Method and apparatus for controlling an actuatable restraint device using a side pressure sensor
First Claim
1. An apparatus for controlling an actuatable occupant restraint device of a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
- a central crash acceleration sensor for sensing crash acceleration in a direction generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle at a central vehicle location and providing a first crash acceleration signal indicative thereof;
a side pressure sensor for sensing pressure in a chamber disposed at a side of the vehicle and providing a side pressure signal indicative thereof; and
a controller for actuating the actuatable occupant restraint device in response to the first crash acceleration signal and the side pressure signal,said controller (a) determining a first acceleration value from a moving average of absolute values of the first crash acceleration signal, (b) determining a change in pressure value comprising a change in pressure in said chamber determined from the side pressure signal, and (c) actuating said actuatable occupant restraint device when both said determined first acceleration value exceeds a first threshold and said determined change in pressure value exceeds a second threshold.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for controlling an actuatable occupant restraint device of a vehicle comprises a central crash accelerometer that senses crash acceleration at a vehicle location and that provides a first crash acceleration signal indicative thereof. A side pressure sensor senses pressure in a chamber disposed at a side of the vehicle and provides a side pressure signal indicative thereof. A controller actuates the actuatable occupant restraint device in response to the first crash acceleration signal and the side pressure signal. The controller determines a first moving average of acceleration value comprising a moving average of acceleration in a direction generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle determined from the first crash acceleration signal. The controller determines a change in pressure value comprising a change in pressure in the chamber determined from the side pressure signal. The controller actuates the actuatable occupant restraint device when both the first moving average of acceleration value exceeds a first threshold and the change in pressure value exceeds a second threshold.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. An apparatus for controlling an actuatable occupant restraint device of a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
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a central crash acceleration sensor for sensing crash acceleration in a direction generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle at a central vehicle location and providing a first crash acceleration signal indicative thereof; a side pressure sensor for sensing pressure in a chamber disposed at a side of the vehicle and providing a side pressure signal indicative thereof; and a controller for actuating the actuatable occupant restraint device in response to the first crash acceleration signal and the side pressure signal, said controller (a) determining a first acceleration value from a moving average of absolute values of the first crash acceleration signal, (b) determining a change in pressure value comprising a change in pressure in said chamber determined from the side pressure signal, and (c) actuating said actuatable occupant restraint device when both said determined first acceleration value exceeds a first threshold and said determined change in pressure value exceeds a second threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for controlling actuation of an actuatable occupant restraint device of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
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sensing crash acceleration at a central vehicle location in a direction generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle and providing a first crash acceleration signal indicative thereof; sensing pressure in a chamber disposed at a vehicle side and providing a side pressure signal indicative thereof; determining a first acceleration value from a moving average of absolute values of the first crash acceleration signal; determining a change in pressure value comprising a change in pressure in said chamber determined from the side pressure signal; and actuating said actuatable occupant restraint device when both said determined first acceleration value exceeds a first threshold and said determined change in pressure value exceeds a second threshold. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification