Method for determining control data for deploying restraint elements in a vehicle prior to a collision

• US 6,516,258 B1
• Filed: 12/06/2000
• Issued: 02/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Herrmann, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US09/647,652
• Time in Patent Office: 790 Days
• Field of Search: 701/45, 701/46, 180/232, 180/268, 180/269, 180/271, 280/734, 280/735, 340/435, 340/436, 340/438, 340/902, 340/903
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01558 monitoring crash strength
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9322 using additional data, e.g. driver condition, road state or weather data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93271 in the front of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/162 event-triggered
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes

Abstract

A method is indicated according to which the triggering of a restraining device or devices in a vehicle can be adjusted to specific characteristics of the vehicle involved in the impending crash in such a way as to furnish optimum protection for the vehicle occupants. To this end, before a crash between two vehicles, each vehicle transmits data concerning its own vehicle-specific characteristics that can affect the course of the crash, and each vehicle receives the vehicle-specific data transmitted by the other vehicle and derives from them control data for triggering its restraining device or devices.

Claims

1. A method for determining control data for triggering at least one restraining device in a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

transmitting information between neighboring vehicles by causing each one of the neighboring vehicles to transmit to each other data relating to vehicle-specific characteristics capable of affecting a course of an impending crash; and

activating the at least one restraining device on the basis of the transmitted information in the event of the crash.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

equipping each vehicle with at least one pre-crash sensor based on a radar principle; and

modulating the vehicle-specific data of each vehicle onto a transmitted signal radiated by the at least one pre-crash sensor of the corresponding vehicle.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of:

preventing a receiver from demodulating the modulated vehicle-specific data until the at least one pre-crash sensor receiving the transmitted signal in one of the vehicles has measured a distance to the other vehicle that is below a preset threshold.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein:

the at least one pre-crash sensor emits one of microwaves, light waves, and ultrasonic waves.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein:

the step of modulating includes the step of modulating the transmitted signal with the vehicle-specific data with respect to one of a frequency, an amplitude, a phase, and a pulse width.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the vehicle-specific data includes at least one of a vehicle weight, a structure of a front of a vehicle body, a rigidity of the vehicle body, a vehicle model, and a vehicle speed.