System for triggering restraining means

• US 7,400,958 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2003
• Issued: 07/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Recknagel, Rolf-Juergen, Lich, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu; Yonel
• Application Number:
  US10/600,853
• Publication Number:
  US 20040059487A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,852 Days
• Field of Search: 701 45- 47, 701/36, 280/728.1, 280734-735, 180/271, 180/274, 180/282, 340/425.5, 340435-436
• US Class Current: 701/45
• 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
• 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

Abstract

A system for triggering restraining means which has at least one impact sensor and at least one pedestrian-impact sensor, signals being transmitted from these sensors to a processor which is configured such that the processor triggers the restraining means as a function of a linkage of the signals.

Claims

1. A system for triggering at least one restraining device comprising:

at least one non-pedestrian-impact sensor for transmitting a first signal;

at least one pedestrian-impact sensor for transmitting a second signal; and

a processor for receiving the first and second signals, the processor being adapted to trigger the at least one restraining device as a function of a combination of the first and second signals,

wherein the at least one non-pedestrian-impact sensor includes an acceleration sensor, and

wherein a first one of the at least one pedestrian-impact sensor is situated in a rear bumper of a vehicle, and a second one of the at least one pedestrian-impact sensor extends across an entire side of the vehicle.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the processor determines a crash type and a crash severity from the combination for the triggering of the restraining device.

3. The system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one of (a) at least one passenger sensor and (b) at least one precrash sensor, wherein the processor, in the triggering of the restraining device, further takes signals from the at least one of (a) and (b) into account.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one pedestrian-impact sensor is situated in a front bumper of a vehicle.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one pedestrian-impact sensor is configured as a side-impact sensor.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one non-pedestrian-impact sensor is embodied in a control device.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one non-pedestrian-impact sensor includes a peripheral sensor.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one non-pedestrian-impact sensor includes a deformation sensor.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the deformation sensor includes one of a piezo sensor, an optical sensor, a temperature sensor, and a pressure sensor.

10. The system according to claim 8, wherein the acceleration sensor is one of a micromechanical sensor and a switch.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the pedestrian-impact sensor includes at least one of a piezo-foil, a strain gauge, an optical sensor, and a sensor of composite.

12. The system according to claim 5, wherein the at least one pedestrian-impact sensor is situated in a trim molding of a vehicle.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one restraining device includes at least one of an airbag and a belt tightener.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein the processor triggers the at least one restraining device in a gradual manner.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein the processor triggers a particular one of a plurality of restraining devices based on a passenger weight.

16. The system according to claim 3, wherein the at least one precrash sensor includes at least one of an ultrasound sensor, a video sensor, and a radar sensor.

17. The system according to claim 1, wherein the restraining device is a vehicle-occupant restraining device.