Vehicle collision damage reduction system
First Claim
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 at least a portion of the collision energy to which a vehicle occupant is exposed to in a secondary collision following a vehicle collision; and
means for controlling the collision absorbing energy means by outputting an operational command, be ore the collision, on the basis of one of an object detecting means and the collision danger level means, wherein the collision energy absorbing means for a vehicle occupant is a mechanism for shortening the steering column at least in part in the axial direction, so as to increase the distance between the occupant and one of the steering column and a shaft of the steering column.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
50 Citations
13 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 at least a portion of the collision energy to which a vehicle occupant is exposed to in a secondary collision following a vehicle collision; and
means for controlling the collision absorbing energy means by outputting an operational command, be ore the collision, on the basis of one of an object detecting means and the collision danger level means, wherein the collision energy absorbing means for a vehicle occupant is a mechanism for shortening the steering column at least in part in the axial direction, so as to increase the distance between the occupant and one of the steering column and a shaft of the steering column. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
-
-
5. A vehicle collision damage reduction system comprising:
-
an object detector for sequentially detecting distance information to an object to be impacted moving relatively;
a mechanism capable of shortening a steering column at least in part in its axial direction, so as to increase the distance between a vehicle occupant and one of the steering column and a haft of the steering column; and
an electronic control unit for determining a collision danger level using the distance information and or outputting an operational command in response to the collision danger level to adjust the axial length of the steering wheel column. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A vehicle collision damage reduction system comprising:
-
an object detector for sequentially detecting distance information to an object to be impacted by the vehicle; and
an electronic control unit for determining a collision danger level using the distance information and for outputting an operational command, before the collision, to activate a safety device in response to the collision danger level, wherein the safety device further comprises a mechanism capable of shortening a steering column at least in part on its axial direction, so as to increase the distance between a vehicle occupant and one of the steering column and a shaft of the steering column. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
-
Specification