Apparatus and method for protecting a vehicle occupant utilizing a correlation between an occupant-associated center and a distance to an occupant-associated surface

• US 6,416,080 B1
• Filed: 10/04/2000
• Issued: 07/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TRW Limited (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Limited (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Foo, Chek-Peng, Cooper, Stephen R. W., Gillis, Edward J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fleming, Faye M.
• Application Number:
  US09/679,327
• Time in Patent Office: 643 Days
• Field of Search: 280/735, 280/734, 180/271, 180/273, 701/45
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01508 detecting forces or pressure in bags or modules
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0152 using strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0153 using field detection presence sensors

Abstract

A system (10) protects a vehicle occupant. The system (10) includes an occupant protection device (24). A weight sensor (72) senses a weight value associated with an occupant (14). A portion (80) of a controller (34) determines a weight-based center characteristic (e.g., a center of gravity) associated with the occupant (14) using the sensed weight value. A distance sensor (e.g., 50) senses a distance to a surface associated with the occupant (14). A portion (46) of the controller (34) controls the protection device (24) utilizing the determined center characteristic and the sensed distance. The portion (46) of the controller (46) determines whether the sensed distance is to a surface of a head/thorax/torso of the occupant (14) utilizing the determined center characteristic.

Claims

1. A vehicle occupant protection system comprising:

an occupant protection device;

means for sensing a weight value associated with an occupant;

means for determining a weight-based center characteristic associated with the occupant using the sensed weight value;

means for sensing a distance to a surface associated with the occupant; and

control means for controlling said protection device utilizing the determined center characteristic and the sensed distance, and including means for determining whether the sensed distance is to a surface of a head/thorax/torso of the occupant utilizing the determined center characteristic.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for determining whether the sensed distance is to a surface of a head/thorax/torso includes means for determining if a correlation exists between the sensed distance and the determined weight-based center.

3. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the sensed weight value is a first weight value, said weight sensing means includes means for sensing a second weight value associated with the occupant, said means for determining a weight-based center characteristic uses the first and second weight values.

4. A system as set forth in claim 3, wherein said means for determining a weight-based center characteristic includes means for determining a center of gravity associated with the occupant.

5. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for determining a weight-based center characteristic includes means for determining a center of gravity associated with the occupant.

6. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for determining a weight-based center characteristic includes means responsive to horizontal acceleration.

7. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for sensing a distance to a surface associated with the occupant includes means for sensing the distance across a span of air space.

8. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for sensing a distance to a surface associated with the occupant includes means for transmitting a signal and receiving a reflection of the signal from the surface associated with the occupant.

9. A system as set forth in claim 8, wherein said means for transmitting a signal includes means for transmitting an ultrasonic signal.

10. A system as set forth in claim 8, wherein said means for transmitting a signal includes means for transmitting an infrared signal.

11. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for sensing a distance to a surface associated with the occupant includes a capacitive-type sensor.

12. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for sensing a distance to a surface associated with the occupant includes a distance sensor located at a vehicle instrument panel.

13. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for sensing a distance to a surface associated with the occupant includes a distance sensor adjacent to said occupant protection device.

14. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for determining whether the sensed distance is to a surface of a head/thorax/torso of the occupant includes means for determining whether the surface associated with the occupant is an object held by the occupant.

15. A method of protecting a vehicle occupant, said method comprising:

sensing a weight value associated with an occupant;

determining a weight-based center characteristic associated with the occupant using the sensed weight value;

sensing a distance to a surface associated with the occupant; and

controlling an occupant protection device utilizing the determined center characteristic and the sensed distance, including determining whether the sensed distance is to a surface of a head/thorax/torso of the occupant utilizing the determined center characteristic.

16. A method as set forth in claim 15, wherein said step of determining whether the sensed distance is to a surface of a head/thorax/torso includes determining if a correlation exists between the sensed distance and the determined weight-based center.

17. A method as set forth in claim 15, including sensing a second weight value associated with the occupant, said step of determining a weight-based center characteristic includes using the first and second weight values.

18. A method as set forth in claim 17, wherein said step of determining a weight-based center characteristic includes determining a center of gravity associated with the occupant.

19. A method as set forth in claim 15, wherein said step of determining a weight-based center characteristic includes determining a center of gravity associated with the occupant.

20. A method as set forth in claim 15, wherein said step of determining a weight-based center characteristic includes determining responsive to horizontal acceleration.

21. A vehicle occupant protection system comprising:

an occupant protection device;

a plurality of weight sensors associated with a vehicle seat, each for sensing a weight value associated with an occupant located on the seat;

means for determining center of gravity associated with the occupant using the sensed weight values;

means for sensing a distance to a surface associated with the occupant; and

control means for controlling said protection device, including means for determining control of said protection device utilizing the determined center of gravity and the sensed distance, said means for determining control including means for determining whether the sensed distance is to a surface of a torso/head/thorax of the occupant utilizing the determined center of gravity.

22. A system as set forth in claim 21, wherein said means for determining whether the sensed distance is to a surface of a head/thorax/torso includes means for determining if a correlation exists between the sensed distance and the determined weight-based center.

23. A vehicle occupant protection system comprising:

an occupant protection device;

a plurality of weight sensors associated with a vehicle seat, each for sensing a weight value associated with an occupant located on the seat;

means for determining center of gravity associated with the occupant using the sensed weight values;

means for sensing a distance to a surface associated with the occupant; and

control means for controlling said protection device, including means for determining control of said protection device utilizing the determined center of gravity and the sensed distance,

wherein said means for determining center of gravity includes means responsive to horizontal acceleration.