System for activating passenger-protecting device mounted on automotive vehicle

• US 7,134,521 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2003
• Issued: 11/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Ide, Seiya, Ogata, Yoshihisa
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, David R.
• Application Number:
  US10/614,902
• Publication Number:
  US 20040026151A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,224 Days
• Field of Search: 180/282, 280/735, 701/1, 701/45, 701/46, 701/47, 340/440
• US Class Current: 180/282
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0018 Roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01322 comprising variable thresholds, e.g. depending from other collision parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01327 Angular velocity or angular acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0132 responsive to vehicle motion parameters , e.g. to vehicle longitudinal or transversal deceleration or speed value

Abstract

Angular velocity in a rolling action of a vehicle is detected by an angular velocity sensor, and a difference between two angular velocities detected in a short time interval is calculated. The calculated angular velocity difference is compared with a predetermined threshold value. If the angular velocity difference is larger than the threshold value, a passenger-protecting device is activated. A rolling angle of the vehicle may be calculated by integrating the detected angular velocity, and a combination of the rolling angle and the angular velocity may be compared with a predetermined threshold. If the combination exceeds the threshold, it is determined that the vehicle is rolling over and the passenger-protecting device is activated.

Claims

1. A system for activating a passenger-protecting device mounted on an automotive vehicle according to behavior of the vehicle, the activating system comprising:

an angular velocity sensor for detecting rolling angular velocity of the vehicle;

means for calculating a difference between two angular velocities detected in a predetermined time interval;

means for determining that the vehicle is rolling over when the difference between two angular velocities exceeds a predetermined value, the determining being made solely based on the difference between the two angular velocities; and

means for activating the passenger-protecting device when the determining means determines that the vehicle is rolling over.

2. The system for activating a passenger-protecting device as in claim 1, wherein:

the passenger-protecting device includes at least one device selected from a group consisting of a curtain airbag, a seatbelt with a pretensioner and a device for repeatedly winding a seatbelt by a motor.

3. The system for activating a passenger-protecting device as in claim 1, wherein the predetermined time interval is between 25 and 100 milliseconds.

4. A system for activating a passenger-protecting device mounted on an automotive vehicle according to behavior of the vehicle, the activating system comprising:

an angular velocity sensor for detecting rolling angular velocity of the vehicle;

first means for calculating a difference between two rolling angular velocity values detected in the angular velocity sensor over a predetermined time interval;

second means for calculating a rolling angle of the vehicle based on the angular velocity detected by the angular velocity sensor;

determining means for determining that the vehicle is rolling over, the determining being made first based on whether the difference calculated by the first means for calculating exceeds a predetermined value, and second based on the rolling angle calculated by the second determining means, if the difference does not exceed the predetermined value; and

means for activating the passenger-protecting device when the determining means determines that the vehicle is rolling over.

5. The system for activating a passenger-protecting device as in claim 4, wherein:

the passenger-protecting device includes at least one device selected from a group consisting of a curtain airbag, a seatbelt with a pretensioner and a device for repeatedly winding a seatbelt by a motor.

6. The system for activating a passenger-protecting device as in claim 4, wherein the predetermined time interval is between 25 and 100 milliseconds.

7. A system for activating a passenger-protecting device mounted on an automotive vehicle according to behavior of the vehicle, the activating system comprising:

an angular velocity sensor for detecting a first rolling angular velocity of the vehicle at a first time and for detecting a second rolling angular velocity of the vehicle at a second time after the first time;

a calculating element for determining a difference between the first and second rolling angular velocities;

a roll detector for determining whether the vehicle is rolling over based solely on whether the difference between the first and second rolling angular velocities exceeds a predetermined value; and

an activation element for activating the passenger-protecting device when the roll detector determines that the vehicle is rolling over.

8. The system for activating a passenger-protecting device as in claim 7, wherein the difference between the first and second times is between 25 and 100 milliseconds.

9. The system for activating a passenger-protecting device as in claim 7, wherein:

the passenger-protecting device includes at least one device selected from a group consisting of a curtain airbag, a seatbelt with a pretensioner, and a device for repeatedly winding a seatbelt by a motor.