Method for actuating a reversible vehicle occupant protection means in a motor vehicle

• US 7,353,905 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2005
• Issued: 04/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Company LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Hinrichs, Wolfgang, Mammel, Bernd, Justen, Rainer, Eberle, Walter, Woldrich, Markus, Roehm, Hans, Villino, Guido
• Primary Examiner(s): Ilan; Ruth
• Application Number:
  US11/281,060
• Publication Number:
  US 20060076178A1
• Time in Patent Office: 874 Days
• Field of Search: 280/734, 280/735, 180/271, 180/274, 180/282, 701/45, 701/91, 342/72
• US Class Current: 180/271
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01252 Devices other than bags
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01259 Brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01311 monitoring the braking system, e.g. ABS
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01313 monitoring the vehicle steering system or the dynamic control system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01322 comprising variable thresholds, e.g. depending from other collision parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/469 reusable
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0132 responsive to vehicle motion parameters , e.g. to vehicle longitudinal or transversal deceleration or speed value
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for actuating a reversible vehicle occupant protection means in a motor vehicle having a driving state sensor system and a reversible vehicle occupant protection means. The reversible vehicle occupant protection means can be triggered before the collision time and as a result moved into an effective position. For this purpose, the driving state data are monitored with respect to a state of emergency braking, and when the state of emergency braking is detected the vehicle occupant protection system is actuated. In addition, a state of oversteering and a state of understeering are determined by the data processing device. The reversible vehicle occupant protection system is actuated when the data processing device detects the state of emergency braking and/or the state of oversteering and/or the state of understeering.

Claims

1. A method for actuating a reversible protection system in a motor vehicle having a sensor system and a reversible protection system which can be triggered before a collision and, as a result, moved into an effective position, comprising:

monitoring a first control signal of a brake boosting system and a second control signal of a brake light switch with the sensor system,

setting a longitudinal protection signal to an active state when an emergency braking operation, existing when both the first control signal and the second control signal are active, is detected, and

triggering the reversible protection system when the emergency braking operation is detected.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the brake boosting system brings about an intervention into a brake system in predefined critical situations by means of a control signal, and wherein the control signal of the brake boosting system or an information signal which is transmitted by the brake boosting system to a data bus is used to determine the emergency braking operation.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first control signal of the brake boosting system and the second control signal of the brake light switch are made available on a data bus.

4. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first control signal of the brake boosting system and the second control signal of the brake light switch are checked by a data processing device.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the protection system comprises protection means which can be actuated for the preventive protection of individuals other than occupants of the motor vehicle.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising monitoring states of oversteering and understeering, wherein the reversible protection system is triggered when any of emergency braking operation, oversteering, and understeering is detected.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein, by means of the emergency braking operation and the states of understeering and oversteering, a direction from which a maximum hazard is expected is determined, and wherein the vehicle occupant protection system is actuated in such a way that a protective effect is provided in accordance with the direction from which the maximum hazard is expected.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein a motor vehicle speed is determined, and wherein the reversible protection system is triggered only if the vehicle is additionally at a minimum speed.

9. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the state of oversteering is determined by evaluating an altitude angle.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the altitude angle is determined from wheel speeds, a yaw rate, and a lateral acceleration.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the protection system is at least one of an electric seat adjustment device, an electric adjustment device for orifices in the vehicle, a reversible seatbelt pretensioner, and an electrically adjustable impact protection device.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the protection system is an electric seat adjustment device and/or an electric adjustment device for orifices in the vehicle and/or a reversible seatbelt pretensioner and/or an electrically adjustable impact protection device.

13. A method for actuating a reversible vehicle occupant protection means, in a motor vehicle having a sensor system which senses driving state data, before a collision time and, as a result, moving the vehicle occupant protection system into an effective position, comprising:

monitoring the driving state data with respect to understeering, which is critical for driving dynamics, and

triggering the vehicle occupant protection system when the understeering, which is critical for driving dynamics, is detected,

wherein the state of understeering is determined by means of an evaluation of the difference formed between an angle which describes a change in the actual direction of travel, and the steering angle,

wherein the angle which describes a change in the actual direction of travel is the Ackermann angle, and

wherein the state of understeering is monitored by means of two separate algorithms which are each based on different calculations of the Ackermann angle, and the results of the two algorithms are logically linked.