System and method for deploying a safety system

• US 8,073,596 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2009
• Issued: 12/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Le, Jialiang, Clark, Todd, Rao, Manoharprasad K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Verley, Nicole
• Application Number:
  US12/419,385
• Publication Number:
  US 20100256872A1
• Time in Patent Office: 973 Days
• Field of Search: 701 45- 47, 280/728.1, 280734-735
• US Class Current: 701/45
• 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 system and method are provided for deploying a safety system when a vehicle involved in a front crash may be experiencing rotational velocity. The vehicle may include a number of acceleration and rotational sensors. The vehicle may further include a controller that may be configured to determine if the vehicle is involved in a frontal crash using a combination of the acceleration and rotational sensors. The controller may also be configured to determine if the vehicle experiences rotational energy during the frontal crash using a combination of the acceleration and rotational sensors. The controller may also be configured to deploy vehicle safety systems, including at least one side safety system, if it is determined that the vehicle is involved in a frontal crash and the vehicle is experiencing rotational energy.

Claims

1. A method for deploying a vehicle safety system in a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving at least two front acceleration signals indicative of acceleration along a longitudinal axis about a front end of the vehicle;

receiving a longitudinal acceleration signal indicative of acceleration along a longitudinal axis about a center of gravity of the vehicle;

upon a determination that the front acceleration signals and the longitudinal acceleration signal exceed a front crash threshold, determining a rotational value indicative of rotational velocity about an axis of the vehicle that is normal to a surface of a road; and

deploying a vehicle safety system including deploying at least a front safety system based in part upon the rotational value.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining that the vehicle is experiencing rotational energy when the rotational value exceeds a rotational value threshold.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining a rotational value further comprises:

determining a first velocity using one of the at least two front acceleration signals;

determining a second velocity using another of the at least two front acceleration signals; and

determining the rotational value using the difference between the first and second velocities.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of deploying a vehicle safety system including at least a front safety system comprises:

determining whether the rotational value exceeds a rotational value threshold; and

upon a determination that the rotational value does not exceed the rotational value threshold, deploying only the front safety system.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of deploying a vehicle safety system including at least a front safety system comprises:

determining whether the rotational value exceeds the rotational value threshold; and

upon determination that the rotational value exceeds the rotational value threshold, deploying at least the front safety system and a side safety system.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining a rotational value further comprises:

receiving a lateral signal indicative of acceleration along a lateral axis about a center of gravity of the vehicle;

determining a lateral velocity based upon an integral of the lateral signal;

determining a longitudinal velocity based upon an integral of the longitudinal acceleration signal; and

determining the rotational value based upon the ratio of the lateral velocity to the longitudinal velocity.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of deploying a vehicle safety system including at least a front safety system comprises:

determining whether the rotational value exceeds a rotational value threshold; and

upon a determination that the rotational value does not exceed the rotational value threshold, deploying only the front safety system.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of deploying a vehicle safety system including at least the front safety system comprises:

determining whether the rotational value exceeds a rotational value threshold; and

upon a determination that the rotational value exceeds the rotational value threshold, deploying at least the first safety system and a side safety system.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining a rotational value further comprises:

receiving a sensor signal using at least one rotational sensor, the rotational sensor signal being indicative of the rotational tendency, direction and angular velocity of the vehicle about an axis normal to a surface of a road; and

determining the rotational value using the at least one sensor signal.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of deploying a vehicle safety system including at least a front safety system comprises:

determining whether the rotational value exceeds a rotational value threshold; and

upon a determination that the rotational value does not exceed the rotational value threshold, deploying only the front safety system.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of deploying a vehicle safety system including at least a front safety system comprises:

determining whether the rotational value exceeds a rotational value threshold; and

upon a determination that the rotational value exceeds the rotational value threshold, deploying at least the front safety system and a side safety system.

12. A method for deploying a vehicle safety system in a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving at least two front acceleration signals indicative of acceleration along a longitudinal axis about a front end of the vehicle;

receiving a longitudinal acceleration signal indicative of acceleration along a longitudinal axis about a center of gravity of the vehicle;

determining a frontal rotational severity level using the at least two front acceleration signals when at least the front acceleration signals and the longitudinal acceleration signal exceed a front crash threshold; and

deploying a vehicle safety system including at least a front safety system and a side safety system when the frontal rotational severity level exceeds a rotational severity level threshold.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

determining that the vehicle is experiencing rotational energy when the frontal rotational severity level exceeds the rotational severity level threshold.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of determining the frontal rotational severity level further comprises:

determining a first velocity using one of the at least two front acceleration signals;

determining a second velocity using another of the at least two front acceleration signals; and

determining the frontal rotational severity level using the difference between the first and second velocities.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

receiving a lateral acceleration signal indicative of acceleration along a lateral axis about a center of gravity of the vehicle;

determining a lateral velocity based upon an integral of the lateral acceleration signal;

determining a longitudinal velocity based upon an integral of the longitudinal acceleration signal;

determining a rotational severity ratio based upon the ratio of the lateral velocity and the longitudinal velocity; and

deploying the front safety system and the side safety system of the vehicle safety system when the front and the longitudinal acceleration signals exceed the front crash threshold and the rotational severity ratio exceeds the rotational severity ratio threshold.

16. A system for deploying a vehicle safety system in a vehicle, the system comprising:

at least two front acceleration sensors configured to receive at least two front acceleration signals indicative of acceleration along a longitudinal axis about a front end of the vehicle;

at least one longitudinal acceleration sensor configured to receive at least one longitudinal acceleration signal indicative of acceleration along a longitudinal axis about a center of gravity of the vehicle; and

a controller configured to;

determine a rotational value indicative of rotational velocity about an axis of the vehicle that is normal to a surface of a road when the front acceleration signals and the longitudinal acceleration signal exceed a front crash threshold; and

deploy a front safety system and a side safety system when the rotational value exceeds a rotational value threshold.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine that the vehicle is experiencing rotational energy when the rotational value exceeds the rotational value threshold.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine a first velocity using one of the at least two front acceleration signals;

determine a second velocity using a second of the front acceleration signals; and

determine the rotational value using the difference between the first and second velocities.

19. The system of claim 16 further comprising

a lateral sensor configured to generate a lateral acceleration signal indicative of acceleration along a lateral axis about a center of gravity of the vehicle;

and

the controller further being configured to;

determine a lateral velocity based upon an integral of the lateral acceleration signal;

determine a longitudinal velocity based upon an integral of the longitudinal acceleration signal; and

determine the rotational value based upon the ratio of the lateral velocity to the longitudinal velocity.

20. The system of claim 16 further comprising

a rotational sensor configured to generate a rotational signal indicative of the rotational tendency, direction and angular velocity of the vehicle about an axis normal to a surface of a road;

and

the controller further being configured to;

receive the rotational signal; and

determine the rotational value using the rotational signal.