Method of inhibiting or allowing airbag deployment
DCFirst Claim
1. A method of airbag control in a vehicle having an array of force sensors on the passenger seat coupled to a controller for determining whether to allow airbag deployment based on sensed force and force distribution comprising the steps of:
- measuring the force detected by each sensor;
calculating the total force of the sensor array;
allowing deployment if the total force is above a total threshold force;
defining a plurality of seat areas, at least one sensor located in each seat area;
determining the existence of a local pressure area when the calculated total force is concentrated in one of said seat areas;
calculating a local force as the sum of forces sensed by each sensor located in the seat area in which the total force is concentrated; and
allowing deployment if the local force is greater than a predefined seat area threshold force.
7 Assignments
Litigations
4 Petitions
Reexamination
Accused Products
Abstract
An array of pressure sensors on a vehicle passenger seat senses the presence of an occupant including an infant seat and determines whether the infant seat faces forward or rearward. A microprocessor coupled to the sensors determines whether to allow or inhibit deployment based on the sensor load forces and the pattern of loading. The pattern can identify an infant seat and pattern and loading determine its orientation. Local areas are checked to detect child occupants. Fuzzy logic is used to determine loading and to recognize patterns.
150 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of airbag control in a vehicle having an array of force sensors on the passenger seat coupled to a controller for determining whether to allow airbag deployment based on sensed force and force distribution comprising the steps of:
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measuring the force detected by each sensor; calculating the total force of the sensor array; allowing deployment if the total force is above a total threshold force; defining a plurality of seat areas, at least one sensor located in each seat area; determining the existence of a local pressure area when the calculated total force is concentrated in one of said seat areas; calculating a local force as the sum of forces sensed by each sensor located in the seat area in which the total force is concentrated; and allowing deployment if the local force is greater than a predefined seat area threshold force. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of airbag control in a vehicle having an array of force sensors on the passenger seat coupled to a controller for determining whether to allow airbag deployment based on sensed force and force distribution comprising the steps of:
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measuring the force sensed by each sensor; calculating the total force of the sensor array; allowing deployment if the total force is above a total threshold force; assigning a load rating to each sensor based on its measured force, said load ratings being limited to maximum value; summing the assigned load ratings for all the sensors to derive a total load rating; and allowing deployment if the total load rating is above a predefined total load threshold, whereby deployment is allowed if the sensed forces are distributed over the passenger seat, even if the total force is less than the total threshold force. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of airbag control in a vehicle having an array of force sensors on the passenger seat coupled to a controller for determining whether to allow airbag deployment based on sensed force and force distribution comprising the steps of:
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measuring the force sensed by each sensor; calculating the total force of the sensor array; allowing deployment if the total force is above a total threshold force; and if the total force is not above the total threshold force, determining a fuzzy total force contribution value based on the calculated total force; defining a plurality of seat areas, at least one sensor located in each seat area, calculating a local force for each seat area as the sum of forces sensed by each sensor located in that seat area, and determining a fuzzy local force contribution value based on each of the calculated local forces; and summing the fuzzy total force and fuzzy local force contribution values, and allowing deployment if the summed contribution values exceed a predefined fuzzy threshold. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification