Passive countermeasure methods

• US 6,519,519 B1
• Filed: 02/01/2002
• Issued: 02/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Stopczynski, Lawrence Gerard
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hernandez, Olga
• Application Number:
  US09/683,674
• Time in Patent Office: 375 Days
• Field of Search: 701/45, 701/1, 280/734, 280/735, 280/802, 280/748
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01034 Controlling a plurality of restraint devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01311 monitoring the braking system, e.g. ABS
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01313 monitoring the vehicle steering system or the dynamic control system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0132 responsive to vehicle motion parameters , e.g. to vehicle longitudinal or transversal deceleration or speed value
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01512 Passenger detection systems

Abstract

A method of performing passive countermeasures for an automotive vehicle (12) having a vehicle sensor complex (18) generating a vehicle sensor complex signal is provided. The method of performing passive countermeasures includes performing an accelerometer initiated passive countermeasure method and performing a sensor fusion initiated passive countermeasure method. An object is detected with a sensor fusion (14) and an object parameter signal is generated. The object parameter signal is compared with an object parameter threshold level. The sensor fusion initiated passive countermeasure method is terminated when the object parameter signal is greater than the object parameter threshold level.

Claims

1. A method of operating passive countermeasures for an automotive vehicle having a vehicle sensor complex generating a vehicle sensor complex signal, said method comprising:

performing an accelerometer initiated passive countermeasure method;

performing a sensor fusion initiated passive countermeasure method;

detecting an object with a sensor fusion and generating an object parameter signal;

comparing said object parameter signal with an object parameter threshold level; and

terminating said sensor fusion initiated passive countermeasure method when said object parameter signal is greater than said object parameter threshold level.

2. A method as in claim 1 wherein performing an accelerometer initiated passive countermeasure method comprises:

evaluating the vehicle sensor complex signal and generating an occupant evaluation signal and a vehicle evaluation signal in response to the vehicle sensor complex signal;

assessing predetermined collision thresholds relative to accelerometer data contained within the vehicle sensor complex signal and generating an accelerometer assessment signal;

determining whether a collision has occurred and generating a collision signal; and

signaling passive countermeasures systems to deploy passive countermeasures in response to said occupant evaluation signal, vehicle evaluation signal, said accelerometer assessment signal, and said collision signal.

3. A method as in claim 2 wherein evaluating the vehicle sensor complex signal comprises evaluating at least one of occupant position data, occupant belted data, occupant classification data, occupant acceleration data, and seat positioning data.

4. A method as in claim 2 wherein evaluating the vehicle sensor complex signal comprises evaluating at least one of a brake signal, a throttle signal, a steering signal, a suspension signal, a tire pressure signal, a vehicle inertial signal, a wheel speed signal, a vehicle speed signal, an occupant position signal, a collision signal, a seat belt signal, an occupant classification signal, a pedal signal, and a steering column signal.

5. A method as in claim 2 wherein assessing predetermined collision thresholds relative to accelerometer data comprises comparing predetermined collision thresholds to remote collision accelerometers or local accelerometers.

6. A method as in claim 2 wherein signaling passive countermeasures systems to deploy passive countermeasures comprises deploying at least one of a occupant countermeasure, pyrotechnic pretensioner, an airbag, an airbag curtain, a knee bolster, a deployable head restraint, a load limiting brake pedal, a load limiting steering column.

7. A system as in claim 6 wherein signaling passive countermeasures systems to deploy passive countermeasures comprises deploying reversible or irreversible passive countermeasures.

8. A system as in claim 6 wherein deploying passive countermeasures comprises deploying passive countermeasures at appropriate determined levels in response to said occupant evaluation signal, vehicle evaluation signal, and said accelerometer assessment signal.

9. A method as in claim 1 further comprising monitoring an amount of iterations said method has been performed.

10. A method as in claim 1 wherein performing a sensor fusion initiated passive countermeasure method comprises:

determining whether vehicle brake pressure is greater than a predetermined brake pressure value and generating a brake pressure signal; and

deploying passive countermeasures in response to said brake pressure signal.

11. A method as in claim 1 wherein performing a sensor fusion initiated passive countermeasure method comprises:

determining whether vehicle yaw rate is greater than a predetermined yaw value and generating a yaw rate signal; and

deploying passive countermeasures in response to said yaw rate signal.

12. A method as in claim 1 wherein performing a sensor fusion initiated passive countermeasure method comprises:

sensing an object via the sensor fusion;

determining probability of a collision between the vehicle and said object;

evaluating object related information and generating an object evaluation signal;

evaluating the vehicle sensor complex signal and generating an occupant evaluation signal and a vehicle evaluation signal in response to the vehicle sensor complex signal;

signaling passive countermeasures systems to deploy passive countermeasures in response to said object evaluation signal, said occupant evaluation signal, and said vehicle evaluation signal.

13. A system as in claim 12 signaling passive countermeasures systems to deploy passive countermeasures comprises deploying reversible or irreversible passive countermeasures.

14. A method as in claim 12 further comprising:

assessing collision thresholds relative to accelerometer data contained within the vehicle sensor complex signal and generating an accelerometer assessment signal; and

signaling passive countermeasures systems to deploy passive countermeasures in response to said accelerometer assessment signal.

15. A method as in claim 12 further comprising:

determining whether a collision has occurred and generating a collision signal; and

signaling passive countermeasures systems to deploy passive countermeasures in response to said collision signal.

16. A method as in claim 12 wherein evaluating object related information, evaluating occupant related information, evaluating vehicle related information, signaling passive countermeasures systems is performed when said probability of a collision is greater than or equal to a predetermined collision probability value.

17. A method as in claim 12 further comprising:

determining said probability of a collision is greater than or equal to a first predetermined collision probability value; and

deploying a reversible passive countermeasure.

18. A method as in claim 17 further comprising:

determining said probability of a collision is greater than or equal to a second predetermined collision probability value; and

deploying an additional reversible passive countermeasure.

19. A method as in claim 18 further comprising:

determining said probability of a collision is greater than or equal to a third predetermined collision probability value; and

deploying an irreversible passive countermeasure.

20. A method as in claim 19 further comprising:

determining said probability of a collision is equal to a fourth predetermined collision probability value; and

deploying an additional irreversible passive countermeasure.

21. A method of performing passive countermeasures for an automotive vehicle having a vehicle sensor complex generating a vehicle sensor complex signal, said method comprising:

evaluating the vehicle sensor complex signal and generating an occupant evaluation signal and a vehicle evaluation signal in response to the vehicle sensor complex signal;

assessing collision thresholds relative to accelerometer data contained within the vehicle sensor complex signal and generating an accelerometer assessment signal;

determining whether a collision has occurred and generating a collision signal; and

signaling passive countermeasures systems to deploy passive countermeasures in response to said occupant evaluation signal, vehicle evaluation signal, said accelerometer assessment signal, and said collision signal.

22. A method of performing passive countermeasures for an automotive vehicle having a vehicle sensor complex generating a vehicle sensor complex signal, said method comprising:

determining whether vehicle brake pressure is greater than a predetermined brake pressure value and generating a brake pressure signal;

determining whether vehicle yaw rate is greater than a predetermined yaw value and generating yaw rate signal;

sensing an object via the sensor fusion;

determining probability of a collision between the vehicle and said object;

evaluating object related information and generating an object evaluation signal;

evaluating the vehicle sensor complex signal and generating an occupant evaluation signal and a vehicle evaluation signal in response to the vehicle sensor complex signal;

assessing collision thresholds relative to accelerometer data contained within the vehicle sensor complex signal and generating an accelerometer assessment signal;

determining whether a collision has occurred and generating a collision signal; and

signaling passive countermeasures systems to deploy passive countermeasures in response to brake pressure signal, yaw rate signal, said object evaluation signal, said occupant evaluation signal, and said vehicle evaluation signal, said accelerometer assessment signal, and said collision signal.