VEHICULAR SAFETY SYSTEM

• US 3,750,169 A
• Filed: 03/13/1972
• Issued: 07/31/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SP-Microwave, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Harry F. Strenglein
• Inventors: Strenglein, Harry F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hubler, Malcolm F.
• Application Number:
  US05/234,059
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 343/7ED,112CA
• US Class Current: 342/21
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/40 in the direction of an obstacle before a collision , or extending during driving of the vehicle, i.e. to increase the energy absorption capacity of the bumper inflatable bumpers B60R19/20
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/0209 Systems with very large relative bandwidth, i.e. larger than 10 %, e.g. baseband, pulse, carrier-free, ultrawideband
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/932 using own vehicle data, e.g. ground speed, steering wheel direction
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93271 in the front of the vehicles

Abstract

A vehicular safety apparatus includes radio sensor means for the detection of an impending collision immediately prior to contact of the protected vehicle with another object and for actuation of restraining or other safety devices for protecting occupants of the vehicle when the crash event actually occurs. Base-band radio pulse transmission and reception presence sensor devices with first and second zone echo signal gating channels provide distinctive output signals at first and second distances between the protected vehicle and the reflecting object, which signals when present simultaneously cause actuation of the protective devices.

Claims

1. Vehicle safety apparatus comprising:

transmitter means adapted to be carried by said vehicle for transmitting base-band pulse signals toward a reflecting object appearing in first or second range zones with respect to said vehicle, receiver means adapted to be carried by said vehicle and having transmission line means receiving signals reflected by said object when within said first or second range zones, first circuit means responsive to said received object reflected signals from said first zone and coupled to said transmission line means for producing first output signals of substantially greater duration than said base-band transmitted signals, second circuit means responsive to said received object reflected signals from said second zone and coupled to said transmission line means for producing second output signals of substantially greater duration than said base band transmitted signals, first pulse forming means responsive to a predetermined number of said pulses of substantially greater duration for providing a formed first output pulse, second pulse forming means responsive to said predetermined number of said pulses of substantially greater duration for providing a formed second output pulse, delay circuit means for differentially delaying said formed first output pulse with respect to said formed second output pulse, and meams responsive to Substantial coincidence between said delayed formed first output pulse and said formed second output pulse for producing an output control signal, and safety means responsive to said output control signal.

2. Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said transmitter means includes means for transmitting, without distortion, a train of sub-nanosecond duration electromagnetic pulses each having a wide frequency range spectral line content, the energy in any selected one of said spectral lines being substantially beloW the ambient noise level.

3. Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said transmitter means comprises:

substantially non-dispersive transmission line transmitter antenna means for propagating and radiating a train of electromagnetic pulses in the TEM transmission line mode toward said object, and synchronizer means for exciting said non-dispersive transmission line antenna means.

4. Apparatus as described in claim 3 wherein said receiver means comprises substantially non-dispersive transmission line receiver antenna means for receiving and propagating an object reflected electromagnetic pulse train in the TEM transmission line mode.

5. Apparatus as described in claim 3 wherein said first circuit means comprises:

first zone gate generator means responsive to said synchronizer means for producing first zone gating signals, and first zone gated detector means responsive to said first zone gating signals and to said first zone received signals for producing said first output signals of substantially greater duration.

6. Apparatus as described in claim 5 wherein said second circuit means comprises:

second zone gate generator means responsive to said synchronizer means for producing second zone gating signals, and second zone gated detector means responsive to said second zone gating signals and to said second zone received signals for producing said second output signals of substantially greater duration.

7. Apparatus as described in claim 3 wherein said first and second pulse forming means comprise first and second counter circuit means.

8. Apparatus as described in claim 7 additionally including third counter circuit means responsive to said synchronizer means for resetting said first and second counter circuit means.

9. Apparatus as described in claim 8 responsive to the output of said second counter circuit means for inhibiting the output of said delay circuit means.

10. Apparatus as described in claim 9 wherein said third counter circuit means counts one plus said predetermined number of said pulses of substantially greater duration for providing a third output pulse.

11. Apparatus as described in claim 10 wherein said third output pulse resets said third counter circuit means.

12. Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said safety means comprises passenger protective means operative in response to said output control signal.

13. Apparatus as described in claim 12 wherein said safety means provides means responsive to said output control signal for restraining vehicle occupants from impacting interior parts of said vehicle.

14. Apparatus as described in claim 13 wherein said means for restraining vehicle occupants comprises an expandable occupant restraint means having a normal contracted state, container means for supplying gas, and means responsive to said control signal for causing gas flow from said container means into said expandable restraint means.