System and method for sensing and deployment control supervision of a safety device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- detecting a target object with a pre-impact collision assessment system;
determining a predicted time to collision;
initiating measurement of an elapsed time value; and
generating a collision signal when a threshold value is exceeded, wherein the threshold value is based on a product of a selectivity value indicative of variability of sensor measurements provided by an impact detection system, a ratio of a constant threshold velocity value and a relative velocity value indicative of velocity of the target object relative to a vehicle, and a calibrated accelerometer constant;
wherein the safety device is inflated at a first rate when a potential collision is detected by the pre-impact collision assessment system, and then inflated at a second rate when the collision signal from the impact detection system is indicative of a collision; and
wherein the safety device is deflated when the elapsed time value exceeds the predicted time to collision and the collision signal is not indicative of a collision.
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Abstract
A system and method of controlling deployment of a safety device for a vehicle. The system may include a pre-impact collision assessment system, an impact detection system, and an inflatable safety device. The safety device may be partially inflated when a collision threat is detected based on a signal from the pre-impact collision assessment system. The inflatable device may be subsequently either more fully inflated or deflated.
37 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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detecting a target object with a pre-impact collision assessment system; determining a predicted time to collision; initiating measurement of an elapsed time value; and generating a collision signal when a threshold value is exceeded, wherein the threshold value is based on a product of a selectivity value indicative of variability of sensor measurements provided by an impact detection system, a ratio of a constant threshold velocity value and a relative velocity value indicative of velocity of the target object relative to a vehicle, and a calibrated accelerometer constant; wherein the safety device is inflated at a first rate when a potential collision is detected by the pre-impact collision assessment system, and then inflated at a second rate when the collision signal from the impact detection system is indicative of a collision; and wherein the safety device is deflated when the elapsed time value exceeds the predicted time to collision and the collision signal is not indicative of a collision. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of controlling deployment of a safety device for a vehicle having a pre-impact collision assessment system and an impact detection system, the method comprising:
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detecting a target object with the pre-impact collision assessment system; determining a potential for collision between the target object and the vehicle; determining a predicted time to collision; determining a degree of confidence of a collision threat with the target object; and generating a collision signal with the impact detection system representing vehicle collision characteristics; wherein the safety device is at least partially inflated when the degree of confidence of the collision threat exceeds a threshold value and the predicted time to collision is less than a safety device deployment time value; and wherein the threshold value is based on a product of a selectivity value indicative of variability of sensor measurements provided by the impact detection system, a ratio of a constant threshold velocity value and a relative velocity value indicative of the velocity of a target object relative to the vehicle, and a calibrated accelerometer constant. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for controlling deployment of a safety device for a vehicle, the system comprising:
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a pre-impact collision assessment system adapted to generate a first signal indicative of potential collision characteristics between a target object and the vehicle; an impact detection system that generates a second signal indicative of actual collision characteristics; an occupant protection system including a safety device having a vent, and an inflator adapted to provide an inflation gas to inflate the safety device; and a controller adapted to receive the first and second signals and control operation of the occupant protection system; wherein the safety device is inflated at a first rate when the first signal is indicative of a potential collision and the second signal is not indicative of an actual collision and (1) inflation gas is provided at a second rate when the second signal exceeds a severity threshold value within a predicted collision time wherein the severity threshold value is based on a product of a selectivity value indicative of variability of sensor measurements provided by the impact detection system, a ratio of a constant threshold velocity value and a relative velocity value indicative of the velocity of a target object relative to the vehicle, and a calibrated accelerometer constant and (2) the vent is opened to deflate the safety device if the second signal is not indicative of a collision having a severity that exceeds a severity threshold value within the predicted collision time. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification