Safety system

• US 8,108,107 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2005
• Issued: 01/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Köhler, Armin, Marchthaler, Reiner, Lich, Thomas, Mack, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): CULBRETH, ERIC D
• Application Number:
  US11/883,712
• Publication Number:
  US 20100063686A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,234 Days
• Field of Search: 280/735, 701/45, 180/274, 180/282
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0132 responsive to vehicle motion parameters , e.g. to vehicle longitudinal or transversal deceleration or speed value
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0152 using strain gauges

Abstract

A safety system for vehicle occupants having a device for determining the position of the vehicle occupant. A status monitor to which the output signals of sensors are conveyed is provided for determining the position of the vehicle occupant, the sensors detecting the acceleration of the vehicle and the weight of the vehicle occupant. A method for controlling a safety system.

Claims

1. A safety system for at least one occupant of a vehicle, comprising:

at least one status monitor for determining a position of the vehicle occupant;

a first sensor for detecting an acceleration of the vehicle and a second sensor for detecting at least one of a weight and a center of gravity of the vehicle occupant, output signals of the first and second sensors being conveyed to the status monitor, wherein the status monitor determines the position of the vehicle occupant based on the output signals of the first and second sensors; and

a control unit configured to receive (i) an output signal of the status monitor regarding the determined position of the vehicle occupant, and (ii) the output signal of the first sensor for detecting the acceleration of the vehicle, wherein the control unit controls activation of a restraining device based on the output signal of the status monitor and the output signal of the first sensor.

2. The safety system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one status monitor includes a Luenberger observer.

3. The safety system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one status monitor includes a Kalman filter.

4. A safety system for at least one occupant of a vehicle, comprising:

at least one status monitor for determining a position of the vehicle occupant;

sensors for detecting an acceleration of the vehicle and at least one of a weight and a center of gravity of the vehicle occupant, output signals of the sensors being conveyed to the status monitor; and

a second status monitor for receiving the output signals of the sensors that measure the acceleration of the vehicle.

5. A safety system for at least one occupant of a vehicle, comprising:

at least one status monitor for determining a position of the vehicle occupant;

sensors for detecting an acceleration of the vehicle and at least one of a weight and a center of gravity of the vehicle occupant, output signals of the sensors being conveyed to the status monitor; and

a control unit to which the output signals of the at least one status monitor are conveyed, and wherein the control unit ascertains from the output signals whether the vehicle occupant is situated in a predetermined space for which a restraining device is not activated in the event the vehicle occupant is situated in the predetermined space.

6. The safety system according to claim 5, further comprising a function module for ascertaining a presence of at least one of a side crash and a rollover crash from the sensor signals.

7. The safety system according to claim 6, further comprising a further function module for processing output signals of the control unit and the function module.

8. The safety system according to claim 7, further comprising a holding element situated between the function module and the further function module.

9. A method for controlling a safety system for at least one occupant of a vehicle, comprising:

detecting a position of the vehicle occupant by at least one status monitor, wherein the status monitor detects the position of the vehicle occupant by analyzing sensor signals of a first sensor which detects an acceleration of the vehicle and a second sensor which detects at least one of a weight and a center of gravity of the vehicle occupant; and

triggering, by a control unit, a restraining device as a function of the position of the vehicle occupant and the signal of the first sensor which detects the acceleration of the vehicle.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

detecting a behavior of the occupant in the form of a model, at least the weight of the occupant, a movement of the center of gravity of the occupant, and a link of the occupant to the vehicle being taken into account in the model.

11. A method for controlling a safety system for at least one occupant of a vehicle, comprising:

detecting a position of the vehicle occupant by at least one status monitor, which analyzes sensor signals of sensors that detect an acceleration of the vehicle and at least one of a weight and a center of gravity of the vehicle occupant; and

triggering a restraining device as a function of the position of the vehicle occupant;

wherein the position of the vehicle occupant is detected by first and second status monitors, the first status monitor analyzing output signals of the sensors which detect the acceleration of the vehicle and the weight of the vehicle occupant, and the second status monitor detecting the acceleration of the vehicle.