Apparatus and method using controlled emission for sensing an occupant located beyond a predetermined distance
First Claim
1. An apparatus for determining whether a target is located beyond a predetermined distance, said apparatus comprising:
- means for emitting first and second signals in an interspersed predetermined emission sequence toward the target;
means for receiving returns of the first and second signals bounced on the target; and
means for processing to determine if the target is beyond the predetermined distance using at least one of the returns of the first and second signals, and for providing a signal indicative of the determination, wherein said means for processing includes means for successively comparing at least two time intervals to determine whether a sufficient difference exists to indicate that the target is beyond the predetermined distance.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus (20) determines a target (e.g., a vehicle occupant 22) beyond a predetermined distance. In an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus (20) determines a distant target for use in control of air bag deployment. The apparatus (20) includes a sensor (44) for emitting and receiving first (52, 56) and second (54, 58) signals in an interspersed predetermined emission sequence toward the target. A controller (60) successively determines a time interval between the emission of a current signal and the reception of an echo. The controller (60) successively compares at least two time intervals to determine whether a sufficient difference exists to indicate that the target is beyond the predetermined distance and outputs a signal to the air bag actuation system (62). The controller (60) also performs a distance calculation to the target using at least one of the time-of-flight periods of the first and second signals, where the first time-of-flight period occurs between emission and echo reception of the first signal and where the second time-of-flight period occurs between emission and echo reception of the second signal, and outputs a signal to the air bag actuation system (62).
12 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An apparatus for determining whether a target is located beyond a predetermined distance, said apparatus comprising:
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means for emitting first and second signals in an interspersed predetermined emission sequence toward the target;
means for receiving returns of the first and second signals bounced on the target; and
means for processing to determine if the target is beyond the predetermined distance using at least one of the returns of the first and second signals, and for providing a signal indicative of the determination, wherein said means for processing includes means for successively comparing at least two time intervals to determine whether a sufficient difference exists to indicate that the target is beyond the predetermined distance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for determining whether a target is located beyond a predetermined distance, said method comprising the steps of:
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emitting first and second signals in an interspersed predetermined emission sequence toward the target;
receiving returns of the first and second signals bounced on the target;
controlling said step of emitting the first and second signals to overlap a first time-of-flight period of the first signal, wherein the first time-of-flight period occurs between emission and echo reception of the first signal, and a second time-of-flight period of the second signal, wherein said second time-of-flight period occurs between emission and echo reception of the second signal;
successively determining a time interval between the emission of a current signal and the reception of an echo;
successively comparing at least two time intervals to determine whether a sufficient difference exists to indicate that the target is beyond the predetermined distance and outputting a signal indicative thereof; and
performing a distance calculation to the target using at least one of the time-of-flight periods of the first and second signals and for outputting a signal indicative thereof. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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8. An apparatus for determining whether a target is located beyond a predetermined distance, said apparatus comprising:
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means for emitting first and second signals in an interspersed predetermined emission sequence toward the target;
means for receiving return echoes of the first and second signals;
means for successively determining a time interval between the emission of a current signal and the reception of an echo; and
means for successively comparing at least two time intervals to determine whether a sufficient difference exists to indicate that the target is beyond the predetermined distance and for outputting a signal indicative thereof. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for determining whether a target is located beyond a predetermined distance, said apparatus comprising:
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means for emitting first and second signals in an interspersed predetermined emission sequence toward the target;
means for receiving returns of the first and second signals bounced on the target;
means for controlling said means for emitting the first and second signals to overlap a first time-of-flight period of the first signal, wherein the first time-of-flight period occurs between emission and echo reception of the first signal, and a second time-of-flight period of the second signal, wherein said second time-of-flight period occurs between emission and echo reception of the second signal;
means for successively determining a time interval between the emission of a current signal and the reception of an echo;
means for successively comparing at least two time intervals to determine whether a sufficient difference exists to indicate that the target is beyond the predetermined distance and for outputting a signal indicative thereof; and
means for performing a distance calculation to the target using at least one of the time-of-flight periods of the first and second signals and for outputting a signal indicative thereof. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A method for determining whether a target is located beyond a predetermined distance, said method comprising the steps of:
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emitting first and second signals in an interspersed predetermined emission sequence toward the target;
receiving returns of the first and second signals bounced on the target; and
processing to determine if the target is beyond the predetermined distance using at least one of the returns of the first and second signals, and providing a signal indicative of the determination, wherein said step of processing includes the step of successively comparing at least two time intervals to determine whether a sufficient difference exists to indicate that the target is beyond the predetermined distance. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 17)
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18. A method for determining whether a target is located beyond a predetermined distance, said method comprising the steps of:
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emitting first and second signals in an interspersed predetermined emission sequence toward the target;
receiving return echoes of the first and second signals;
successively determining a time interval between the emission of a current signal and reception of an echo; and
successively comparing at least two time intervals to determine whether a sufficient difference exists to indicate that the target is beyond the predetermined distance and outputting a signal indicative thereof. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A vehicle occupant protection system associated with a vehicle seat of a vehicle, the vehicle occupant protection system comprising:
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an air bag assembly that is actuatable for helping to protect an occupant of the vehicle seat;
an air bag actuation system for, when enabled, allowing the air bag assembly to be actuated; and
an apparatus for determining whether to enable the air bag actuation system, the apparatus including;
a sensor for repeatedly emitting first and second signals and for receiving reflected returns of the first and second signals, the sensor emitting the second signal at a predetermined time following emission of the first signal, and a controller for enabling the air bag actuation system in response to determining the reflected return of the first signal is received subsequent to emission of the second signal. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. A method of operating a vehicle occupant protection system associated with a vehicle seat of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing an air bag assembly that is actuatable for helping to protect an occupant of the vehicle seat;
repeatedly emitting first and second signals, the second signal being emitted at a predetermined time following emission of the first signal;
receiving reflected returns of the first and second signals;
determining whether the reflected return of the first signal is received subsequent to emission of the second signal; and
enabling an air bag actuation system in response to determining subsequent receipt of the first signal. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
measuring a first time interval between emission of the second signal and receipt of a reflected return following emission of the second signal;
measuring a second time interval between emission of a subsequent first signal and receipt of another reflected return following emission of the subsequent first signal;
comparing the first and second time intervals; and
determining subsequent receipt of the first signal in response to a difference existing between the first and second time intervals.
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25. The method of claim 23 further including the steps of:
calculating, in response to determining receipt of the reflected return of the first signal prior to emission of the second signal, a distance between the air bag assembly and the occupant of the vehicle seat, said step of enabling being further responsive to the calculated distance.
Specification