Method and apparatus for sensing a vehicle crash

• US 20040036261A1
• Filed: 08/11/2003
• Published: 02/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Vehicular Sciences LLC (Acacia Research Corporation), ATI-295
• Original Assignee: Automotive Technologies International Incorporated
• Inventors: Breed, David S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,284,769 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 11/24 Wear-indicating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0408 transmitting the signals by non-mechanical means from the wheel or tyre to a vehicle body mounted receiver
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0433 Radio signals
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02246 Electric motors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0276 reaction to emergency situations, e.g. crash
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2863 backward facing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0011 Rear collision or recoiling bounce after frontal collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01311 monitoring the braking system, e.g. ABS
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01315 monitoring occupant displacement
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01325 Vertical acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01327 Angular velocity or angular acceleration
• 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 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0136 responsive to actual contact with an obstacle , e.g. to vehicle deformation, bumper displacement or bumper velocity relative to the vehicle monitoring crash strength in combination with passenger seat detection B60R21/01558
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/015 including means for detecting the presence or position of passengers, passenger seats or child seats , and the related safety parameters therefor, e.g. speed or timing of airbag inflation in relation to occupant position or seat belt use
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01512 Passenger detection systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0152 using strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005

Abstract

Method and apparatus for sensing a crash of a vehicle in which acceleration and angular motion of the vehicle are measured and analyzed by a processor to determine whether a crash is occurring. A deployable occupant protection device is deployed by a processor when deployment criteria are satisfied. The processor may embody a pattern recognition technique for analyzing the measured acceleration and angular motion of the vehicle and determine whether deployment of the occupant protection device is beneficial. For example, the pattern recognition technique may be a neural network trained to determine whether the vehicle is experiencing a crash such as a rollover based on the measured acceleration and angular motion of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle with an occupant safety system for use in a crash involving the vehicle, comprising:

a deployable occupant protection device;

acceleration sensing means for measuring acceleration of the vehicle;

at least one gyroscope for measuring angular motion of the vehicle; and

a processor coupled to said acceleration sensing means and said at least one gyroscope for receiving the measured acceleration of the vehicle and the measured angular motion of the vehicle and determining whether deployment of said occupant protection device is beneficial, and when deployment of said occupant protection device is determined to be beneficial, said processor generating a signal to initiate deployment of said occupant protection device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said acceleration sensing means comprise a tri-axial accelerometer.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said processor embodies a pattern recognition technique for analyzing the measured acceleration of the vehicle and the measured angular motion of the vehicle and determining whether deployment of said occupant protection device is beneficial.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said pattern recognition technique is a neural network trained to determine whether the vehicle is experiencing a crash based on the measured acceleration of the vehicle and the measured angular motion of the vehicle.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an occupant position sensor for monitoring position of an occupant to be protected by said occupant protection device, said processor being coupled to said occupant position sensor and being arranged to determine whether deployment of said occupant protection device is beneficial based on the measured acceleration of the vehicle, the measured angular motion of the vehicle and the position of the occupant.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an occupant weight sensor for measuring weight of an occupant to be protected by said occupant protection device, said processor being coupled to said occupant weight sensor and being arranged to determine whether deployment of said occupant protection device is beneficial based on the measured acceleration of the vehicle, the measured angular motion of the vehicle and the measured weight of the occupant.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a wheel speed sensor arranged to measure the speed of a wheel of the vehicle, said processor being coupled to said wheel speed sensor and being arranged to determine whether deployment of said occupant protection device is beneficial based on the measured acceleration of the vehicle, the measured angular motion of the vehicle and the measured speed of the wheel.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an engine speed sensor arranged to measure the speed of an engine of the vehicle, said processor being coupled to said engine speed sensor and being arranged to determine whether deployment of the occupant protection device is beneficial based on the measured acceleration of the vehicle, the measured angular motion of the vehicle and the measured engine speed.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said occupant protection device is selected from a group consisting of a frontal airbag, a side airbag and a movable headrest.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said occupant protection device is an airbag inflatable with a gas, further comprising a control module arranged to control at least one of how much gas is to be generated for inflation of said airbag, how fast the gas is to be generated, how much gas should be directed into said airbag, how much gas should be directed to an atmosphere and how much gas should be permitted to exhaust from said airbag, said control module being coupled to said processor and said processor determining settings for said control module based on the measured acceleration of the vehicle and the measured angular motion of the vehicle.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one gyroscope comprises a plurality of gyroscopes.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one gyroscope is arranged to be sensitive to a crash in which the vehicle rolls over.

13. A method for controlling deployment of an occupant protection device in a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

measuring acceleration of the vehicle;

measuring angular motion of the vehicle by means of at least one gyroscope;

determining whether deployment of the occupant protection device is beneficial based on the measured acceleration and angular motion of the vehicle; and

when deployment of the occupant protection device is determined to be beneficial, generating a signal to initiate deployment of the occupant protection device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of determining whether deployment of the occupant protection device is beneficial based on the measured acceleration and angular motion of the vehicle comprises the step of inputting the measured acceleration and angular motion into a pattern recognition algorithm.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of determining whether deployment of the occupant protection device is beneficial based on the measured acceleration and angular motion of the vehicle comprises the step of inputting the measured acceleration and angular motion into a trained neural network.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of:

monitoring position of an occupant to be protected by the occupant protection device,

the step of determining whether deployment of the occupant protection device is beneficial being based on the measured acceleration and angular motion of the vehicle and the position of the occupant.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of:

measuring weight of an occupant to be protected by the occupant protection device,

the step of determining whether deployment of the occupant protection device is beneficial being based on the measured acceleration and angular motion of the vehicle and the measured weight of the occupant.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of:

measuring speed of a wheel of the vehicle,

the step of determining whether deployment of the occupant protection device is beneficial being based on the measured acceleration and angular motion of the vehicle and the measured wheel speed.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of:

measuring speed of an engine of the vehicle,

the step of determining whether deployment of the occupant protection device is beneficial being based on the measured acceleration and angular motion of the vehicle and the measured engine speed.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the occupant protection device is an airbag inflatable with a gas, further comprising the step of:

controlling at least one of the amount of gas to be generated for inflation of the airbag, the velocity of the gas to be generated, the amount of gas to be directed into the airbag, the amount of gas to be directed to an atmosphere and the amount of gas to exhaust from the airbag based on the generated signal.

21. A vehicle with an occupant safety system for use in a rollover crash involving the vehicle, comprising:

a deployable occupant protection device;

a sensor for measuring angular motion of the vehicle; and

a processor coupled to said sensor and said occupant protection device for receiving the measured angular motion and determining whether the angular motion is indicative of rollover of the vehicle and whether deployment of said occupant protection device is beneficial, and when deployment of said occupant protection device is determined to be beneficial, said processor generating a signal to initiate deployment of said occupant protection device.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said sensor comprises an inertial measurement unit (IMU).

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said processor embodies a pattern recognition technique for analyzing the measured angular motion of the vehicle and determining whether the angular motion is indicative of rollover of the vehicle and whether deployment of said occupant protection device is beneficial.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said pattern recognition technique is a neural network trained to determine whether the vehicle is rolling over based on the measured angular motion of the vehicle.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising an occupant position sensor for monitoring position of an occupant to be protected by said occupant protection device, said processor being coupled to said occupant position sensor and being arranged to determine whether deployment of said occupant protection device is beneficial based on the measured angular motion of the vehicle and the position of the occupant.

26. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising an occupant weight sensor for measuring weight of an occupant to be protected by said occupant protection device, said processor being coupled to said occupant weight sensor and being arranged to determine whether deployment of said occupant protection device is beneficial based on the measured angular motion of the vehicle and the measured weight of the occupant.

27. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a wheel speed sensor arranged to measure the speed of a wheel of the vehicle, said processor being coupled to said wheel speed sensor and being arranged to determine whether deployment of said occupant protection device is beneficial based on the measured angular motion of the vehicle and the measured speed of the wheel.

28. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising an engine speed sensor arranged to measure the speed of an engine of the vehicle, said processor being coupled to said engine speed sensor and being arranged to determine whether deployment of the occupant protection device is beneficial based on the measured angular motion of the vehicle and the measured engine speed.

29. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said occupant protection device is selected from a group consisting of a frontal airbag, a side airbag and a movable headrest.

30. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said occupant protection device is an airbag inflatable with a gas, further comprising a control module arranged to control at least one of how much gas is to be generated for inflation of said airbag, how fast the gas is to be generated, how much gas should be directed into said airbag, how much gas should be directed to an atmosphere and how much gas should be permitted to exhaust from said airbag, said control module being coupled to said processor and said processor determining settings for said control module based on the measured angular motion of the vehicle.

31. A method for controlling deployment of an occupant protection device in a vehicle experiencing a rollover, comprising the steps of:

measuring angular motion of the vehicle;

determining whether the measured angular motion is indicative of a rollover;

if so, determining whether deployment of the occupant protection device is beneficial based on the measured angular motion of the vehicle; and

when deployment of the occupant protection device is determined to be beneficial, generating a signal to initiate deployment of the occupant protection device.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the step of determining whether deployment of the occupant protection device is beneficial based on the measured angular motion of the vehicle comprises the step of inputting the measured angular motion into a pattern recognition algorithm.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the step of determining whether deployment of the occupant protection device is beneficial based on the measured angular motion of the vehicle comprises the step of inputting the measured angular motion into a trained neural network.

34. The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of:

monitoring position of an occupant to be protected by the occupant protection device,

the step of determining whether deployment of the occupant protection device is beneficial being based on the measured angular motion of the vehicle and the position of the occupant.

35. The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of:

measuring weight of an occupant to be protected by the occupant protection device,

the step of determining whether deployment of the occupant protection device is beneficial being based on the measured angular motion of the vehicle and the measured weight of the occupant.

36. The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of:

measuring speed of a wheel of the vehicle,

the step of determining whether deployment of the occupant protection device is beneficial being based on the measured angular motion of the vehicle and the measured wheel speed.

37. The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of:

measuring speed of an engine of the vehicle,

the step of determining whether deployment of the occupant protection device is beneficial being based on the measured angular motion of the vehicle and the measured engine speed.

38. The method of claim 31, wherein the occupant protection device is an airbag inflatable with a gas, further comprising the step of:

controlling at least one of the amount of gas to be generated for inflation of the airbag, the velocity of the gas to be generated, the amount of gas to be directed into the airbag, the amount of gas to be directed to an atmosphere and the amount of gas to exhaust from the airbag based on the generated signal.