Restraint and fuel system cutoff control module

• US 6,640,174 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2001
• Issued: 10/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Cooprider, Troy Otis, Schondorf, Steven Yellin, Gaboury, Scott Howard, Najor, Rene A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Louis-Jacques, Jacques H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Broadhead, Brian J.
• Application Number:
  US09/773,286
• Publication Number:
  US 20020103590A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,000 Days
• Field of Search: 701/45, 701/29, 701/48, 701/31, 701/35, 180/271, 180/274, 180/279, 180/284
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/14 responsive to accident or emergency, e.g. deceleration, tilt of vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01163 Insufficient current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01184 Fault detection or diagnostic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01252 Devices other than bags
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over

Abstract

A restraint and fuel pump cutoff control system is disclosed wherein a restraint control module controls the restraint system such as an air bag deployment system and a fuel system power supply based upon data inputs from sensors positioned at various locations on the vehicle. When data received from the sensors indicates that a collision event has occurred and has reached the predetermined level of severity, power to the fuel system is cut off to prevent undesired pumping of fuel. If power is interrupted during a collision event, the fuel system will be cut off and remain cut off until reset by turning the ignition switch to off and then to run/start indicating a clean shutdown. The restraint control module utilizes collision data profiles to distinguish between power shutdowns occurring during a collision event and power shutdowns occurring when only background data is being received from the sensors.

Claims

1. A method of discriminating between a normal power interruption to a restraint control module and a collision induced power interruption to the restraint control module comprising:

setting a digital input bit of a microprocessor in a first state when a normal power interruption occurs;

monitoring by the microprocessor for power interruption to the restraint control module while powered;

monitoring an algorithm programmed into the microprocessor that checks sensor output data to determine whether a collision event has occurred, and upon determination that a power interruption has occurred checking the algorithm to determine whether the power interruption occurred during a collision event, setting the digital input bit to a second state to indicate that the power interruption occurred during a collision event, and

preventing powering up of a system of the vehicle controlled by the microprocessor when the digital bit is in the second state.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the system that is prevented from powering up is the fuel pump.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the sensors provide data to the microprocessor relating to crash severity/safing.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the restraint control module controls at least one air bag inflation system.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the algorithm has collision profile data that is stored in memory and compared to the sensor output data to determine if a collision event has occurred.

6. A combined restraint control and fuel system cutoff control module for a vehicle, comprising:

a restraint control module connected to a power supply when an ignition switch of the vehicle is in its on position and start position, the restraint control module having a microprocessor that is programmed with an algorithm that is used to detect a collision event;

at least one sensor that provides acceleration/deceleration data to the microprocessor;

the microprocessor controlling deployment of restraints and fuel system cutoff based upon analysis by the algorithm of acceleration/deceleration data received by the microprocessor, the microprocessor monitoring whether the connection of the restraint control module to the power supply is interrupted and whereupon the microprocessor further determines whether the interruption occurred during a collision even or is a normal power interruption, if it is determined that the interruption occurred during a collision event, the microprocessor enables the fuel system cutoff until the ignition switch is manipulated by an operator to reset the fuel system cutoff.

7. The combined restraint control and fuel system cutoff control module of claim 6 wherein the algorithm has sensor output profiles to which acceleration/deceleration data from at least one sensor is compared to detect the collision event.

8. The combined restraint control and fuel system cutoff control module of claim 6 wherein power interruptions that are of short duration occurring during a collision event are detected and cause the fuel system cutoff to prevent operation of the fuel system until the ignition is normally turned off and then to its on or start position.

9. The combined restraint control and fuel system cutoff control module of claim 6 wherein at least one sensor provides data to the microprocessor relating to crash severity/safing.

10. The combined restraint control and fuel system cutoff control module of claim 6 wherein the microprocessor is linked to a memory storage apparatus that stores acceleration/deceleration data when a collision event occurs for subsequent analysis until the ignition switch is cycled off and on.

11. The combined restraint control and fuel system cutoff control module of claim 10 wherein the system has a backup power supply for powering the restraint control and memory storage apparatus, the backup power supply being enabled when the vehicle power supply is interrupted.

12. The combined restraint control and fuel system cutoff control module of claim 6 wherein the restraint control module controls at least one air bag inflation system.