Safety device for motor vehicles

• US 8,180,531 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2006
• Issued: 05/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Lucas, Bernhard, Meister, Dirk, Wilhelm, Ulf, Ahlrichs, Ulrike
• Primary Examiner(s): TO, TOAN C
• Application Number:
  US12/097,680
• Publication Number:
  US 20090299578A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,007 Days
• Field of Search: 701/45, 701/48, 701/70
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01259 Brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01322 comprising variable thresholds, e.g. depending from other collision parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01332 by frequency or waveform analysis
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/02 Active or adaptive cruise control system; Distance control
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/022 Collision avoidance systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/024 Collision mitigation systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/22 initiated by contact of vehicle, e.g. bumper, with an external object, e.g. another vehicle , or by means of contactless obstacle detectors mounted on the vehicle

Abstract

A safety device for motor vehicles includes an impact detection system and a triggering device for triggering a braking operation as a function of a signal of the impact detection system characterized in that the triggering device is designed for the purpose of triggering the braking operation when the impact detection system indicates the beginning of an impact.

Claims

1. A safety device for a motor vehicle, comprising:

an impact detection system configured to measure an acceleration of the vehicle caused by an impact; and

a triggering device adapted to trigger a braking operation as a function of a signal of the impact detection system;

wherein the triggering device is configured to trigger the braking operation when the impact detection system indicates a beginning of an impact.

2. The safety device according to claim 1, wherein the impact detection system is part of an airbag system and is also configured to activate an airbag.

3. A safety device for a motor vehicle, comprising:

an impact detection system;

a triggering device adapted to trigger a braking operation as a function of a signal of the impact detection system, wherein the triggering device is configured to trigger the braking operation when the impact detection system indicates a beginning of an impact;

a position-finding system adapted to locate obstacles in front of the vehicle; and

a collision prediction device configured to predict an imminent collision with an obstacle, wherein triggering of the braking operation by the triggering device is dependent on a result of the collision prediction.

4. The safety device according to claim 3, wherein the impact detection system includes at least one acceleration sensor configured to measure the acceleration of the vehicle caused by the impact, and the triggering device is configured to trigger the braking operation when the acceleration exceeds a threshold value and to vary the threshold value as a function of the result of the collision prediction.

5. The safety device according to claim 4, wherein the impact detection system is part of an airbag system and is also configured to activate an airbag, the triggering device configured to vary the threshold value for triggering the airbag system as a function of the result of the collision prediction.