Airbag actuation event discrimination system and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An air bag system, comprising:
- at least one sensor adapted to provide a sensor signal;
at least one air bag adapted to be deployed in response to a deployment signal; and
at least one control module in communication with said sensor and with said air bag, said control module evaluating said sensor signal and inhibiting said deployment signal during a predetermined time period following detection of said sensor signal exceeding a first threshold, and ceasing inhibition of said deployment signal after said predetermined time period has expired and wherein said control module further compares said sensor signal to a second threshold during said predetermined time period, said second threshold being different than said first threshold, wherein said control module ceases inhibiting said deployment signal before expiration of said predetermined time period if said sensor signal exceeds said second threshold.
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Abstract
A system and method for selectively inhibiting deployment of an airbag for a period of time based upon the value of a sensor signal.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An air bag system, comprising:
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at least one sensor adapted to provide a sensor signal;
at least one air bag adapted to be deployed in response to a deployment signal; and
at least one control module in communication with said sensor and with said air bag, said control module evaluating said sensor signal and inhibiting said deployment signal during a predetermined time period following detection of said sensor signal exceeding a first threshold, and ceasing inhibition of said deployment signal after said predetermined time period has expired and wherein said control module further compares said sensor signal to a second threshold during said predetermined time period, said second threshold being different than said first threshold, wherein said control module ceases inhibiting said deployment signal before expiration of said predetermined time period if said sensor signal exceeds said second threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of selectively inhibiting actuation of an air bag in a system having at least one air bag, having at least one sensor for providing a sensor signal, and having at least one control module for evaluating the sensor signal and for selectively enabling or inhibiting an air bag deployment signal wherein said air bag is actuated when it receives said deployment signal, said method including the steps of:
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detecting a value for the sensor signal;
comparing the detected sensor signal value to a first threshold value;
inhibiting the deployment signal for a predetermined period if the detected sensor signal value has exceeded the first threshold;
comparing the detected sensor signal value to a second threshold value;
ceasing inhibition of the deployment signal before the predetermined period has expired if the detected sensor signal value exceeds the second threshold value; and
ceasing the inhibition of the deployment signal after the predetermined period has expired. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
deriving a deployment criterion signal from the detected sensor signal;
comparing the detected sensor signal value to the deployment criterion signal; and
communicating the deployment signal to the air bag if the detected sensor signal value exceeds the deployment criterion signal.
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8. The method according to claim 6, further including the steps of:
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deriving a deployment criterion signal from the detected sensor signal;
comparing the detected sensor signal value to the deployment criterion signal; and
communicating the deployment signal to the air bag if the detected sensor signal value exceeds the deployment criterion signal.
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18. The method according to claim 6, further including the step of setting the second threshold value to indicate a vehicle dynamic event of a predetermined magnitude.
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19. The method according to claim 6, further including the step of setting the predetermined period to at least about 7.5 ms.
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20. The method according to claim 6, further including the step of generating a deployment decision at about 18 ms in response to evaluating predetermined deployment criteria.
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21. The method according to claim 6, wherein the sensor signal value is an acceleration value, the first threshold is a first acceleration threshold, and the second threshold is a second acceleration threshold greater than the first acceleration threshold and including defining an interrupt event when the sensor signal value exceeds the second acceleration threshold.
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22. The method according to claim 6, wherein the sensor signal value is an acceleration value, the first threshold is an acceleration threshold, and the second threshold is an interrupt threshold and including generating a velocity signal from the acceleration value, comparing the velocity signal to the interrupt threshold, and ceasing inhibition of the deployment signal before the predetermined period has expired if the velocity signal exceeds the interrupt threshold.
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9. An air bag system, comprising:
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at least one sensor adapted to provide a sensor signal;
at least one air bag adapted to be deployed in response to said sensor signal; and
at least one control module in communication with said sensor and with said air bag, said control module preventing deployment of said air bag during a predetermined time period following detection of said sensor signal exceeding an initial threshold and deploying said air bag after said predetermined time period has expired and wherein said control module further compares said sensor signal to an interrupt threshold during said predetermined time period, said interrupt threshold being different than said initial threshold, said control module deploying said air bag prior to expiration of said predetermined time period if said sensor signal exceeds said interrupt threshold. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification