Method of triggering a vehicle occupant restraining device

• US 6,848,712 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2002
• Issued: 02/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Maurer, Christian, Niess, Michael, Link, Andrea, Urbahn, Jan, Watzka, Willibald
• Primary Examiner(s): Ilan, Ruth
• Application Number:
  US10/254,918
• Publication Number:
  US 20030057685A1
• Time in Patent Office: 859 Days
• Field of Search: 280/735, 307/10.1, 180/282, 701/45
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01265 Seat belts
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over

Abstract

In a method of triggering a vehicle occupant restraining device, at least one sensor signal generated by a crash sensor is supplied to an analyzing device, which determines the crash severity, and a time for the triggering of the restraining device based on the crash severity. When a first low crash severity occurs, a timer is started and the restraining device is triggered by the analyzing unit only when a higher crash severity is reached during the running time of the timer.

Claims

1. A method of triggering a vehicle occupant restraining device, in which a crash sensor supplies at least one sensor signal to an analyzing device, which determines from the sensor signal a crash severity and a time for triggering of the restraining device, wherein:

when said analyzing device determines that a first crash severity occurs, a timer having a set running time is started; and

when said analyzing device determines that a second crash severity greater than said first crash severity occurs at a point in time which is during the running time of the timer, the restraining device is triggered by the analyzing unit only upon expiration of said running time.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

when a second crash severity greater than said first crash severity occurs after a running time of the timer has expired, the restraining device is triggered by the analyzing unit upon occurrence of said higher crash severity.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the restraining device is triggered by the analyzing unit at the end of a triggering time defined by the timer.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

when defined conditions occur, the timer can be reset; and

after its running time and when the higher crash severity is reached, the timer triggers the restraining device as long as the timer has not yet been reset.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein:

when defined conditions occur, the timer can be reset; and

after its running time and when the higher crash severity is reached, the timer triggers the restraining device as long as the timer has not yet been reset.

6. A method for triggering a vehicle safety device, comprising:

an analyzing device determining occurrence of a crash and a severity thereof;

upon said analyzing device determining occurrence of a low severity crash, starting timing of a fixed time period; and

thereafter, triggering said vehicle safety device immediately upon the later of

expiration of the fixed time period; and

said analyzing device determining occurrence of a high severity crash at a point in time prior to a resetting of timing of the fixed time period.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein resetting of the timing occurs upon fulfillment of conditions confirming that no crash has occurred.

8. A method for triggering a vehicle safety device, comprising:

a crash sensor generating a sensor signal that is indicative of a dynamic parameter associated with a crash;

an analyzing device determining whether said sensor signal exceeds a first, relatively lower, threshold value;

in response to said sensor signal exceeding said first threshold value, starting a timer having a set running time;

subsequent to said sensor signal exceeding said first threshold value, said analyzing device detecting whether said sensor signal becomes greater than a second, relatively higher, threshold value;

when said analyzing device determines that said sensor signal becomes greater than said second threshold value at a point in time which is during said set running time, triggering said safety device upon expiration of said set running time; and

when said analyzing device determines that said sensor signal becomes greater than said second threshold value at a point in time which is after expiration of said set running time, triggering said safety device at said point in time when said sensor signal becomes greater than said second threshold value.

9. A method of triggering a vehicle safety device, comprising:

generating a sensor signal that is indicative of a dynamic parameter associated with a crash;

starting a timer having a set running time in response to detection that said sensor signal exceeds a first threshold value;

an analyzing device generating a triggering demand at a point in time at which it is detected that said sensor signal becomes greater than a second threshold value;

when said point in time occurs during said set running time, triggering said safety device upon expiration of said set running time;

when said point in time occurs after expiration of said set running time, triggering said safety device at said point in time.