Method for determining a decision for the triggering of restraint means in a vehicle

• US 7,206,680 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2002
• Issued: 04/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Roelleke, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu; Y.
• Application Number:
  US10/433,348
• Publication Number:
  US 20040073346A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,679 Days
• Field of Search: 701 45- 47, 701 36- 38, 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 340/425.5, 340/429, 340/435, 340/436, 340/438, 340/440, 180/271, 180/282, 280/728.1, 280/734, 280/735
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0018 Roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01034 Controlling a plurality of restraint devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01265 Seat belts
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01322 comprising variable thresholds, e.g. depending from other collision parameters
• 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 21/01512 Passenger detection systems

Abstract

A method of determining a triggering decision for restraint devices in a vehicle, a triggering decision being determined as a function of a float angle, a vehicle sliding velocity and the vehicle tilt angle. The vehicle tilt angle is characterized here by a vehicle lateral acceleration and/or a vehicle sliding velocity. A passenger detection system may be used in addition.

Claims

1. A method for determining a triggering decision for at least one restraint device in a vehicle, the method comprising the step of:

determining the triggering decision as a function of driving dynamics data, the driving dynamics data including a float angle in combination with a sliding velocity of the vehicle, the float angle being determined as a function of a yaw rate and a steering motion, and a vehicle tilt movement, the determining step including the sub-steps of comparing the driving dynamics data in each case with at least one threshold value and making the triggering decision as a function of the comparisons.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of determining the vehicle tilt movement by a vehicle lateral acceleration and by a vehicle sliding velocity.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the triggering decision is determined as a further function of a signal from a passenger detection system.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of determining the float angle in five degree increments.

5. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of comparing the vehicle lateral acceleration with a threshold value of 1.2 G.

6. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of comparing the vehicle sliding velocity with a threshold value of 5 km/h.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the sliding velocity is a function of the float angle and a vehicle speed.

7. A device comprising:

means for determining a float angle, a sliding velocity of a vehicle and a tilt movement of the vehicle, the float angle being determined as a function of a yaw rate and a steering motion; and

means for determining a triggering decision for a restraint device in the vehicle as a function of the float angle, the vehicle sliding velocity and the vehicle tilt movement.

9. A device according to claim 7, wherein the sliding velocity is a function of the float angle and a vehicle speed.