Method for operating a pre-crash sensing system with protruding contact sensor

• US 7,260,461 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2005
• Issued: 08/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Rao, Manoharprasad K., Bauch, David, Cuddihy, Mark, Brown, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Black; Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Peche; Jorge O
• Application Number:
  US11/163,796
• Publication Number:
  US 20070100527A1
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 701/45, 180/274, 180/271, 180/735, 280/734, 280/735, 280/728.1, 280/777, 361/1
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/483 with obstacle sensors of electric or electronic type
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0004 Frontal collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01345 using mechanical sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0136 responsive to actual contact with an obstacle , e.g. to vehicle deformation, bumper displacement or bumper velocity relative to the vehicle monitoring crash strength in combination with passenger seat detection B60R21/01558
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01544 detecting seat belt parameters, e.g. length, tension or height-adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/34 Protecting non-occupants of a vehicle, e.g. pedestrians B60R19/02 takes precedence

Abstract

A method of operating a restraint system includes classifying a collision into a collision classification, generating a protruding contact sensor output and deploying the restraint system in response to the contact sensor output and the output classification. The method may also use a pre-crash sensor with or without classification and deploy the restraint system in response to the pre-crash sensor signal and the protruding contact sensor signal.

Claims

1. A method of operating a restraint system comprising:

classifying a collision into a collision classification;

generating a contact sensor output from a contact sensor protruding from an exterior surface of the vehicle; and

deploying the restraint system in response to the protruding contact sensor output and the collision classification.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising determining an occupant class and wherein deploying comprises deploying the restraint system in response to the protruding contact sensor output, the collision classification and the occupant class.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of classifying comprises monitoring a host vehicle state.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising extending said protruding contact sensor above a predetermined vehicle velocity.

5. A method as recited in claim 4 wherein the predetermined vehicle velocity is about 15 miles an hour.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein deploying a restraint system comprises activating a seatbelt pretensioner.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the protruding contact sensor output corresponds to a sensor force.