Sensing system for vehicle passive restrants

• US 6,591,932 B1
• Filed: 12/21/1998
• Issued: 07/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Amin, Mukesh J., Drummond, J. B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHRIVER II, JAMES A
• Application Number:
  US09/216,768
• Time in Patent Office: 1,667 Days
• Field of Search: 280/734, 280/735, 280/806, 180/282, 180/268, 735/041.6
• US Class Current: 180/282
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01302 monitoring vehicle body vibrations or noise
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01327 Angular velocity or angular acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over

Abstract

A sensing system for vehicle passive restraints including a restraints control module (38) in communication with a frontal impact accelerometer (40) and a pair of side impact sensors (46) mounted remotely in satellite sensor housings (44). Also mounted within one of the satellite housings (44) is a roll rate sensor (52), employing a common communication link (48) with one of the side impact sensors (46), for communicating with the restraints control module (38).

Claims

1. A sensor system for use with passive restraints in a vehicle having a longitudinally directed vehicle centerline, the sensor system comprising:

a longitudinal impact sensor located generally adjacent the longitudinally directed vehicle centerline;

a restraints control module in communication with the longitudinal impact sensor;

a first satellite sensor housing mounted in the vehicle spaced from the restraints control module;

a lateral impact sensor mounted in the satellite sensor housing and in communication with the restraints control module via a first communication link; and

a roll rate sensor mounted in the satellite sensor housing and in communication with the restraints control module via the first communication link.

2. The sensor system of claim 1 further including a second satellite sensor housing mounted in the vehicle spaced from the first restraints control module, and a second lateral impact sensor mounted in the second satellite sensor housing and in communication with the restraints control module via a second communication link.

3. The sensor system of claim 2 wherein the first satellite sensor housing is mounted on a first side of the vehicle centerline and the second satellite sensor housing is mounted on a second side of the vehicle centerline.

4. The sensor system of claim 3 wherein the first satellite sensor housing is adapted to be mounted in a first vehicle side door and the second satellite housing is adapted to be mounted in a second vehicle side door.

5. The sensor system of claim 4 wherein the roll rate sensor is a vibrating tuning fork sensor that is adapted to sense rotational motion of the vehicle about an axis that is in a direction generally parallel with the vehicle centerline.

6. The sensor system of claim 1 wherein the longitudinal impact sensor is mounted to the restraints control module.

7. The sensor system of claim 1 wherein the roll rate sensor is a vibrating ceramic rod sensor that is adapted to sense rotational motion of the vehicle about an axis that is in a direction generally parallel with the vehicle centerline, said sensed rotational motion being used by the control module to determine whether a vehicle rollover condition exists.

8. A sensor system for use with passive restraints in a vehicle having a longitudinally directed vehicle centerline, the sensor system comprising:

a longitudinal impact sensor located generally adjacent the longitudinally directed vehicle centerline;

a restraints control module in communication with the longitudinal impact sensor;

a first satellite sensor housing mounted in the vehicle spaced from the restraints control module;

a lateral impact sensor mounted in the satellite sensor housing and in communication with the restraints control module via a first communication link; and

a vibrating tuning fork sensor, mounted in the satellite sensor housing and in communication with the restraints control module via the first communication link, and adapted to sense rotational motion of the vehicle in a direction generally parallel with the vehicle centerline.

9. The sensor system of claim 8 further including a second satellite sensor housing mounted in the vehicle spaced from the first restraints control module, and a second lateral impact sensor mounted in the second satellite sensor housing and in communication with the restraints control module via a second communication link.

10. The sensor system of claim 9 wherein the first satellite sensor housing is adapted to be mounted in a first vehicle side door and the second satellite housing is adapted to be mounted in a second vehicle side door.

11. The sensor system of claim 8 wherein the longitudinal impact sensor is mounted to the restraints control module.

12. A vehicle with a passive restraints system and a longitudinally directed vehicle centerline comprising:

a seat mounted in the vehicle;

a passive restraint located proximate the seat;

a longitudinal impact sensor located generally adjacent the longitudinally directed vehicle centerline;

a restraints control module in communication with the longitudinal impact sensor and with the passive restraint;

a first satellite sensor housing mounted in the vehicle spaced from the restraints control module;

a lateral impact sensor mounted in the satellite sensor housing and in communication with the restraints control module via a first communication link; and

a roll rate sensor mounted in the satellite sensor housing and in communication with the restraints control module via the first communication link.

13. The vehicle of claim 12 further including a second satellite sensor housing mounted in the vehicle spaced from the first restraints control module, and a second lateral impact sensor mounted in the second satellite sensor housing and in communication with the restraints control module via a second communication link.

14. The sensor system of claim 13 wherein the first satellite sensor housing is mounted in a first vehicle side door and the second satellite housing is mounted in a second vehicle side door.

15. The sensor system of claim 12 wherein the longitudinal impact sensor is mounted to the restraints control module.

16. The sensor system of claim 12 wherein the roll rate sensor is a vibrating ceramic rod sensor for sensing rotational motion of the vehicle about an axis that is in a direction generally parallel with the vehicle centerline, said sensed rotational motion being used by the control module to determine whether a vehicle rollover condition exists.

17. The sensor system of claim 16 wherein the passive restraint is a seat belt pretensioner.

18. The sensor system of claim 12 wherein the passive restraint is a seat belt pretensioner.

19. The sensor system of claim 12 wherein the passive restraint is an air bag mounted forward of the seat.

20. The sensor system of claim 12 wherein the passive restraint is an air bag mounted between the seat and a side door of the vehicle.