Actuation controller for air bag device

• US 6,330,500 B1
• Filed: 02/14/2000
• Issued: 12/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Autolive Japan., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Autoliv Japan Limited (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Moriyama, Hiroshi, Ono, Mitsuru, Sada, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US09/423,920
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 701/45, 701/46, 701/47, 280/735, 280/741, 280/734, 180/232, 180/271, 180/282
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01006 Mounting of electrical components in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0133 by integrating the amplitude of the input signal
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01558 monitoring crash strength

Abstract

In an air bag system of the type that inflates one air bag using a plurality of inflators, an air bag inflation control apparatus is provided that can make a proper determination of inflator activation mode and a correct decision to activate or not activate the inflators according to the severity of a collision. More specifically, the invention provides an activation control apparatus for an air bag system having a plurality of inflators for one air bag, which, upon detection of a vehicle collision, controls activation of the inflators in accordance with the severity of the collision, comprising: a first acceleration sensor 1, mounted in a position within a passenger compartment, for constantly detecting acceleration G at the mounting position; and a second acceleration sensor 2, mounted in a position within a crush zone in a forward part of a vehicle, for constantly detecting acceleration G′ at the mounting position, and wherein: a decision to activate or not activate the plurality of inflators and determination of the activation mode of the inflators are determined by utilizing differences in characteristics among various values in various types of collision and by combining the various values as appropriate, the various values consisting of a first time-integrated value V1 obtained by performing time integration based on an acceleration signal from the first acceleration sensor 1 and a second time-integrated value V1′ obtained by performing time integration based on an acceleration signal from the second acceleration sensor 2, and of an integrated value difference between the second time-integrated value and the first time-integrated value, Vd=V1′−V1, or the amount of change of the integrated value difference, (Gd=d(Vd)/dt).

Claims

1. An activation control apparatus for an air bag system having a plurality of inflators for one air bag, which, upon detection of a vehicle collision, controls activation of said inflators in accordance with the severity of said collision, comprising:

a first acceleration sensor (1), mounted in a position within a passenger compartment, for constantly detecting acceleration (G) at said mounting position; and

a second acceleration sensor (2), mounted in a position within a crush zone in a forward part of a vehicle, for constantly detecting acceleration (G′

) at said mounting position, and wherein;

a decision as to whether to activate or not activate said plurality of inflators and determination of an activation mode of said inflators are made by utilizing differences in characteristics among various values in various types of collision and by combining said various values as appropriate, said various values consisting of a first time-integrated value (V1) obtained by performing time integration based on an acceleration signal from said first acceleration sensor (1) and a second time-integrated value (V1′

) obtained by performing time integration based on an acceleration signal from said second acceleration sensor (2), and of an integrated value difference between said second time-integrated value and said first time-integrated value (Vd=V′

−

V) or the amount of change of said integrated value difference (Gd=d(Vd)/dt), said integrated value difference (Vd) being compared with a first predetermined velocity threshold value (Vs1) provided as a function of time, and when said integrated value difference is not smaller than said threshold value (Vd≧

Vs1), said inflators being activated in accordance with a separately selected inflator activation mode.

2. An activation control apparatus for an air bag system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first time-integrated value (V1), obtained by performing time integration based on the acceleration signal (G) from said first acceleration sensor (1), is compared with a seventh predetermined velocity threshold value (Vs7) used to decide whether to activate or not activate said inflators, and when said first time-integrated value is not smaller than said seventh velocity threshold value (V1≧

Vs7), said inflators are activated in accordance with said inflator activation mode determined by said prescribed computation performed based on the acceleration signal (G′

) from said second acceleration sensor (2).

3. An activation control apparatus for an air bag system as claimed in claim 2, wherein a first decision as to whether to activate or not activate said inflators is made by performing a prescribed computation in an inflator activation/non-activation decision-making computing circuit (70) based on the acceleration signal (G′

) from said second acceleration sensor (2), and the value of said seventh velocity threshold value (Vs7) is varied based on the result of said decision.

4. An activation control apparatus for an air bag system as claimed in claim 3, wherein as the result of said first decision in said inflator activation/non-activation decision-making computing circuit (70) as to whether to activate or not activate said inflators, if it is determined that inflator activation is needed, the value of said seventh velocity threshold value (Vs7) is varied in such a manner as to decrease relatively, while on the other hand, if it is determined that inflator activation is not needed, the value of said seventh velocity threshold value (Vs7) is varied in such a manner as to increase relatively.

5. An activation control apparatus for an air bag system having a plurality of inflators for one air bag, which, upon detection of a vehicle collision, controls activation of said inflators in accordance with the severity of said collision, comprising:

a first acceleration sensor (1), mounted in a position within a passenger compartment, for constantly detecting acceleration (G) at said mounting position; and

a second acceleration sensor (2), mounted in a position within a crush zone in a forward part of a vehicle, for constantly detecting acceleration (G′

) at said mounting position, and wherein;

a decision as to whether to activate or not activate said plurality of inflators and determination of an activation mode of said inflators are made by utilizing differences in characteristics among various values in various types of collision and by combining said various values as appropriate, said various values consisting of a first time-integrated value (V1) obtained by performing time integration based on an acceleration signal from said first acceleration sensor (1) and a second time-integrated value (V1′

) obtained by performing time integration based on an acceleration signal from said second acceleration sensor (2), and of an integrated value difference between said second time-integrated value and said first time-integrated value (Vd=V′

−

V) or the amount of change of said integrated value difference (Gd=d(Vd)/dt), said integrated value difference (Vd) being compared with a first predetermined velocity threshold value (Vs1) provided as a function of time, and when said integrated value difference is not smaller than said threshold value (Vd≧

Vs1), said inflators being activated in accordance with a separately selected inflator activation mode, the amount of change (Gd) of said integrated value difference being compared with a predetermined difference change threshold value (Gs) provided as a function of time, and when said amount of change is not smaller than said threshold value (Gd≧

Gs), said inflators being activated in accordance with a separately selected inflator activation mode.

6. An activation control apparatus for an air bag system having a plurality of inflators for one air bag, which, upon detection of a vehicle collision, controls activation of said inflators in accordance with the severity of said collision, comprising:

a first acceleration sensor (1), mounted in a position within a passenger compartment, for constantly detecting acceleration (G) at said mounting position; and

a second acceleration sensor (2), mounted in a position within a crush zone in a forward part of a vehicle, for constantly detecting acceleration (G′

) at said mounting position, and wherein;

a decision as to whether to activate or not activate said plurality of inflators and determination of an activation mode of said inflators are made by utilizing differences in characteristics among various values in various types of collision and by combining said various values as appropriate, said various values consisting of a first time-integrated value (V1) obtained by performing time integration based on an acceleration signal from said first acceleration sensor (1) and a second time-integrated value (V1′

) obtained by performing time integration based on an acceleration signal from said second acceleration sensor (2), and of an integrated value difference between said second time-integrated value and said first time-integrated value (Vd=V′

−

V) or the amount of change of said integrated value difference (Gd=d(Vd)/dt), said integrated value difference (Vd) being compared with a fifth predetermined velocity threshold value (Vs5) set as a function of said first time-integrated value (V1), and when said integrated value difference is not smaller than said fifth velocity threshold value (Vd≧

Vs5), said inflators being activated in accordance with a separately selected inflator activation mode.

7. An activation control apparatus for an air bag system having a plurality of inflators for one air bag, which, upon detection of a vehicle collision, controls activation of said inflators in accordance with the severity of said collision, comprising:

a first acceleration sensor (1), mounted in a position within a passenger compartment, for constantly detecting acceleration (G) at said mounting position; and

a second acceleration sensor (2), mounted in a position within a crush zone in a forward part of a vehicle, for constantly detecting acceleration (G′

) at said mounting position, and wherein;

a decision as to whether to activate or not activate said plurality of inflators and determination of an activation mode of said inflators are made by utilizing differences in characteristics among various values in various types of collision and by combining said various values as appropriate, said various values consisting of a first time-integrated value (V1) obtained by performing time integration based on an acceleration signal from said first acceleration sensor (1) and a second time-integrated value (V1′

) obtained by performing time integration based on an acceleration signal from said second acceleration sensor (2), and of an integrated value difference between said second time-integrated value and said first time-integrated value (Vd=V′

−

V) or the amount of change of said integrated value difference (Gd=d(Vd)/dt), said integrated value difference (Vd) being compared with said first velocity threshold value (Vs1) and the amount of change (Gd) of said integrated value difference being compared with said difference change threshold value (Gs), and when either one or two conditions, one requiring that said integrated value difference be not smaller than said first velocity threshold value (Vd≧

Vs1) and the other requiring that said amount of change of said integrated value difference be not smaller than said difference change threshold value (Gd≧

Gs), or both of said two conditions are satisfied, said inflators being activated in accordance with a separately selected inflator activation mode.

8. An activation control apparatus for an air bag system having a plurality of inflators for one air bag, which, upon detection of a vehicle collision, controls activation of said inflators in accordance with the severity of said collision, comprising:

a first acceleration sensor (1), mounted in a position within a passenger compartment, for constantly detecting acceleration (G) at said mounting position; and

a second acceleration sensor (2), mounted in a position within a crush zone in a forward part of a vehicle, for constantly detecting acceleration (G′

) at said mounting position, and wherein;

a decision as to whether to activate or not activate said plurality of inflators and determination of an activation mode of said inflators are made by utilizing differences in characteristics among various values in various types of collision and by combining said various values as appropriate, said various values consisting of a first time-integrated value (V1) obtained by performing time integration based on an acceleration signal from said first acceleration sensor (1) and a second time-integrated value (V1′

) obtained by performing time integration based on an acceleration signal from said second acceleration sensor (2), and of an integrated value difference between said second time-integrated value and said first time-integrated value (Vd=V′

−

V) or the amount of change of said integrated value difference (Gd=d(Vd)/dt), said integrated value difference (Vd) being compared with a fifth predetermined velocity threshold value (Vs5) set as a function of said first time-integrated value (V1), and when said integrated value difference is not smaller than said fifth velocity threshold value (Vd≧

Vs5), said inflators being activated in accordance with a separately selected inflator activation mode.

9. An activation control apparatus for an air bag system having a plurality of inflators for one air bag, which, upon detection of a vehicle collision, controls activation of said inflators in accordance with the severity of said collision, comprising:

a first acceleration sensor (1), mounted in a position within a passenger compartment, for constantly detecting acceleration (G) at said mounting position; and

a second acceleration sensor (2), mounted in a position within a crush zone in a forward part of a vehicle, for constantly detecting acceleration (G′

) at said mounting position, and wherein;

a decision as to whether to activate or not activate said plurality of inflators and determination of an activation mode of said inflators are made by utilizing differences in characteristics among various values in various types of collision and by combining said various values as appropriate, said various values consisting of a first time-integrated value (V1) obtained by performing time integration based on an acceleration signal from said first acceleration sensor (1) and a second time-integrated value (V1′

) obtained by performing time integration based on an acceleration signal from said second acceleration sensor (2), and of an integrated value difference between said second time-integrated value and said first time-integrated value (Vd=V′

−

V) or the amount of change of said integrated value difference (Gd=d(Vd)/dt), said integrated value difference (Vd) being compared with said fifth velocity threshold value (Vs5) and the amount of change (Gd) of said integrated value difference being compared with said difference change threshold value (Gs), and when either one of two conditions, one requiring that said integrated value difference be not smaller than said fifth velocity threshold value (Vd≧

Vs5) and the other requiring that said amount of change of said integrated value difference be not smaller than said difference change threshold value (Gd≧

Gs), or both of said two conditions are satisfied, said inflators being activated in accordance with a separately selected inflator activation mode.

10. An activation control apparatus for an air bag system having a plurality of inflators for one air bag, which, upon detection of a vehicle collision, controls activation of said inflators in accordance with the severity of said collision, comprising:

a first acceleration sensor (1), mounted in a position within a passenger compartment, for constantly detecting acceleration (G) at said mounting position; and

a second acceleration sensor (2), mounted in a position within a crush zone in a forward part of a vehicle, for constantly detecting acceleration (G′

) at said mounting position, and wherein;

a decision as to whether to activate or not activate said plurality of inflators and determination of an activation mode of said inflators are made by utilizing differences in characteristics among various values in various types of collision and by combining said various values as appropriate, said various values consisting of a first time-integrated value (V1) obtained by performing time integration based on an acceleration signal from said first acceleration sensor (1) and a second time-integrated value (V1′

) obtained by performing time integration based on an acceleration signal from said second acceleration sensor (2), and of an integrated value difference between said second time-integrated value and said first time-integrated value (Vd=V′

−

V) or the amount of change of said integrated value difference (Gd=d (Vd)/dt), said second time-integrated value (V1′

) being compared with a sixth predetermined velocity threshold value (Vs6) set as a function of said first time-integrated value (V1), and when said second time-integrated value is not smaller than said sixth velocity threshold value (V1′

≧

Vs6), said inflators being activated in accordance with a separately selected inflator activation mode.

11. An activation control apparatus for an air bag system having a plurality of inflators for one air bag, which, upon detection of a vehicle collision, controls activation of said inflators in accordance with the severity of said collision, comprising:

a first acceleration sensor (1), mounted in a position within a passenger compartment, for constantly detecting acceleration (G) at said mounting position; and

a second acceleration sensor (2), mounted in a position within a crush zone in a forward part of a vehicle, for constantly detecting acceleration (G′

) at said mounting position, and wherein;

a decision as to whether to activate or not activate said plurality of inflators and determination of an activation mode of said inflators are made by utilizing differences in characteristics among various values in various types of collision and by combining said various values as appropriate, said various values consisting of a first time-integrated value (V1) obtained by performing time integration based on an acceleration signal from said first acceleration sensor (1) and a second time-integrated value (V1′

) obtained by performing time integration based on an acceleration signal from said second acceleration sensor (2), and of an integrated value difference between said second time-integrated value and said first time-integrated value (Vd=V′

−

V) or the amount of change of said integrated value difference (Gd=d(Vd)/dt), said second time-integrated value (V1′

) being compared with a sixth predetermined velocity threshold value (Vs6) set as a function of said first time-integrated value (V1) and said amount of change (Gd) of said integrated value difference being compared with said difference change threshold value (Gs), and when either one of two conditions, one requiring that said second time-integrated value is not smaller than said sixth velocity threshold value (V1′

≧

Vs6) and the other requiring that said amount of change of said integrated value difference be not smaller than said difference change threshold value (Gd≧

Gs), or both of said two conditions are satisfied, said inflators being activated in accordance with a separately selected inflator activation mode.

12. An activation control apparatus for an air bag system having a plurality of inflators for one air bag, which, upon detection of a vehicle collision, controls activation of said inflators in accordance with the severity of said collision, comprising:

a first acceleration sensor (1), mounted in a position within a passenger compartment, for constantly detecting acceleration (G) at said mounting position; and

a second acceleration sensor (2), mounted in a position within a crush zone in a forward part of a vehicle, for constantly detecting acceleration (G′

) at said mounting position, and wherein;

a decision as to whether to activate or not activate said plurality of inflators and determination of an activation mode of said inflators are made by utilizing differences in characteristics among various values in various types of collision and by combining said various values as appropriate, said various values consisting of a first time-integrated value (V1) obtained by performing time integration based on an acceleration signal from said first acceleration sensor (1) and a second time-integrated value (V1′

) obtained by performing time integration based on an acceleration signal from said second acceleration sensor (2), and of an integrated value difference between said second time-integrated value and said first time-integrated value (Vd=V′

−

V) or the amount of change of said integrated value difference (Gd=d(Vd)/dt), said integrated value difference (Vd) being compared with a second predetermined velocity threshold value (Vs2) provided as a function of time, and the activation mode of said inflators being determined based on the result of said comparison.

13. An activation control apparatus for an air bag system as claimed in claim 12, wherein said inflator activation mode consists of two kinds of modes, a moderate inflation for inflating said air bag at a moderate speed and a rapid inflation for rapidly inflating said air bag, and wherein when said compared value is not smaller than said threshold value, the activation mode for rapid inflation is selected, and when said compared value is smaller than said threshold value, the activation mode for moderate inflation is selected.

14. An activation control apparatus for an air bag system as claimed in claim 13, wherein in said moderate inflation, only a predetermined number of inflators selected from said plurality of inflators are activated so that said air bag is inflated at a moderate speed, while in said rapid inflation, said air bag is inflated rapidly by igniting all of said plurality of inflators simultaneously or by slightly displacing ignition timing between said inflators.

15. An activation control apparatus for an air bag system as claimed in claim 13, wherein in said moderate inflation, said air bag is inflated at a moderate speed by displacing ignition timing between said plurality of inflators, while in said rapid inflation, said air bag is inflated rapidly by igniting all of said plurality of inflators simultaneously.

16. An activation control apparatus for an air bag system as claimed in claim 13, wherein in said moderate inflation, said air bag is inflated at a moderate speed by increasing ignition timing difference between said plurality of inflators, while in said rapid inflation, said air bag is inflated rapidly by reducing the ignition timing difference between said plurality of inflators.

17. An activation control apparatus for an air bag system as claimed in claim 13, wherein when said moderate inflation is selected as a result of said inflator activation mode determination, if it is determined as a result of said inflator activation/non-activation decision that inflator activation is needed, only a predetermined number of inflators are immediately activated in accordance with said moderate inflation, while allowing computation to continue, and if, as a result of said computation, said inflator activation mode determination changes to said rapid inflation, then the remaining inflators are immediately activated.

18. An activation control apparatus for an air bag system as claimed in claim 17, wherein said inflators consist of two inflators, the first inflator and the second inflator, and wherein when said first inflator is in a non-activated state, the computation for said inflator activation/non-activation decision is performed, and when said moderate inflation is selected as a result of the computation for said inflator activation mode determination, if it is determined as a result of said inflator activation/non-activation decision that inflator activation is needed, said first inflator alone is immediately activated, while allowing the computation to continue for said inflator activation mode determination, and if, as a result of said computation, said inflator activation mode switches to said rapid inflation, said second inflator is immediately activated.

19. An activation control apparatus for an air bag system having a plurality of inflators for one air bag, which, upon detection of a vehicle collision, controls activation of said inflators in accordance with the severity of said collision, comprising:

a first acceleration sensor (1), mounted in a position within a passenger compartment, for constantly detecting acceleration (G) at said mounting position; and

a second acceleration sensor (2), mounted in a position within a crush zone in a forward part of a vehicle, for constantly detecting acceleration (G′

) at said mounting position, and wherein;

a decision as to whether to activate or not activate said plurality of inflators and determination of an activation mode of said inflators are made by utilizing differences in characteristics among various values in various types of collision and by combining said various values as appropriate, said various values consisting of a first time-integrated value (V1) obtained by performing time integration based on an acceleration signal from said first acceleration sensor (1) and a second time-integrated value (V1′

) obtained by performing time integration based on an acceleration signal from said second acceleration sensor (2), and of an integrated value difference between said second time-integrated value and said first time-integrated value (Vd=V′

−

V) or the amount of change of said integrated value difference (Gd=d(Vd)/dt), said second time-integrated value (V1′

) being compared with a third predetermined velocity threshold value (Vs3) provided as a function of time, and the activation mode of said inflators being determined based on the result of said comparison.

20. An activation control apparatus for an air bag system having a plurality of inflators for one air bag, which, upon detection of a vehicle collision, controls activation of said inflators in accordance with the severity of said collision, comprising:

a first acceleration sensor (1), mounted in a position within a passenger compartment, for constantly detecting acceleration (G) at said mounting position; and

a second acceleration sensor (2), mounted in a position within a crush zone in a forward part of a vehicle, for constantly detecting acceleration (G′

) at said mounting position, and wherein;

a decision as to whether to activate or not activate said plurality of inflators and determination of an activation mode of said inflators are made by utilizing differences in characteristics among various values in various types of collision and by combining said various values as appropriate, said various values consisting of a first time-integrated value (V1) obtained by performing time integration based on an acceleration signal from said first acceleration sensor (1) and a second time-integrated value (V1′

) obtained by performing time integration based on an acceleration signal from said second acceleration sensor (2), and of an integrated value difference between said second time-integrated value and said first time-integrated value (Vd=V′

−

V) or the amount of change of said integrated value difference (Gd=d(Vd)/dt), computations are started at time (t0) when the acceleration value (G) of said first acceleration sensor (1) exceeds a predetermined acceleration value (G1) and at time (t0′

) when the acceleration value (G′

) of said second acceleration sensor (2) exceeds a predetermined acceleration value (G1′

).

21. An activation control apparatus for an air bag system as claimed in claim 20, wherein a predetermined acceleration value (G2) is subtracted from the acceleration value (G) detected by said first acceleration sensor (1), the resulting difference value (G3) is integrated over time to calculate said first time-integrated value (V1), a predetermined acceleration value (G2′

) is subtracted from the acceleration value (G′

) detected by said second acceleration sensor (2), and the resulting difference value (G3′

) is integrated over time to calculate said second time-integrated value (V1′

).

22. An activation control apparatus for an air bag system as claimed in claim 20, wherein determination of said inflator activation mode for said moderate inflation is held off and said computations are continued until a predetermined time (ts) elapses from the time (t0′

) when the computation based on said second acceleration sensor (2) is started.

23. An activation control apparatus for an air bag system having a plurality of inflators for one air bag, which, upon detection of a vehicle collision, controls activation of said inflators in accordance with the severity of said collision, comprising:

a first acceleration sensor (1), mounted in a position within a passenger compartment, for constantly detecting acceleration (G) at said mounting position; and

a second acceleration sensor (2), mounted in a position within a crush zone in a forward part of a vehicle, for constantly detecting acceleration (G′

) at said mounting position, and wherein;

a decision as to whether to activate or not activate said plurality of inflators and determination of an activation mode of said inflators are made by utilizing differences in characteristics among various values in various types of collision and by combining said various values as appropriate, said various values consisting of a first time-integrated value (V1) obtained by performing time integration based on an acceleration signal from said first acceleration sensor (1) and a second time-integrated value (V1′

) obtained by performing time integration based on an acceleration signal from said second acceleration sensor (2), and of an integrated value difference between said second time-integrated value and said first time-integrated value (Vd=V′

−

V) or the amount of change of said integrated value difference (Gd=d(Vd)/dt), the activation mode of said inflators being determined by performing a prescribed computation based on the acceleration signal (G′

) from said second acceleration sensor (2), and whether to activate or not activate said inflators being determined by performing a prescribed computation based on the acceleration signal (G) from said first acceleration sensor (1).

24. An activation control apparatus for an air bag system as claimed in claim 23, wherein said second time-integrated value (V1′

), obtained by performing time integration based on the acceleration signal (G′

) from said second acceleration sensor (1′

), is compared with an eighth predetermined velocity threshold value (Vs8) provided as a function of time, and the activation mode of said inflators is determined based on the result of said comparison, while said second time-integrated value (V1′

) is compared with a ninth velocity threshold value (Vs9(V1)) preset as a function of said first time-integrated value (V1) obtained by performing time integration based on the acceleration signal (G) from said first acceleration sensor (1), and whether to activate or not activate said inflators is determined based on the result of said comparison.

31. An activation control apparatus for an air bag system as claimed in claim 23, wherein said second time-integrated value (V1′

), obtained by performing time integration based on the acceleration signal (G′

) from said second acceleration sensor (1′

), is compared with an eighth predetermined velocity threshold value (Vs8) indicative of the degree of collision severity, and when said second time-integrated value is smaller than said eighth velocity threshold value (V1′

<

Vs8), an inflator activation mode for causing said air bag to inflate at a moderate speed is selected, while on the other hand, when said second time-integrated value is not smaller than said eighth velocity threshold value (V1′

≧

Vs8), then said first time-integrated value (V1) is compared with a 10th velocity threshold value (Vs10) which is preset as a value relatively larger than said eighth velocity threshold value, and if said first time-integrated value is not smaller than said 10th velocity threshold value (V1≧

Vs10), an inflator activation mode for causing said air bag to inflate rapidly is selected, but if said first time-integrated value is smaller than said 10th velocity threshold value (V1<

Vs10), an inflator activation mode for causing said air bag to inflate at a moderate speed is selected.

33. An activation control apparatus for an air bag system as claimed in any claim 23, wherein when a moderate inflation of said air bag is determined as a result of said inflator activation mode determination, if it is determined as a result of said inflator activation/non-activation decision that inflator activation is needed, a predetermined number of inflators selected from said plurality of inflators are activated in accordance with said moderate air bag inflation, while allowing the computation to continue for said inflator activation mode determination, and if, as a result of said computation, said inflator activation mode determination changes to a rapid air bag inflation, then the remaining inflators are immediately activated.

34. An activation control apparatus for an air bag system as claimed in claim 33, wherein said inflators consist of two inflators, the first inflator and the second inflator, and wherein when said first inflator is in a non-activated state, the computation for said inflator activation/non-activation decision based on the comparison between said first time-integrated value (V1) and said seventh velocity threshold value (Vs7) is performed, and when the inflator activation mode for causing said air bag to inflate at a moderate speed is selected as a result of the computation for said inflator activation mode determination based on the comparison between said second time-integrated value (V1′

) and said eighth velocity threshold value (Vs8), if it is determined as a result of said inflator activation/non-activation decision that inflator activation is needed, said first inflator alone is activated, while allowing the computation to continue for said inflator activation mode determination, and if, as a result of said computation, said inflator activation mode switches to the mode for causing said air bag to inflate rapidly, and if it is confirmed that said first inflator is already activated, then said second inflator is immediately activated.

35. An activation control apparatus for an air bag system as claimed in claim 33, wherein said inflators consist of two inflators, the first inflator and the second inflator, and wherein when said first inflator is in a non-activated state, the computation for said inflator activation/non-activation decision based on the comparison between said first time-integrated value (V1) and said seventh velocity threshold value (Vs7) is performed, and when the inflator activation mode for causing said air bag to inflate at a moderate speed is selected as a result of the computation for said inflator activation mode determination based on the comparison between said second time-integrated value (V1′

) and said eighth velocity threshold value (Vs8), if it is determined as a result of said inflator activation/non-activation decision that inflator activation is needed, said first inflator alone is activated, while allowing the computation to continue for said inflator activation/non-activation decision, and in the process of said computation, when the activation of said first inflator is confirmed, said first time-integrated value (V1) is then compared with a 12th predetermined velocity threshold value (Vs12) which is set as a larger value than said seventh velocity threshold value (Vs7), and if said first time-integrated value is not smaller than said 12th velocity threshold value (V1≧

Vs12), said second inflator is immediately activated.

36. An activation control apparatus for an air bag system as claimed in claim 23, including:

peak-cut means (4a′

) for starting the computation based on the acceleration value (G′

) of said second acceleration sensor (2) at time (t0′

) when said acceleration value (G′

) exceeds a predetermined acceleration value (G1′

), and for peak-cutting any acceleration values from said acceleration value (G′

) that are not greater than a predetermined value (G2′

); and

time-integrating means (5a′

) for integrating said peak-cut acceleration value (G3′

) over time, and wherein;

a time-integrated value (V1) obtained by said time integrating means is taken as said second time-integrated value.

37. An activation control apparatus for an air bag system as claimed in claim 23, including:

peak-cut means (4a) for starting the computation based on the acceleration value (G) of said first acceleration sensor (1) at time (t0) when said acceleration value (G) exceeds a predetermined acceleration value (G1), and for peak-cutting any acceleration values from said acceleration value (G) that are not greater than a predetermined value (G2); and

time-integrating means (5a) for integrating said peak-cut acceleration value (G3) over time, and wherein;

a time-integrated value (V) obtained by said time-integrating means (5a) is taken as said first time-integrated value.

38. An activation control apparatus for an air bag system as claimed in claim 23, including:

peak-cut means (4a′

) for starting the computation based on the acceleration value (G′

) of said second acceleration sensor (2) at time (t0′

) when said acceleration value (G′

) exceeds a predetermined acceleration value (G1′

), and for peak-cutting any acceleration values from said acceleration value (G′

) that are not greater than a predetermined value (G2′

);

time-integrating means (5a′

) for integrating said peakcut acceleration value (G3′

) over time; and

subtracting means (5b′

) for subtracting a predetermined velocity change value (V′

) from the time-integrated value (V′

) obtained by said time-integrating means, and wherein;

a second decreased integrated value (V1′

) obtained by said subtracting means is taken as said second time-integrated value.

39. An activation control apparatus for an air bag system as claimed in claim 23, including:

peak-cut means (4a) for starting the computation based on the acceleration value (G) of said first acceleration sensor (1) at time (t0) when said acceleration value (G) exceeds a predetermined acceleration value (G1), and for peak-cutting any acceleration values from said acceleration value (G) that are not greater than a predetermined value (G2);

time-integrating means (5a) for integrating said peak-cut acceleration value (G3) over time; and

subtracting means (5b) for subtracting a predetermined velocity change value (Δ

V) from the time-integrated value (V) obtained by said time-integrating means (5a), and wherein;

a decreased integrated value (V1) obtained by said subtracting means (5b) is taken as said first time-integrated value.

40. An activation control apparatus for an air bag system as claimed in claim 23, wherein computing circuitry from said second acceleration sensor (2) up to time-integrating means (5a′

) for performing time integration based on the acceleration signal (G′

) thereof or up to subtracting means (5b′

) is mounted in said crush zone.

25. An activation control apparatus for an air bag system as claimed in 23, wherein said second time-integrated value (V1′

), obtained by performing time integration based on the acceleration signal (G′

) from said second acceleration sensor (1′

), is compared with an eighth predetermined velocity threshold value (Vs8) indicative of the degree of collision severity, and when said second time-integrated value is smaller than said eighth velocity threshold value (V1′

<

Vs8), an inflator activation mode for inflating said air bag at a moderate speed is selected, while on the other hand, when said second time-integrated value is not smaller than said eighth velocity there should value (V1≧

Vs8), an inflator activation mode for rapidly inflating said air bag is selected.

26. An activation control apparatus for an air bag system as claimed in claim 25, wherein said second time-integrated value (V1′

) is compared with said eighth velocity threshold value (Vs8) after an elapsed time (t′

) from the starting of the computation based on said second acceleration sensor (2) has reached a predetermined time (ts).

27. An activation control apparatus for an air bag system as claimed in claim 25, wherein until an elapsed time (t′

) from the starting of the computation based on said second acceleration sensor (2) reaches a predetermined time (ts), determination of said inflator activation mode for said moderate inflation is held off and the computation is continued.

28. An activation control apparatus for an air bag system as claimed in claim 27, wherein when said second time-integrated value (V1′

) is compared with said eighth velocity threshold value (Vs8), if said second time-integrated value is smaller than said eighth velocity threshold value (V1′

<

Vs8), the elapsed time (t′

) from the starting of the computation based on said second acceleration sensor (2) is compared with said predetermined time (ts), and if said elapsed time is not less than said predetermined time (t′

≧

ts), the inflator activation mode for inflating said air bag at a moderate speed is selected, but if said elapsed time is less than said predetermined time (t′

<

ts), the computation is continued.

29. An activation control apparatus for an air bag system as claimed in claim 25, wherein when inflating said air bag at a moderate speed as the result of said inflator activation mode determination, only a predetermined number of inflators selected from said plurality of inflators are activated, and when rapidly inflating said air bag, all of said plurality of inflators are activated simultaneously or by displacing ignition timing between said inflators.

30. An activation control apparatus for an air bag system as claimed in claim 25, wherein when inflating said air bag at a moderate speed as the result of said inflator activation mode determination, said plurality of inflators are activated in sequence by displacing ignition timing between said inflators, and when rapidly inflating said air bag, said plurality of inflators are activated simultaneously.

32. An activation control apparatus for an air bag system as claimed in 23, wherein said second time-integrated value (V1′

) is compared with an 11th predetermined velocity threshold value (Vs11) indicative of the degree of collision severity, and when said second time-integrated value is not smaller than said 11th velocity threshold value (V1′

≧

Vs11), an inflator activation mode for causing said air bag to inflate rapidly is selected, while on the other hand, when said second time-integrated value is smaller than said 11th velocity threshold value (V1′

<

Vs11), then said second time-integrated value (V1′

) is further compared with an eighth predetermined velocity threshold value (Vs8), and if said second time-integrated value is smaller than said eighth velocity threshold value (V1′

<

Vs8), an inflator activation mode for causing said air bag to inflate at a moderate speed is selected, but if second time-integrated value is not smaller than said eighth velocity threshold value (V1′

≧

Vs8), an inflator activation mode for causing said air bag to inflate rapidly is selected, and wherein the value of said 11th velocity threshold value (Vs11) is set higher than the value of said eighth velocity threshold value (Vs8), and said second time-integrated value (V1′

) is compared with said eighth velocity threshold value (Vs8) after an elapsed time (t′

) from the starting of the computation based on said second acceleration sensor (2) has reached a predetermined time (ts).