the effectiveness of an airbag threshold firing curve based on said airbag firing data;

evaluating a plurality of threshold firing curves using said objective function and said airbag firing data;

choosing an optimal threshold firing curve from said plurality of threshold firing curves based on said objective function; and

implementing said optimal threshold firing curve in said airbag control system, said optimal threshold firing curve and said sensor determining when said airbag fires.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein said airbag firing data further includes Monte Carlo-like simulations on time-histories from physical crash tests to produce additional data sets.

31. The method of claim 29 wherein said objective function includes a product of a time penalty function and a velocity penalty function, and where said product is summed over a plurality of input values.

32. The method of claim 31 where said product is summed over a plurality of input values and normalized to said plurality of input values.

33. The method of claim 29 wherein said threshold curve is parameterized using a plurality of parameters.

34. The method of claim 29 wherein said optimal threshold curve is found using an automated search algorithm.

35. A system for determining when an airbag fires in an airbag control system comprising:

a system for obtaining airbag firing data, said airbag firing data including time-histories from an airbag firing sensor;

a system for deriving an objective function, wherein said objective function is a mathematical formula including said airbag firing data as input and said objective function rating the effectiveness of an airbag firing based on firing criteria; and

a system for determining a threshold firing curve in an airbag control system, said system for determining a threshold firing curve including a system for selecting a plurality of threshold firing curves, rating said plurality of threshold firing curves using said objective function and selecting an optimal threshold firing curve for use in said airbag control system.

36. The system of claim 35 wherein said airbag firing data includes simulations on physical crash tests to produce additional data sets.

37. The system of claim 35 wherein said objective function includes a velocity penalty function, said velocity penalty function being a generally parabolic curve having a designated control fire velocity parameter.

38. The system of claim 35 wherein said objective function includes a time penalty function, said time penalty function being piece-wise continuous.

39. The system of claim 35 wherein said objective function is normalized over a plurality of input values.

40. The system of claim 35 wherein said objective function includes a product of a velocity penalty function and a time penalty function, and where the product is summed over a plurality of inputs and normalized to the plurality of inputs.