Safety system for vehicle occupants

• US 7,706,946 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2005
• Issued: 04/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Mehl, Volker, Huber, Thomas, Willig, Rainer, Verhagen, Armin, Schmid, Michael, Hoenle, Stephan, Pitteroff, Roland, Schiebel, Petra, Kroeninger, Mario, Nenninger, Gero, Huber, Joerg-Dieter, Caduff, Urs, Kleuker, Ulf, Kocher, Pascal, Bunse, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Hellner; Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): Algahaim; Helal A
• Application Number:
  US11/630,092
• Publication Number:
  US 20080208413A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,825 Days
• Field of Search: 701/45, 180/271, 340/436
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0006 Lateral collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0025 Pole collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01313 monitoring the vehicle steering system or the dynamic control system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01322 comprising variable thresholds, e.g. depending from other collision parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0132 responsive to vehicle motion parameters , e.g. to vehicle longitudinal or transversal deceleration or speed value

Abstract

A safety system for occupants of a vehicle having, e.g., acceleration sensors and/or pressure sensors for sensing a side crash. The safety system also includes a detector to detect the lateral velocity of the vehicle. The control of the restraining devices of the safety system is able to be influenced by the detected lateral velocity.

Claims

1. A safety system for occupants of a vehicle, comprising:

a side crash sensor including at least one of an acceleration sensor and a pressure sensor, the side crash sensor configured to sense a side crash;

a detector to detect a lateral velocity of the vehicle, control of restraining devices of the safety system being influenced by the detected lateral velocity; and

a function module to generate a pattern, the pattern being compared to expected data in determining severity of the side crash;

wherein a float angle of the vehicle is ascertained from measured values of the vehicle-dynamics quantity, the float angle being taken into account in the control of the safety system,

wherein the safety system is controlled as a function of the side-crash sensing and the detected lateral velocity, the safety system having a response that is varied based on a determined severity of the side crash, and

wherein in response to a high measured value of the side-crash sensing and a low measured value of the lateral velocity, a triggering algorithm of the safety system is parameterized in a direction of a higher triggering sensitivity.

2. The safety system as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a comparator configured to compare the detected lateral velocity to a specifiable limiting value of the lateral velocity.

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

a storage device which stores limiting values of the lateral velocity as a function of limiting values of the side crash sensor.

6. The safety system as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a comparator configured to compare the detected lateral velocity to a specifiable limiting value of the lateral velocity; and

a storage device to store limiting values of the lateral velocity as a function of limiting values of the side crash sensor.

4. A method for controlling a safety system for occupants of a vehicle, comprising:

sensing a side crash;

acquiring vehicle-dynamics quantities of the vehicle including a lateral velocity of the vehicle;

generating a pattern from measured data;

comparing the pattern to expected data to determine severity of the side crash;

controlling the safety system as a function of the side-crash sensing and the detected lateral velocity, the safety system having a response that is varied based on a determined severity of the side crash; and

ascertaining a float angle of the vehicle from measured values of the vehicle-dynamics quantity, the float angle being taken into account in the control of the safety system;

wherein in response to a high measured value of the side-crash sensing and a low measured value of the lateral velocity, a triggering algorithm of the safety system is parameterized in a direction of a higher triggering sensitivity.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein restraining devices of the safety system are prepared for triggering or are triggered.