Vehicle collision damage reduction system

• US 6,560,520 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2002
• Issued: 05/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Japan K.K.
• Original Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Aoki, Hiroshi, Fujii, Hiroaki, Yanagi, Eiji, Yokota, Keishi, Ato, Tadayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US10/189,402
• Publication Number:
  US 20020177934A1
• Time in Patent Office: 302 Days
• Field of Search: 701/45, 307/10.1, 280/727, 280/728.1, 280/735, 342/72, 180/282
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2821 having a seat and a base part
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/286 forward facing B60N2/2866 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2863 backward facing
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2884 with protection systems against abnormal g-forces
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4214 longitudinal
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4221 due to impact coming from the front
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42745 of the back-rest B60N2/433 takes precedence; higher part of the back-rest moving together with the headrest B60N2/888
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4279 electric or electronic triggering
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/00 Wheel guards; Radiator guards, e.g. grilles; Obstruction removers; Fittings damping bouncing force in collisions reinforcement elements for side doors B60J5/0412; mudguards B62D
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2019/007 Means for adjusting or regulating the crash absorption capacity of the vehicle, e.g. when detecting an impending collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0023 Offset collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01027 Safing sensors
• 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 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01512 Passenger detection systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01548 sensing the amount of belt winded on retractor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01554 Seat position sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01556 Child-seat detection systems

Abstract

A vehicle collision damage reduction system is provided. The system works by detecting the relative speed between the vehicle and an object, such as another vehicle. A danger level is calculated based on parameters such as speed and distance to the object; the danger level could be at an “emergency level” or at some lower level. Based on the danger level, different corrective measures and the degree of the corrective measures can be adjusted to attempt to minimize occupant injury. For example, the airbag can be adjusted to better protect the occupant, a pre-tensioner can be activated at a certain level, and the inclination of a child restraint seat may be adjusted as well.

Claims

1. A vehicle collision damage reduction system comprising:

means for sequentially detecting distance information to an object to be impacted moving relatively;

means for determining a collision danger level using the distance information;

means for absorbing collision energy in a vehicle structure formed to support part of the vehicle structure and absorbing collision energy applied thereto in a collision; and

means for controlling the collision absorbing energy means by outputting an operational command, before the collision, on the basis of either the object detecting means or the collision danger level means, wherein the collision energy absorbing means is an airbag for at least a portion of the vehicle structure, the airbag being inflatable, before a collision, by an operational command from the controlling means and deforming so as to absorb collision energy applied thereto when the vehicle structure deforms at the collision and wherein the expansion rate or the energy absorbing amount of the airbag is adjustable in response to the collision danger level.

2. A vehicle collision damage reduction system comprising:

an object detector for detecting distance information to an object to be impacted by the vehicle;

an electronic control unit for using the distance information and speed information of at least the speed of the vehicle to determine a collision danger level;

an airbag positioned to support a portion of the vehicle structure for absorbing collision energy applied thereto in a collision, the airbag being inflatable in response to a signal from the electronic control unit, wherein the expansion rate or the energy absorbing amount of the airbag vehicle structure is changed in stages in response to the collision danger level determined by the electronic control unit.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the object detector sequentially detects distance information to an object to be impacted moving relatively.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the airbag is positioned to absorb the impact energy applied to the vehicle in a substantially head on collision.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the airbag is positioned to support part of the energy absorbing structure of the crushable zone of a vehicle structure.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the airbag is accommodated in a case that also absorbs a part of the collision energy.

7. A vehicle collision damage reduction system comprising:

an object detector for sequentially detecting distance information to an object to be impacted moving relatively; and

an electronic control unit for determining a collision danger level using the distance information and for outputting an operational command, before a collision, to activate a safety device in response to the collision danger level, wherein the safety device comprises an airbag positioned to support part of a vehicle structure for absorbing collision energy applied thereto in the collision, the airbag being inflatable, before the collision, by the operational command from the electronic control unit and deforming so as to absorb collision energy applied thereto when the vehicle structure deforms at the collision, wherein the expansion rate or the energy absorbing amount of the airbag is adjustable in response to the collision danger level.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the airbag is positioned to absorb impact energy applied to the vehicle in a substantially head on collision.

9. A vehicle collision damage reduction system comprising:

an object detector for sequentially detecting distance information to an object to be impacted moving relatively; and

an electronic control unit for determining a collision danger level using the distance information and for outputting an operational command, before a collision, to activate a safety device in response to the collision danger level, wherein the safety device comprises an airbag for absorbing collision energy in a vehicle structure formed to support part of the vehicle and for absorbing collision energy applied thereto in the collision, the airbag being inflatable, before the collision, by the operational command from the electronic control unit and deforming so as to absorb collision energy applied thereto when the vehicle structure deforms at the collision, wherein the expansion rate or the energy absorbing amount of the airbag for the vehicle structure is changed in stages in response to the collision danger level obtained from the electronic control unit.