Front passenger knee bolster deployment control

• US 9,744,929 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2015
• Issued: 08/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Rao, Manoharprasad K., Cuddihy, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): FREJD, RUSSELL WARREN
• Application Number:
  US14/951,542
• Publication Number:
  US 20170144621A1
• Time in Patent Office: 643 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01534 using electromagneticwaves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01552 detecting position of specific human body parts, e.g. face, eyes or hands
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01554 Seat position sensors

Abstract

A system comprises a controller for a vehicle. The controller comprises a processor and a memory. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor. The controller is programmed to receive first data values from a first sensor which detects infrared light. The infrared sensor is disposed in a line of sight to a vehicle front passenger foot well. The controller is further programmed to activate a front passenger knee bolster upon determining, based at least in part on the first data values, that an object is present in the front passenger foot well and is in motion. The controller is yet further programmed to deactivate the knee bolster upon determining, based at least in part on the first data values, that there is no motion in the front passenger foot well.

Claims

1. A system comprising a controller for a vehicle, the controller comprising a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor such that the controller is programmed to:

receive first data values from a first sensor to detect infrared light, the first sensor disposed in a line of sight to a front passenger foot well;

activate a front passenger knee bolster and a front passenger airbag upon determining, based at least in part on the first data values, that an object is present in the front passenger foot well and in motion; and

deactivate the knee bolster upon determining, based at least in part on the first data values, that there is no motion in the front passenger foot well.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further programmed to:

receive second data values from a second sensor to detect seat loads, the second sensor disposed in a front passenger seat associated with the front passenger foot well;

compare the second data values from the second sensor to a predetermined weight value; and

deactivate the knee bolster upon determining that the second data values from the second sensor are less than the predetermined weight value.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor includes both an infrared receptor and an infrared emitter.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the first sensor is installed in an interior trim panel bordering the front passenger foot well.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the controller is further programmed to determine that an object is moving in the front passenger foot well, and to activate the knee bolster and the front passenger airbag and to deactivate the knee bolster, solely based on the first data values from the first sensor.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the controller is further programmed to:

place the first data values in a first memory buffer that receives and retains a predetermined number of first data values;

calculate a variance of the most recent first data value received by the buffer relative to the first data values already in the buffer;

add the variance of the most recent first data value to a second buffer;

sum the variances in the second buffer to obtain a motion detection process output; and

determine that the motion detection process output exceeds a pre-determined threshold.

7. A system comprising a controller for a vehicle having a front passenger seat pivotable between a forward facing position and a rearward facing position, the controller comprising a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor such that the controller is programmed to:

receive first data values from a first sensor to detect infrared light, the first sensor disposed in a line of sight to a front passenger foot well;

activate a front passenger position knee bolster and a front passenger airbag upon determining, based at least in part on the first data values, that an object is present in the front passenger foot well and in motion; and

deactivate the front passenger position knee bolster upon determining, based at least in part on the first data values, that there is no motion in the front passenger foot well.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the controller is further programmed to:

receive second data values from a second sensor disposed in a front passenger seat associated with the front passenger foot well;

compare the second data values from the second sensor to a predetermined weight value; and

deactivate the knee bolster upon determining that the second data values from the second sensor are less than the predetermined weight value.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the first sensor includes both an infrared receptor and an infrared emitter and the controller is further programmed to determine both an object presence in the front passenger foot well and an object movement in the front passenger foot well.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the first sensor is installed in an interior trim panel bordering the front passenger foot well.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the controller is further programmed to determine that an object is moving in the front passenger foot well, and to activate the knee bolster and the front passenger airbag and to deactivate the knee bolster, solely based on the first data values from the first sensor.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the controller is further programmed to:

place the first data values in a first memory buffer that receives and retains a predetermined number of first data values;

calculate a variance of the most recent first data value received by the buffer relative to the first data values already in the buffer;

add the variance of the most recent first data value to a second buffer;

sum the variances in the second buffer to obtain a motion detection process output; and

determine that the motion detection process output exceeds a pre-determined threshold.

13. A system comprising:

a controller for a vehicle, the controller comprising a process and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor;

a first sensor to detect infrared light, the first sensor disposed in a line of sight to a front passenger foot well;

a selectively deployable knee bolster disposed on a dashboard and front passenger airbag; and

the controller programmed to;

receive first data values from the first sensor;

activate a front passenger knee bolster and a front passenger airbag upon determining, based at least in part on the first data values, that an object is present in the front passenger foot well and in motion; and

deactivate the front passenger knee bolster upon determining, based at least in part on the first data values, that there is no motion in the front passenger foot well.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the controller is further programmed to:

receive second data values from a second sensor disposed in a front passenger seat associated with the front passenger foot well;

compare the second data values from the second sensor to a predetermined weight value; and

deactivate the knee bolster upon determining that the second data values from the second sensor are less than the predetermined weight value.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the sensor includes both an infrared receptor and an infrared emitter.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the first sensor is installed in an interior trim panel bordering the front passenger foot well.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the controller is further programed to determine that an object is moving in the front passenger foot well, and to activate the knee bolster and the front passenger airbag and to deactivate the knee bolster, solely based on the first data values from the first sensor.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the controller is further programmed to:

place the first data values in a first memory buffer that receives and retains a predetermined number of first data values;

calculate a variance of the most recent first data value received by the buffer relative to the first data values already in the buffer;

add the variance of the most recent first data value to a second buffer;

sum the variances in the second buffer to obtain a motion detection process output; and

determine that the motion detection process output exceeds a pre-determined threshold.