START CONTROLLING METHOD FOR A PASSENGER PROTECTION SYSTEM, START CONTROLLING SYSTEM FOR A PASSENGER PROTECTION SYSTEM, AND RECORDING MEDIUM FOR RECORDING A START CONTROLLING PROGRAM FOR A PASSENGER PROTECTION SYSTEM

• US 6,502,026 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2001
• Issued: 12/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bosch Automotive Systems Corporation (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Bosch Electronics Corporation (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Inventors: Kanameda, Yasumasa
• Primary Examiner(s): Louis-Jacques, Jacques H.
• Application Number:
  US09/860,615
• Publication Number:
  US 20010021890A1
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36, 701/45, 701/46, 280/734, 280/735, 280/731, 280/728.1, 180/271, 180/282, 180/274, 180/268, 340/436, 340/438, 307/10.1
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01322 comprising variable thresholds, e.g. depending from other collision parameters
• 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 21/0133 by integrating the amplitude of the input signal

Abstract

If deceleration in excess of a predetermined value is detected (step 104 in FIG. 2), a speed integral value ΔV as time integration of the deceleration is calculated (step 110 in FIG. 2). A segment length of a characteristic curve of the speed integral value ΔV in a predetermined range is calculated (steps 112, 114 in FIG. 2) . If it is decided that the segment length is smaller than a predetermined value l₂ (step 116 in FIG. 2), the crash is decided as the low speed crash, etc. other than a soft crash. An air bag is inflated if the speed integral value ΔV exceeds a predetermined threshold value V_TH, whereas the speed integral value ΔV is incremented by a predetermined value α (step 118 in FIG. 2) if it is decided that the segment length exceeds l₂ (step 116 in FIG. 2). Then, if it is decided that the speed integral value ΔV exceeds the threshold value V_TH (step 112 in FIG. 2), inflation of the air bag is executed to detect generation of the soft crash.

Claims

1. A start controlling method for controlling a start of a passenger protection system for protecting passengers in a vehicle, the passenger protection system being started in response to a start signal, said start controlling method comprising:

calculating a speed integral value by integrating a deceleration of the vehicle with respect to time;

calculating a value of a segment length of change in an integral value in a predetermined range of the speed integral value relative to an elapsed time; and

deciding a type of crash by comparing the value of the segment length with a reference value.

2. A start controlling system for controlling a start of a passenger protection system for protecting passengers in a vehicle, the passenger protection system being started in response to a start signal, said start controlling system comprising:

a deceleration deciding means for deciding whether or not a deceleration of the vehicle exceeds a predetermined magnitude;

an integrating means for integrating the deceleration with respect to time to calculate a speed integral value if it has been decided by said deceleration deciding means that the deceleration exceeds the predetermined magnitude;

a segment length calculating means for calculating a value of a segment length of change in a predetermined range of the speed integral value relative to an elapsed time;

a segment length deciding means for deciding whether or not the value of the segment length exceeds a predetermined value;

an incrementing means for adding a predetermined increment value to the speed integral value at a point in time to derive a value if it has been decided by the segment length deciding means that the value of the segment length exceeds the predetermined value; and

a decision starting means for generation the start signal for the passenger protection system if the value derived by said incrementing means exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

3. A start controlling system according to claim 2, wherein said decision starting means comprises:

a threshold value deciding means for deciding whether or not the value derived by said incrementing means exceeds the predetermined threshold value; and

a start signal generating means for generating the start signal for the passenger protection system if it has been decided by said threshold value deciding means that the value derived by said incrementing means exceeds the predetermined threshold value.

4. A start controlling system according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined value employed by said segment length deciding means is a segment length of change in an integral value in a predetermined range of another speed integral value, the another speed integral value being derived from an integral of time of deceleration of the vehicle in a low speed crash, relative to the elapsed time.

5. A starting controlling system according to claim 3, wherein the predetermined value employed by said segment length deciding means is the segment length of change in an integral value in a predetermined range of another speed integral value, the another speed integral value being derived from an integral of time of deceleration of the vehicle in a low speed crash, relative to the elapsed time.

6. A start controlling system for controlling a start of a passenger protection system for protecting passengers in a vehicle, the passenger protection system being started in response to a start signal, said start controlling system comprising:

a central processing unit operable to;

read a predetermined program and execute predetermined processes by executing the predetermined program,

calculate a speed integral value by integrating a deceleration of the vehicle with respect to time,

calculate a value of a segment length of change in an integral value in a predetermined range of the speed integral value relative to an elapsed time,

compare the value of the segment length with a reference value, the reference value being a segment length of change in an integral value in a predetermined range of another speed integral value, the another speed integral value being derived from an integral of time of deceleration of the vehicle in a low speed crash relative to the elapsed time,

decide that a type of crash is a soft crash if the value of the segment length is larger than the reference value,

decide whether or not the speed integral value exceeds a predetermined threshold value if it has been decided that the type of crash is the soft crash, and

output a digital start signal for the passenger protection system if it has been decided that the speed integral value exceeds the predetermined threshold value;

a memory device operable to store a program to be executed by said central processing unit, such that the program can be read by said central processing unit;

a digital/analogue converter operable to convert the digital start signal supplied from said central processing unit into an analogue signal; and

an interface circuit operable to convert the analogue signal from said digital/analogue converter into a predetermined signal which is suited for the passenger protection system.

7. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for use with a computer for controlling a start of a passenger protection system for protecting passengers in a vehicle, said computer program comprising:

computer readable program code operable to cause the computer to decide whether or not a deceleration exceeds a predetermined magnitude;

computer readable program code operable to cause the computer to integrate the deceleration with respect to time to calculate a speed integral value if it has been decided that the deceleration exceeds the predetermined magnitude;

computer readable program code operable to cause the computer to calculate a value of a segment length of an integral value of change in a predetermined range of the speed integral value relative to an elapsed time;

computer readable program code operable to cause the computer to decide whether or not the value of the segment length exceeds a predetermined value;

computer readable program code operable to cause the computer to add a predetermined increment value to the speed integral value at a point in time if it has been decided that the value of the segment length exceeds the predetermined value;

computer readable program code operable to cause the computer to decide whether or not a sum of the speed integral value and the predetermined increment value exceeds a predetermined threshold value; and

computer readable program code operable to cause the computer to generate a start signal for starting the passenger protection system if it has been decided that the speed integral value exceeds the predetermined threshold value.

8. A computer program according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined value is a segment length of change in an integral value in a predetermined range of another speed integral value, the another speed integral value being derived from an integral of time of deceleration of the vehicle in a low speed crash, relative to the elapsed time.