System and method for controlling air bag deployment systems

• US 6,462,701 B1
• Filed: 11/21/2000
• Issued: 10/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TDC Acquisition Holdings, Inc (Humatics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Time Domain Corporation (Humatics Corporation)
• Inventors: Finn, James S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Andrea, Brian
• Application Number:
  US09/718,180
• Time in Patent Office: 686 Days
• Field of Search: 342/72, 280/735, 701/45
• US Class Current: 342/72
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01534 using electromagneticwaves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01556 Child-seat detection systems

Abstract

A system and method for controlling air bag deployment systems based on the presence, position, size, and weight of a person present in an automobile or a child seat present in an automobile is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes a radar transmitter, radar receiver, and a processor. In alternative embodiments, the system further includes a weight sensor, a reflector, and a child seat reflector. The transmitter generates and transmits ultra-wide band (UWB) pulses and the receiver generates a receiver signal based on reflected UWB pulses received by the receiver. The receiver signal contains information indicative of the presence, position, and size of a person in the automobile. In addition, the receiver signal may contain information regarding the presence of a child seat in the passenger side seat of the automobile. The weight sensor generates a weight signal indicative of a weight present in either the passenger side seat or the driver side seat of the automobile. The processor either inhibits deployment or controls the rate of deployment of an airbag located in the automobile based on the receiver signal and the weight signal. Alternatively, the processor compares the receiver signal and the weight signal to a set of predetermined receiver signal profiles and weight signal profiles and controls deployment of the airbag based on matching receiver signal and weight signal profiles.

Claims

1. A system for controlling airbag deployment systems in an automobile using radar, comprising:

a radar transmitter mounted in the automobile for generating and transmitting pulses;

a radar receiver mounted in the automobile for receiving reflected pulses indicative of vehicle occupancy and operative to generate a receiver signal in response to the reflected pulses;

a processor in communication with the radar receiver and the radar transmitter for processing the receiver signal and controlling deployment of the airbag based on the receiver signal; and

wherein

the receiver signal includes a stationary clutter signal, variable clutter signal, and target response signal;

the processor includes a memory containing predetermined stationary clutter signal profiles, variable clutter signal profiles, and target response signal profiles, each profile comprising a predetermined stationary clutter signal, variable clutter signal, and target response signal;

the processor subtracts one of the stationary clutter signal profiles and one of the variable clutter signal profiles from the receiver signal to obtain a target response signal;

the processor compares the target response signal to the predetermined target response signal profiles and identifies a matching target response signal profile; and

the processor controls deployment of the airbag based on the matching target response signal profile.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor inhibits deployment of the airbag when the target response signal matches a predetermined target response signal profile.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor deploys the airbag at a predetermined rate of deployment when the target response signal matches a predetermined target response signal profile.

4. A system for controlling an airbag deployment system in a vehicle using radar, comprising:

a radar transmitter connected to an automobile and operative to generate and transmit pulses;

a radar receiver connected to the automobile and operative to receive reflected pulses;

a reflector connected to a seat in the vehicle and operative to modify the reflected pulses to include size information of a person sitting in the seat, the radar receiver further operative to generate a receiver signal in response to the reflected pulses;

a processor in communication with the radar receiver and radar transmitter and operative to process the receiver signal and control deployment of the airbag based on the receiver signal; and

wherein

the transmitter includes at least one horizontally polarized transmit antenna and is operative to transmit pulses using the horizontally polarized antenna; and

the reflector includes a horizontal array of polarized reflectors, the horizontal array operative to modify the reflected pulses to include information regarding a width associated with the person sitting in the seat.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein:

the transmitter includes at least one vertically polarized transmit antenna and is operative to transmit pulses using the vertically polarized antenna; and

the reflector further includes a vertical array of polarized reflectors, the vertical array operative to modify the reflected pulses to include information regarding a height associated with the person sitting in the seat.

6. A system for controlling an airbag deployment system in a vehicle using radar, comprising:

a radar transmitter connected to an automobile and operative to generate and transmit pulses;

a radar receiver connected to the automobile and operative to receive reflected pulses;

a reflector connected to a seat in the vehicle and operative to modify the reflected pulses to include size information of a person sitting in the seat, the radar receiver further operative to generate a receiver signal in response to the reflected pulses;

a processor in communication with the radar receiver and radar transmitter and operative to process the receiver signal and control deployment of the airbag based on the receiver signal; and

wherein

the processor inhibits deployment of the airbag based on the receiver signal; and

when the width falls below a predetermined threshold width and the height falls below a predetermined threshold height.

7. A system for controlling an airbag deployment system in a vehicle using radar, comprising:

a radar transmitter connected to an automobile and operative to generate and transmit pulses;

a radar receiver connected to the automobile and operative to receive reflected pulses;

a reflector connected to a seat in the vehicle and operative to modify the reflected pulses to include size information of a person sitting in the seat, the radar receiver further operative to generate a receiver signal in response to the reflected pulses;

a processor in communication with the radar receiver and radar transmitter and operative to process the receiver signal and control deployment of the airbag based on the receiver signal; and

wherein

the processor deploys the airbag at a predetermined rate of deployment based on the receiver signal; and

the processor deploys the airbag at a predetermined rate of deployment when the width falls below a predetermined threshold width and the height falls below a predetermined threshold height.