Apparatus for triggering personal protection means

• US 7,805,230 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2004
• Issued: 09/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Kuttenberger, Alfred, Theisen, Marc, Groeger, Ulrike, Bunse, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Broadhead; Brian J
• Application Number:
  US10/574,391
• Publication Number:
  US 20070162208A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,259 Days
• Field of Search: 701/45, 701/48
• US Class Current: 701/45
• 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

An apparatus for triggering personal protection means, having a surroundings sensor suite and a contact sensor suite, influences a pedestrian protection algorithm as a function of a first signal of the surroundings sensor suite, and influences a pre-crash algorithm as a function of a second signal of the pedestrian protection algorithm that takes into account a third signal of the contact sensor suite. The apparatus triggers the personal protection means as a function of a fourth signal of the pedestrian protection algorithm and a fifth signal of the pre-crash algorithm.

Claims

1. An apparatus for triggering a personal protection device, comprising:

a surroundings sensor suite;

a contact sensor suite;

a pre-crash system having a pre-crash algorithm that takes into account signals from the surroundings sensor suite for triggering an occupant protection arrangement;

a pedestrian protection system having a pedestrian protection algorithm that takes into account signals from the contact sensor suite for triggering a pedestrian protection arrangement; and

at least one arrangement for influencing the pedestrian protection algorithm as a function of a first signal of the surroundings sensor suite, for influencing the pre-crash algorithm as a function of a second signal of the pedestrian protection algorithm that takes into account a third signal of the contact sensor suite, and for triggering the personal protection device as a function of a fourth signal of the pedestrian protection algorithm and a fifth signal of the pre-crash algorithm;

wherein the personal protection device includes at least one of the occupant protection arrangement and the pedestrian protection arrangement.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first signal indicates an estimate of an impact time.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second signal indicates an impact time.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pre-crash algorithm determines an impact velocity as a function of the second signal.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pedestrian protection algorithm adjusts a first noise threshold as a function of the first signal.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pre-crash algorithm adjusts a second noise threshold as a function of the second signal.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the third signal is a contact signal.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus provides an impact velocity for the pre-crash algorithm and for the pedestrian protection algorithm.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first signal indicates an estimate of an impact time, wherein the second signal indicates an impact time, wherein the pre-crash algorithm determines an impact velocity as a function of the second signal.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the pedestrian protection algorithm adjusts a first noise threshold as a function of the first signal.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the pre-crash algorithm adjusts a second noise threshold as a function of the second signal.

12. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the third signal is a contact signal.

13. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the apparatus provides an impact velocity for the pre-crash algorithm and for the pedestrian protection algorithm.

14. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the pedestrian protection algorithm adjusts a first noise threshold as a function of the first signal, and wherein the pre-crash algorithm adjusts a second noise threshold as a function of the second signal.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the third signal is a contact signal.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the apparatus provides an impact velocity for the pre-crash algorithm and for the pedestrian protection algorithm.

17. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the third signal is a contact signal, and wherein the apparatus provides an impact velocity for the pre-crash algorithm and for the pedestrian protection algorithm.