Device for activating an actuator system for protecting a pedestrian

• US 7,671,723 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2004
• Issued: 03/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Theisen, Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): BLOUNT, ERIC
• Application Number:
  US10/566,809
• Publication Number:
  US 20070045026A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,063 Days
• Field of Search: 340/436, 340/425.5, 340/435, 340/940, 701/45
• US Class Current: 340/425.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0117 Noise
• 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 device for activating an actuator system for protecting a pedestrian is provided, the device being connected to an environment sensor system and a contact sensor system. The device compares a first signal from the contact sensor system to a threshold. The threshold or the first signal is changed as a function of a second signal of the environment sensor system and the actuator system is activated as a function of the comparison.

Claims

1. A device for activating an actuator system for protecting a pedestrian, the device being connected to an environment sensor system and a contact sensor system, the device, comprising:

an arrangement for performing a first comparison of a first signal from the contact sensor system to a threshold;

an arrangement for comparing the first signal to a noise threshold to ascertain a staffing point for the first comparison;

an arrangement for changing one of the threshold and the first signal as a function of a second signal of the environment sensor system, the actuator system being activated as a function of the comparing; and

an arrangement for changing the threshold in response to passage of a predetermined amount of time.

2. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the first signal itself is used for the first comparison.

3. The device as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

an arrangement for one of differentiating and integrating the first signal for comparison at least once.

4. The device as recited in claim 3, wherein the first signal itself is used for the first comparison.

5. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the second signal includes a relative speed.

6. The device as recited in claim 5, further comprising:

an arrangement for one of differentiating and integrating the first signal for comparison at least once.

7. The device as recited in claim 5, wherein the first signal itself is used for the first comparison.

8. A device for activating an actuator system for protecting a pedestrian, the device being connected to an environment sensor system and a contact sensor system, the device comprising:

an arrangement for performing a first comparison of a first signal from the contact sensor system to a threshold;

an arrangement for changing one of the threshold and the first signal as a function of a second signal of the environment sensor system, the actuator system being activated as a function of the comparing;

an arrangement for comparing the first signal to a noise threshold to ascertain a staffing point for the first comparison; and

an arrangement for determining a starting point for the first comparison from a third signal of the environment sensor system.

9. The device as recited in claim 8, further comprising:

an arrangement for setting the noise threshold as a function of the third signal.

10. The device as recited in claim 8, further comprising:

an arrangement for one of differentiating and integrating the first signal for comparison at least once.

11. The device as recited in claim 8, wherein the first signal itself is used for the first comparison.

12. The device as recited in claim 10, wherein the first signal itself is used for the first comparison.

13. A device for activating an actuator system for protecting a pedestrian, the device being connected to an environment sensor system and a contact sensor system, the device comprising:

an arrangement for performing a first comparison of a first signal from the contact sensor system to a threshold;

an arrangement for changing one of the threshold and the first signal as a function of a second signal of the environment sensor system, the actuator system being activated as a function of the comparing; and

an arrangement for determining a starting point for the first comparison from a third signal of the environment sensor system.

14. A device for activating an actuator system for protecting a pedestrian, the device being connected to an environment sensor system and a contact sensor system, the device comprising:

an arrangement for performing a first comparison of a first signal from the contact sensor system to a threshold;

an arrangement for changing one of the threshold and the first signal as a function of a second signal of the environment sensor system, the actuator system being activated as a function of the comparing; and

an arrangement for changing the threshold in response to passage of a predetermined amount of time, wherein the threshold is raised after passage of the predetermined amount of time without detection of an impact.

15. The device as recited in claim 14, wherein the second signal includes a relative speed.

16. The device as recited in claim 14, further comprising:

an arrangement for one of differentiating and integrating the first signal for comparison at least once.

17. The device as recited in claim 14, wherein the first signal itself is used for the first comparison.

18. The device as recited in claim 15, further comprising:

an arrangement for one of differentiating and integrating the first signal for comparison at least once.

19. The device as recited in claim 18, wherein the first signal itself is used for the first comparison.

20. The device as recited in claim 15, wherein the first signal itself is used for the first comparison.

21. A device for activating an actuator system for protecting a pedestrian, the device being connected to an environment sensor system and a contact sensor system, the device comprising:

an arrangement for performing a first comparison of a first signal from the contact sensor system to a threshold; and

an arrangement for changing the threshold as a function of a second signal of the environment sensor system, the actuator system being activated as a function of the comparing;

wherein the threshold is changed as a function of an impact time predicted based on the second signal.

22. The device as recited in claim 21, wherein the second signal includes a relative speed.