METHOD FOR REDUCING THE ENERGY ABSORBED BY A VEHICLE IN A COLLISION AND A SYSTEM FOR IMPLEMENTING THE METHOD
First Claim
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1. A method for reducing energy absorbed by a vehicle in a collision, comprising:
- actively decelerating said vehicle that is moving at a speed in a forward direction based on a determination that a collision with an object is possible if said vehicle continues to move in a forward direction at said speed;
determining whether a collision with said object is inevitable; and
terminating said actively decelerating step before said vehicle reaches said object while said vehicle is moving in said forward direction whereby said vehicle may make contact with said object.
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Abstract
A system for a vehicle that executes a method to reduce the energy absorbed by the vehicle due to a collision, the method including actively decelerating the vehicle when it is determined that a collision with an object is possible, terminating active deceleration to allow the vehicle to move forward when it is determined that a collision with the object is inevitable just before the collision, and allowing the vehicle to make contact with the object and move generally in an opposite direction after the vehicle makes contact with the object.
35 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for reducing energy absorbed by a vehicle in a collision, comprising:
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actively decelerating said vehicle that is moving at a speed in a forward direction based on a determination that a collision with an object is possible if said vehicle continues to move in a forward direction at said speed; determining whether a collision with said object is inevitable; and terminating said actively decelerating step before said vehicle reaches said object while said vehicle is moving in said forward direction whereby said vehicle may make contact with said object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system in a vehicle that includes a sensor system and a processor that includes a programmable computer in communication with said sensor system, said sensor system providing information to said programmable computer about objects outside said vehicle, wherein said programmable computer is configured to perform a method to prevent collision or to minimize the collision based on information provided by said sensor system, said method comprising:
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actively decelerating a vehicle that is moving at a speed in a forward direction based on a determination that a collision with an object is possible if said vehicle continues to move in a forward direction at said speed; determining whether a collision with said object is inevitable; and terminating said actively decelerating step before said vehicle reaches said object while moving in said forward direction and to make contact with said object. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification