Communication control device for passenger protection device

• US 7,606,647 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2005
• Issued: 10/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Keihin Corporation (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Keihin Corporation (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Takahashi, Masaaki, Ozawa, Hideaki, Seikai, Hiroshi, Narita, Syoji
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sriraman; Nikhil
• Application Number:
  US11/222,481
• Publication Number:
  US 20060058959A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,503 Days
• Field of Search: 701/216, 701/45, 701/36, 180/271, 180/274, 280/735, 340/436
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01184 Fault detection or diagnostic circuits in power circuits B60R2021/01129
• 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 21/0136 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 communication control device for passenger protection device includes a satellite sensor unit and an ECU being connected to the satellite sensor unit via a communication line. The satellite sensor unit includes a satellite sensor main body, which detects an impact against a vehicle, and a controller, which obtains a measurement from a signal detected by the satellite sensor main body. The ECU includes a main controller which determines deployment of a passenger protection device. The controller of the satellite sensor unit is adapted to compares the measurement or a calculated value which is calculated based on the measurement with a preset reference value range, and, when the measurement or the calculated value is within the reference value range, the controller transmits a communication from the satellite sensor unit to the ECU at an interval which is longer than a predetermined time interval.

Claims

1. A communication control device for passenger protection device, comprising:

a satellite sensor unit which is installed at a predetermined position on a vehicle and comprises a satellite sensor main body, which detects an impact against the vehicle to provide an impact signal, and a controller, which provides a measured impact data signal in response to the impact signal; and

an ECU which is installed at a predetermined position on the vehicle and comprises a main controller which determines deployment of a passenger protection device, the ECU being connected to the satellite sensor unit via a communication line, wherein

the controller is constructed and arranged to compare a comparing impact value related to the measured impact data signal with a preset reference impact value range, when the comparing impact value is in excess of the preset reference impact value range, the controller transmits an output signal from the satellite sensor unit to the ECU at a first time interval, and, when the comparing impact value is within the reference impact value range, the controller transmits the output signal at a second time interval which is longer than the first time interval.

2. The communication control device for passenger protection device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a timer that clocks a predetermined period, wherein,

when the comparing impact value signal changes from a state in which the comparing impact value signal exceeds the reference impact value range to a state in which the comparing impact value is within the reference impact value range, the controller transmits the output signal at the second time interval after the predetermined period has been clocked by the timer.

3. The communication control device for passenger protection device according to claim 1, wherein, when the controller detects a malfunction in the satellite sensor unit, the controller transmits the output signal at the first time interval.

4. The communication control device for passenger protection device according to claim 2, wherein, when the controller detects a malfunction in the satellite sensor unit, the controller transmits the output signal at the first time interval.

5. The communication control device for passenger protection device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a timer that clocks a waiting time for changing the time interval of the transmitted output signal, wherein,

when the comparing impact value signal changes from a state in which the comparing impact value signal exceeds the reference impact value range to a state in which the comparing impact value signal is within the reference impact value range, the controller transmits the output signal at the second time interval after the waiting time has been clocked by the timer.