Vehicle occupant protection system
First Claim
1. A vehicle occupant protection system comprising:
- a plurality of satellite sensors for detecting a vehicle condition;
a control unit for determining an occurrence of a vehicle event based on output signals from the plurality of satellite sensors and for controlling activation of an occupant protection unit; and
a plurality of bus lines bus-connecting the control unit and the plurality of satellite sensors, whereina group of the plurality of satellite sensors including three or more of the plurality of satellite sensors are connected in series via at least one of the plurality of bus lines, andone of the group is operable to determine at least two different vehicle conditions, the one of the group being bus-connected closer to the control unit than the other sensors in the group.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle occupant protection system includes a plurality of satellite sensors, a control unit, and a plurality of bus lines. The satellite sensors detect a vehicle condition in a vehicle collision or a rollover event. The control unit determines an occurrence of the vehicle collision or the rollover event based on output signals from the satellite sensors and controls activation of an occupant protection unit. The bus lines bus-connect the control unit and the satellite sensors. Three or more of the satellite sensors are connected in series. One of the satellite sensors that is connected in series is operable to determine at least two different collision or rollover events and is bus-connected closest to the control unit.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A vehicle occupant protection system comprising:
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a plurality of satellite sensors for detecting a vehicle condition; a control unit for determining an occurrence of a vehicle event based on output signals from the plurality of satellite sensors and for controlling activation of an occupant protection unit; and a plurality of bus lines bus-connecting the control unit and the plurality of satellite sensors, wherein a group of the plurality of satellite sensors including three or more of the plurality of satellite sensors are connected in series via at least one of the plurality of bus lines, and one of the group is operable to determine at least two different vehicle conditions, the one of the group being bus-connected closer to the control unit than the other sensors in the group. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 8, 10, 16)
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4. A vehicle occupant protection system comprising:
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a front sensor located on a front side of a vehicle and capable of detecting acceleration in a front to back direction of the vehicle; at least one satellite sensor capable of detecting a vehicle condition; a control unit for determining an occurrence of a vehicle event based on output signals from the front sensor and the at least one satellite sensor and for controlling activation of an occupant protection unit; and a plurality of bus lines for bus-connecting the control unit and the front sensor and the at least one satellite sensor, wherein the front sensor is connected in series with at least one of the at least one satellite sensor via at least one of the plurality of bus lines and is bus-connected closer to the control unit than the at least one of the at least one satellite sensor connected in series therewith. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 17)
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12. A vehicle occupant protection system comprising:
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a plurality of satellite sensors capable of detecting a vehicle condition; a control unit for determining the occurrence of a vehicle event based on output signals from the plurality of satellite sensors and for controlling activation of an occupant protection unit; and a plurality of bus lines for bus-connecting the control unit and the plurality of satellite sensors, wherein a group of the plurality of satellite sensors includes at least three of the plurality of satellite sensors connected in series through at least one of the plurality of bus lines, the group including at least two common sensors for detecting a common vehicle condition, the at least two common sensors being bus-connected farther from the control unit than the other satellite sensors in the group. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 18)
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Specification