Vehicle control system and method of using the same
First Claim
1. A method of using a vehicle control system with an ignition unit, comprising the steps of:
- detecting an unintentional ignition event where an ignition state of the vehicle unintentionally changes from active to inactive;
determining if the vehicle is stationary;
when the vehicle is stationary and in response to the detection of the unintentional ignition event, initializing a prolongation timer and temporarily extending the availability of one or more safety-related features offered by the vehicle control system, wherein the one or more safety-related features offered by the vehicle include crash sensing functionality;
detecting that the prolongation timer has expired; and
in response to the detection that the prolongation timer has expired, terminating the availability of the one or more safety-related features offered by the vehicle control system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle control system and a method for prolonging or extending the availability of certain safety-related features after an ignition unit has switched off or otherwise become inactive. The method can provide some safety-related features following an unintended ignition event, such as the type that can occur when the vehicle is involved in a multiple collision accident and the force of the initial impact unintentionally jars or switches the ignition unit off. In one example, the method uses a prolongation timer to temporarily power an airbag control module so that it is capable of sensing a crash and deploying an airbag for a period of time following the ignition being switched off.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of using a vehicle control system with an ignition unit, comprising the steps of:
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detecting an unintentional ignition event where an ignition state of the vehicle unintentionally changes from active to inactive; determining if the vehicle is stationary; when the vehicle is stationary and in response to the detection of the unintentional ignition event, initializing a prolongation timer and temporarily extending the availability of one or more safety-related features offered by the vehicle control system, wherein the one or more safety-related features offered by the vehicle include crash sensing functionality; detecting that the prolongation timer has expired; and in response to the detection that the prolongation timer has expired, terminating the availability of the one or more safety-related features offered by the vehicle control system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of using a vehicle control system with an ignition unit, comprising the steps of:
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determining if an ignition status is inactive due to an unintentional ignition event where an ignition state of the vehicle unintentionally changes from active to inactive; determining if the vehicle is stationary; and when the ignition status is inactive due to the unintentional ignition event and the vehicle is stationary, using a prolongation timer to temporarily enable an airbag control module so that the airbag control module is capable of sensing a crash and deploying an airbag for a certain period of time after the ignition status becomes inactive.
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Specification