Process for triggering passenger protection systems

• US 6,563,232 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2001
• Issued: 05/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Temic Telefunken Microelectronic GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Temic Telefunken Microelectronic GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Hussmann, Robert, Baur, Richard, Woehrl, Alfons, Fendt, Guenter
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming, Fritz
• Application Number:
  US09/850,538
• Publication Number:
  US 20010052730A1
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 307/121, 280/735, 701/45-47
• US Class Current: 307/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01068 between different sensors and airbag control unit
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/017 including arrangements for providing electric power to safety arrangements or their actuating means, e.g. to pyrotechnic fuses or electro-mechanic valves

Abstract

A passenger protection system is triggered directly at least when a second stage is reached among at least two different stages of an accident hazard an/or accident force, determined in accordance with sensor signals. Already when a first accident hazard and/or accident force stage is reached, at least an indirect trigger command is sent to individual passenger protection systems, a specified time interval is started, and, in the event of the second accident hazard and/or accident force stage not being reached within the specified time interval, a cancel command is sent to cancel the indirect trigger command. On receipt of such an indirect trigger command the passenger protection systems also start a relevant time interval, and in the event of the cancel command not being received on expiry of the relevant time interval, they automatically activate the triggering of the passenger protection systems.

Claims

1. A process for triggering passenger protection systems in at least two different accident hazard and/or accident force stages determined in line with sensor signals,

a) with the triggering being effected at least when the second accident hazard and/or accident force stage is reached by means of a direct trigger command to the passenger protection systems, wherein

b) if the first accident hazard and/or accident force stage is reached at least an indirect trigger command is sent to individual passenger protection systems, a specified time interval is started, and, in the event of the second accident hazard and/or accident force stage not being reached within the specified time interval, a cancel command is set to cancel the indirect trigger command, and,

c) on receipt of such an indirect trigger command, the respective passenger protection systems also start a relevant time interval, and in the event of the cancel command not being received on expiry of this relevant time interval, the respective passenger protection systems are triggered.

2. The process according to claim 1, wherein if an actual sensor value of the sensor signals falls below the first accident hazard and/or accident force stage, then the cancel command is sent immediately.

3. The process according to claim 1, wherein at a time within the specified time interval in the case of the first accident hazard and/or accident force stage being reached without any change, a new indirect trigger command is sent, the specified time interval is restarted, and the respective passenger protection systems restart the relevant time interval on receipt of the new indirect trigger command.

4. A process for triggering a passenger protection system responsive to sensor signals, comprising:

a) providing sensor signals indicating at least one of a first accident hazard or force stage and a second accident hazard or force stage that is greater than said first accident hazard or force stage;

b) if said sensor signals indicate said second accident hazard or force stage, then providing a direct trigger command;

c) if said direct trigger command is received by said passenger protection system, then triggering an activation of said passenger protection system directly responsive thereto;

d) if said sensor signals indicate said first accident hazard or force stage, then starting a first time interval and providing an indirect trigger command;

e) if said sensor signals do not indicate said second accident hazard or force stage during said first time interval, then providing a cancel command upon expiration of said first time interval;

f) if said indirect trigger command is received by said passenger protection system, then starting a second time interval;

g) if said cancel command is received by said passenger protection system during said second time interval, then cancelling an effect of said indirect trigger command; and

h) if said cancel command is not received by said passenger protection system during said second time interval, then triggering an activation of said passenger protection system upon expiration of said second time interval.