Vehicle Component Control Methods and Systems Based on Vehicle Stability

• US 20080046149A1
• Filed: 08/02/2007
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1995
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: American Vehicular Sciences LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Automotive Technologies International Incorporated
• Inventors: Breed, David
• Application Number:
  US11/833,033
• Publication Number:
  US 20080046149A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/00 Sealing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• 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 19/483 with obstacle sensors of electric or electronic type
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0011 Rear collision or recoiling bounce after frontal collision
• 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 21/0136 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 21/0152 using strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01558 monitoring crash strength
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/20 Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/21 in vehicle side panels, e.g. doors pillar mounted arrangements B60R21/213
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/33 Arrangements for non-electric triggering of inflation electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements B60R21/01
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/15 having impact absorbing means, e.g. a frame designed to permanently or temporarily change shape or dimension upon impact with another body bumpers B60R19/02; shock absorbers in general F16F
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/20 by measurement of weight, e.g. to determine the level of stored liquefied gas
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/2962 Measuring transit time of reflected waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/2965 Measuring attenuation of transmitted waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/804 : containing circuits handling parameters other than liquid level
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 35/146 : operated by plastic deformation or rupture of structurally associated elements

Abstract

Control system for controlling at least one part of a vehicle includes a plurality of sensor systems mounted at different locations on the vehicle, each sensor system providing a measurement related to a state thereof system or a measurement related to a state of the mounting location. The sensor systems are preferably arranged such that the measurements from the sensor systems are measurements of different physical characteristics. A processor is coupled to the sensor systems and diagnoses the condition of the vehicle with respect to its stability based on the measurements of the sensor systems. The processor controls each part based at least in part on the diagnosed condition of the vehicle.

Claims

1. In a motor vehicle, a control system for controlling at least one part of the vehicle comprising:

a plurality of sensor systems mounted at different locations on the vehicle, each of said sensor systems providing a measurement related to a state of said sensor system or a measurement related to a state of the mounting location, said sensor systems being arranged such that the measurements from said sensor systems are measurements of different physical characteristics; and

a processor coupled to said sensor systems and arranged to diagnose the condition of the vehicle with respect to its stability based on the measurements of said sensor systems,

said processor being arranged to control the at least one part based at least in part on the diagnosed condition of the vehicle.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the overall condition of the vehicle diagnosed by said processor is derived from angular motion of the vehicle.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the at least one part is a system selected from a group consisting of a steering system, a braking system or a throttle system, said processor being arranged to control the system in an attempt to maintain stability of the vehicle.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the at least one part is an occupant restraint device, said processor being arranged to control the occupant restraint device in an attempt to minimize injury to an occupant in the event of a crash involving the vehicle.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said processor includes pattern recognition means for diagnosing the condition of the vehicle.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a display coupled to said processor for displaying an indication of the condition of the vehicle to an occupant of the vehicle.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a warning device coupled to said processor for relaying a warning to an occupant of the vehicle relating to the condition of the vehicle as diagnosed by said processor.

8. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a transmission device coupled to said processor for transmitting a signal to a remote site relating to the condition of the vehicle as diagnosed by said processor.

9. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the condition of the vehicle is derived from angular acceleration, a plurality of said sensor systems comprising accelerometers such that said processor determines the angular acceleration of the vehicle based on the acceleration measured by said accelerometers.

10. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the condition of the vehicle is derived from angular acceleration of the vehicle whereby angular velocity and angular position or orientation are derivable from the angular acceleration, the at least one part being a navigation system, said processor being arranged to control said navigation system based on the angular acceleration of the vehicle.

11. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said sensor systems are mounted separate and apart from the at least one part being controlled by said processor.

12. A method for controlling at least one part of the vehicle comprising:

mounting a plurality of sensor systems at different locations on the vehicle;

measuring a state of the sensor system or a state of the respective mounting location of the sensor system;

selecting the sensor systems and their mounting location such that the measurements from the sensor systems are measurements of different physical characteristics;

diagnosing the condition of the vehicle with respect to its stability based on the measurements of the state of the sensor systems or the state of the mounting locations of the sensor systems; and

controlling the at least one part based at least in part on the diagnosed condition of the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the state of the sensor system is the acceleration, angular acceleration, angular velocity or angular orientation of the sensor system.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of diagnosing the condition of the vehicle comprises determining whether the vehicle is about to rollover or skid.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one part is a system selected from a group consisting of a steering system, a braking system or a throttle system, the step of controlling the at least one part comprising controlling the system in an attempt to maintain stability of the vehicle.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one part is an occupant restraint device, the step of controlling the at least one part comprising controlling the occupant restraint device in an attempt to minimize injury to an occupant in the event of a crash involving the vehicle.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising displaying an indication of the condition of the vehicle to an occupant of the vehicle.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising relaying a warning to an occupant of the vehicle relating to the condition of the vehicle.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising transmitting a signal to a remote site relating to the condition of the vehicle.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein a plurality of the sensor systems comprises accelerometers, the step of diagnosing the condition of the vehicle comprising determining angular acceleration of the vehicle based on the acceleration measured by the accelerometers.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of diagnosing the condition of the vehicle comprises determining angular acceleration of the vehicle whereby angular velocity and angular position or orientation are derivable from the angular acceleration, the at least one part being a navigation system, the step of controlling the at least one part comprising controlling the navigation system based on the angular acceleration of the vehicle.

22. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of mounting the sensor systems at different locations on the vehicle comprises mounting the sensor systems separate and apart from the at least one part being controlled.