Method and arrangement for controlling activation of restraining devices in a motor vehicle

• US 6,421,591 B1
• Filed: 03/09/2000
• Issued: 07/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Hackenberg, Ulrich
• Primary Examiner(s): LOUIS JACQUES, JACQUES H
• Application Number:
  US09/521,816
• Time in Patent Office: 859 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36, 701/41, 701/45, 701/46, 701/47, 280/734, 280/735, 180/282, 180/268, 180/271
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01313 monitoring the vehicle steering system or the dynamic control system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• 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 21/015 including means for detecting the presence or position of passengers, passenger seats or child seats , and the related safety parameters therefor, e.g. speed or timing of airbag inflation in relation to occupant position or seat belt use

Abstract

A method and an arrangement are described for controlling activation of occupant restraining devices in a motor vehicle in which actual data relating to vehicle motion are detected and applied to an activation algorithm to generate activation signals as required for the activation of at least one of the restraining devices. In the disclosed method the following steps are performed: detecting actual data relating to vehicle motion; determining a target condition of vehicle motion corresponding to the desired operating behavior of the vehicle; comparing an actual condition of vehicle motion determined from at least some of the actual data detected with the corresponding target condition; parametering an activation algorithm employed to generate activation signals, taking account of differences between an actual condition and a target condition of vehicle motion; and applying the activation algorithm to at least some of the detected actual data for generation, as required, of situation-adapted activation signals for activation of at least one of the occupant restraining devices.

Claims

1. A method for controlling activation of occupant restraining devices in a motor vehicle comprising the following steps:

detecting actual data relating to motion of a vehicle including at least one of transverse acceleration, longitudinal acceleration and rate of rotation about a vertical axis;

determining a target condition of vehicle motion corresponding to desired operating behavior of the vehicle within the scope of an electronic control for vehicle operating dynamics;

comparing an actual condition of vehicle motion determined from at least some of the detected actual data with the target condition of vehicle motion;

parametering an activation algorithm used to generate activation signals for occupant restraining devices based on differences between an actual condition and a target condition of vehicle motion; and

applying the activation algorithm to at least some of the detected actual data to generate situation-adapted activation signals for activation of at least one of the occupant restraining devices.

2. A method for controlling activation of occupant restraining devices according to claim 1 wherein, as actual data for determining the actual condition of vehicle motion, at least the transverse acceleration, the longitudinal acceleration, and the rate of rotation about the vertical axis of the vehicle are detected and, for determining the target condition, at least the steering angle and the rotational speeds of the vehicle wheels are detected.

3. A method for controlling activation of occupant restraining devices according to claim 1 including taking into account signals produced by a distance regulation system in parametering the activation algorithm.

4. A method for controlling activation of occupant restraining devices according to claim 1 wherein the activation of occupant restraining devices is more sensitively programmed in parametering the activation algorithm in a critical situation as indicated by an ascertained difference between actual and target conditions of vehicle motion.

5. A method for controlling activation of occupant restraining devices according to claim 1 wherein at least some of the occupant restraining devices may be activated in stages according to activation signals generated by the activation algorithm.

6. A method for controlling activation of occupant restraining devices according to claim 5 wherein, up on detection of a skidding of the vehicle, an electronic control for vehicle operating dynamics parameters the activating algorithm in such a way that an air bag employed as restraining device is released with greater force than for like detected actual data of vehicle motion in the absence of a detected skidding of the vehicle.

7. An arrangement for controlling activation of occupant restraining devices in a motor vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of sensors for detecting actual data of vehicle motion including at least one of transverse acceleration, longitudinal acceleration, and rate of rotation about a vertical axis;

a restraining device control unit for generating activation signals to activate the occupant restraining devices as a function of the detected actual data and transmitting them to the occupant restraining devices;

sensors for distance determination; and

means for determining a target condition of vehicle motion corresponding to desired operating behavior of the motor vehicle;

wherein the restraining device control unit is capable of taking account of the target condition of vehicle motion in addition to the detected actual data in generating the activation signal and sensors for distance determination and of actual distance data determined from the data detected by the distance determination sensors in addition to the actual data detected and the actual target conditions of vehicle motion in generating the activation signals; and

a distance control unit for evaluating the data detected by the sensors for distance determination and providing an output for transmitting the actual distance data to an input of the restraining device control unit.