Device for activating personal protection means

• US 7,584,036 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2004
• Issued: 09/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Roelleke, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Dalena
• Application Number:
  US10/582,181
• Publication Number:
  US 20070124047A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,867 Days
• Field of Search: 701 45- 47, 180/268, 180/271, 180/282, 280/734, 280/735, 307/9.1, 307/10.1
• 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 21/01332 by frequency or waveform analysis
• 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 21/0156 by deceleration

Abstract

A device for activating personal protection devices activates the personal protection devices as a function of a delay between a first signal from an impact sensor system situated in the vehicle front and a second signal from a centrally located acceleration sensor system, the first and second signals each identifying an impact.

Claims

1. A device for activating a personal protection device, comprising:

an arrangement configured to activate the personal protection device as a function of a delay between a first signal from an impact sensor system situated in a front of a vehicle and a second signal from a centrally located acceleration sensor system, the first and second signals each identifying an impact.

2. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the arrangement is configured to determine a crash severity as a function of a delay and to activate the personal protection device as a function of the crash severity.

3. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the arrangement initiates a deployment algorithm as a function of the first signal.

4. The device as recited in claim 3, wherein the arrangement is configured to determine a size of an impact object as a function of the delay and influences the deployment algorithm as a function of the size.

5. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the arrangement takes the delay into account in determining a site of impact.

6. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the impact sensor system includes at least one of a contact sensor system, an acceleration sensor system, and an environment sensor system.

7. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the impact sensor system is distributed on a front of the vehicle.

8. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the arrangement is configured to determine a crash severity as a function of a delay and to activate the personal protection device as a function of the crash severity,

the arrangement initiates a deployment algorithm as a function of the first signal, and

the arrangement is configured to determine a size of an impact object as a function of the delay and influences the deployment algorithm as a function of the size.

9. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the arrangement takes the delay into account in determining a site of impact,

the impact sensor system includes at least one of a contact sensor system, an acceleration sensor system, and an environment sensor system, and

the impact sensor system is distributed on a front of the vehicle.

10. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the arrangement is configured to determine a crash severity as a function of a delay and to activate the personal protection device as a function of the crash severity,

the arrangement initiates a deployment algorithm as a function of the first signal,

the arrangement is configured to determine a size of an impact object as a function of the delay and influences the deployment algorithm as a function of the size,

the arrangement takes the delay into account in determining a site of impact,

the impact sensor system includes at least one of a contact sensor system, an acceleration sensor system, and an environment sensor system, and

the impact sensor system is distributed on a front of the vehicle.