Method and apparatus for protecting motor vehicle occupants

• US 5,118,134 A
• Filed: 12/14/1990
• Issued: 06/02/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Reischle, Klaus, Mattes, Bernhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Rice, Kenneth R.
• Application Number:
  US07/628,227
• Time in Patent Office: 536 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730, 280/731, 280/732, 280/734, 280/735, 180/268, 180/282
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01542 detecting passenger motion
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/68 using optical means, i.e. using infrared, visible, or ultraviolet light G01P3/80 takes precedence ; by reflection of waves G01S17/58
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/88 Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications electromagnetic prospecting or detecting of objects, e.g. near-field detection, G01V3/00

Abstract

In a process for protecting motor vehicle occupants, the acceleration of the motor vehicle is determined and safety means which protect the motor vehicle occupant are activated when a specified limiting acceleration value is exceeded. To optimally release the safety means, the sitting position of the motor vehicle occupant and/or the relative velocity of the occupant with respect to the passenger cabin of the motor vehicle are determined by position sensor using measuring techniques. The safety means are activated when the sitting position of the occupant deviates from a nominal position and/or the relative velocity of the occupant exceeds a specified limiting value.

Claims

1. A method for protecting motor vehicles occupants, comprising the following steps:

generating a first signal indicative of the acceleration of the motor vehicle;

measuring the position of a passenger seated in the motor vehicle and generating a second signal indicative of the measured position of the passenger seated in the motor vehicle; and

comparing the value of the first signal to a first threshold value indicative of a threshold acceleration value of the motor vehicle, and comparing the value of the second signal to a nominal value indicative of a nominal seating position of the occupant within the motor vehicle, and actuating a safety device for protecting the occupant in the event of a vehicle collision upon the first signal exceeding the threshold value and the second signal deviating from the nominal value.

2. A method for protecting motor vehicle occupants, comprising the following steps:

generating a first signal indicative of the acceleration of the motor vehicle;

generating a second signal indicative of the position of a passenger seated in the motor vehicle;

generating a third signal indicative of the velocity of the occupant relative to the passenger cabin of the vehicle;

comparing the value of the first signal to a first threshold value indicative of a threshold acceleration value of the motor vehicle, comparing the value of the second signal to a nominal value indicative of a nominal seating position of the occupant within the motor vehicle, and comparing the value of the third signal to a second threshold value, and actuating a safety device for protecting the occupant in the vehicle upon the first signal exceeding the first threshold value, and either the second signal deviating from the nominal value or the third signal exceeding the second threshold value.

3. An apparatus for protecting motor vehicle occupants, comprising:

first means for generating a first signal indicative of the acceleration of the motor vehicle;

second means for measuring the position of an occupant seated in the motor vehicle and generating a second signal indicative of the measured position of the occupant seated in the motor vehicle; and

third means coupled to the first and second means for receiving the first and second signals, respectively, therefrom, and for comparing the value of the first signal to a first threshold value indicative of a threshold acceleration value of the motor vehicle, and for comparing the value of the second signal to a nominal value indicative of a nominal seating position of the occupant within the motor vehicle, and for actuating a safety device for protecting the occupant in the event of a vehicle collision upon the first signal exceeding the threshold value and the second signal deviating from the nominal value.

4. An apparatus for protecting motor vehicle occupants, comprising:

first means for generating a second signal indicative of acceleration of the motor vehicle;

second means for generating a second signal indicative of the position of an occupant seated in the motor vehicle;

third means coupled to the first and second means for receiving the first and second signals respectively, and for comparing the value of the first signal to a first threshold value indicative of the threshold acceleration value of the motor vehicle, and for comparing the value of the second signal to a nominal value indicative of a nominal seating position of the occupant within the motor vehicle; and

fourth means for transmitting a third signal to the third means indicative of the velocity of an occupant relative to the passenger cabin of the vehicle, the third means being adapted to compare the value of the third signal to a second threshold value and for actuating a safety device for protecting the occupant in the vehicle upon the fist signal exceeding the first threshold value and either the second signal deviating from the nominal value or the third signal exceeding the second threshold value.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein

the second means generates second signals indicative of the position of the upper body of an occupant of the vehicle.

6. An apparatus for protecting motor vehicle occupants, comprising:

first means for generating a first signal indicative of the acceleration of the motor vehicle;

second means for generating a second signal indicative of the position of an occupant seated in the motor vehicle;

third means coupled to the first and second means for receiving the first and second signals, respectively, and for comparing the value of the first signal to a first threshold value indicative of a threshold acceleration value of the motor vehicle, and for comparing the value of the second signal to a nominal value indicative of a nominal seating position of the occupant within the motor vehicle, and for actuating a safety device for protecting the occupant in the event of a vehicle collision upon the first signal exceeding the threshold value and the second signal deviating from the nominal value, wherein the second means includes at least one light transmitter and at least one light receiver coupled to the third means, the light transmitter and light receiver thus defining at least one measuring section therebetween, the measuring section being oriented substantially at a right angle with respect to the direction of motion of an occupant during a collision, the light receiver thus being adapted to transmit a second signal to the third means upon the occupant crossing the measuring section.

7. An apparatus for protecting motor vehicle occupants, comprising:

first means for generating a first signal indicative of the acceleration of the motor vehicle;

second means for generating a second signal indicative of the position of an occupant seated in the motor vehicle;

third means coupled to the first and second means for receiving the first and second signals, respectively, and for comparing the value of the first signal to a first threshold value indicative of a threshold acceleration value of the motor vehicle, and for comparing the value of the second signal to a nominal value indicative of a nominal seating position of the occupant within the motor vehicle, and for actuating a safety device for protecting the occupant in the event of a vehicle collision upon the first signal exceeding the threshold value and the second signal deviating from the nominal value, wherein the second means includes at least one ultrasonic transmitter and at least one ultrasonic receiver coupled to the third means, the ultrasonic transmitter being adapted to transmit ultrasonic energy toward an occupant of the vehicle, the ultrasonic energy being reflected off the occupant and, in turn, transmitted to the ultrasonic receiver, the ultrasonic receiver being adapted to transmit a second signal to the third means indicative of the position of the occupant based thereon.

8. An apparatus for protecting motor vehicle occupants, comprising:

first means for generating a first signal indicative of the acceleration of the motor vehicle;

second means for generating a second signal indicative of the position of an occupant seated in the motor vehicle;

third means coupled to the first and second means for receiving the first and second signals, respectively, and for comparing the value of the first signal to a first threshold value indicative of a threshold acceleration value of the motor vehicle, and for comparing the value of the second signal to a nominal value indicative of a nominal seating position of the occupant within the motor vehicle, and for actuating a safety device for protecting the occupant in the event of a vehicle collision upon the first signal exceeding the threshold value and the second signal deviating from the nominal value, wherein the second means includes at least one microwave transmitter and at least one microwave receiver coupled to the third means, the microwave transmitter being adapted to transmit waves toward an occupant of the vehicle, the waves being reflected off the occupant, and, in turn, transmitted to the microwave receiver, the microwave receiver being adapted to transmit a second signal to the third means indicative of the position of the occupant based thereon.

9. An apparatus for protecting motor vehicle occupants, comprising:

first means for generating a first signal indicative of the acceleration of the motor vehicle;

second means located within the dashboard of the motor vehicle for generating a second signal indicative of the position of an occupant seated in the motor vehicle; and

third means coupled to the first and second means for receiving the first and second signals, respectively, and for comparing the value of the first signal to a first threshold value indicative of a threshold acceleration value of the motor vehicle, and for comparing the value of the second signal to a nominal value indicative of a nominal seating position of the occupant within the motor vehicle, and for actuating a safety device for protecting the occupant in the event of a vehicle collision upon the first signal exceeding the threshold value and the second signal deviating from the nominal value.