Triggering unit
First Claim
1. A triggering unit to trigger a safety device in a motor vehicle to protect an occupant of the vehicle in an impact situation, in which the vehicle impacts with an impacting object, the triggering unit being configured to actuate the safety device only if the total stiffness between the vehicle and the impacting object exceeds a predetermined stiffness value, the unit incorporating a calculating arrangement to calculate stiffness from the sensed acceleration of the vehicle and sensed relative velocity between the vehicle and impacting object, the stiffness being defined as the quotient between:
- the force between;
the vehicle and the impacting object, and the decrease in distance between the centers of gravity of the vehicle and the impacting object after contact between the vehicle and the impacting object.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A triggering unit is disclosed for use in triggering a safety device in a motor vehicle to protect an occupant of the vehicle in an impact situation in which the vehicle impacts with an impacting object. The triggering unit is configured to actuate the safety device only for total stiffness between the vehicle and the impacting object exceeds a predetermined stiffness value. The unit incorporates a calculating arrangement to calculate stiffness from two or more sensed parameters.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A triggering unit to trigger a safety device in a motor vehicle to protect an occupant of the vehicle in an impact situation, in which the vehicle impacts with an impacting object, the triggering unit being configured to actuate the safety device only if the total stiffness between the vehicle and the impacting object exceeds a predetermined stiffness value, the unit incorporating a calculating arrangement to calculate stiffness from the sensed acceleration of the vehicle and sensed relative velocity between the vehicle and impacting object, the stiffness being defined as the quotient between:
- the force between;
the vehicle and the impacting object, and the decrease in distance between the centers of gravity of the vehicle and the impacting object after contact between the vehicle and the impacting object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
- the force between;
- 5. A triggering unit to trigger a safety device in a motor vehicle to protect an occupant of the vehicle in an impact situation in which the vehicle impacts with an impacting object, the triggering unit being configured to actuate the safety device only if the total stiffness between the vehicle and the impacting object exceeds a predetermined stiffness value, the unit incorporating a calculating arrangement to calculate stiffness from two or more sensed parameters in the form of a sensor to sense relative velocity between the vehicle and the impacting object immediately prior to impact, and an accelerometer provided on the vehicle, the stiffness being calculated as a function of sensed acceleration and as an inverse function of relative velocity and elapsed time.
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11. A triggering unit for triggering a safety device in a vehicle for protecting an occupant of the vehicle in an impact situation in which the vehicle impacts with an impacting object the unit incorporating an accelerometer to determine acceleration applied to the vehicle, and a sensor to sense the relative velocity between the vehicle and the impacting object immediately prior to impact, the triggering unit being configured to actuate the safety device only if the determined acceleration multiplied by relative speed, raised to the power q, where q>
- 0, divided by the time from the start of impact is greater than a predetermined invariable value.
Specification