Active adaptation of vehicle restraints for enhanced performance robustness

• US 7,236,865 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2004
• Issued: 06/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Prakah-Asante, Kwaku O., Rao, Manoharprasad K., Strumolo, Gary Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US10/935,926
• Publication Number:
  US 20060052924A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,021 Days
• Field of Search: 701/45, 701/46, 701/93, 701/96, 701/300, 701/301, 340/436, 340/438, 340/439, 340/903, 280/735, 180/271
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0002 Type of accident
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/003 characterised by occupant or pedestian
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems

Abstract

A vehicle crash safety system includes a pre-crash sensing system generating an object threat assessment and vehicle dynamics data, an occupant sensing system generating occupant characteristic data, and an Occupant Safety Reference Model (OSRM) controller for generating a reference safety restraint deployment profile as a function of the object threat assessment, vehicle dynamics data and occupant characteristic data. An active restraint adaptation (ARA) controller in operative communication with the OSRM controller and a decentralized restraint controller. The ARA controller sends restraint deployment targets, and the safety restraint deployment profile to the decentralized restraint controller. The ARA controller may modify input signals to the decentralized controller based on the real-time occupant position trajectory. The decentralized restraint controller is adapted to operate the restraint system as a function of signals from the ARA controller and real-time occupant-restraint system interactions.

Claims

1. A vehicle crash safety system for an automotive vehicle comprising:

a pre-crash sensing system generating an object threat assessment and vehicle dynamics data;

an occupant sensing system generating occupant characteristic data;

an occupant safety reference model (OSRM) controller in electronic communication with said pre-crash sensing system and said occupant sensing system, said OSRM controller generating a reference safety restraint deployment profile as a function of said object threat assessment, vehicle dynamics data and occupant characteristic data;

an active restraint adaptation (ARA) controller in operative communication with said OSRM controller and a decentralized restraint controller, said ARA controller programmed to send restraint deployment targets, and said reference safety restraint deployment profile to the decentralized restraint controller, and modify input signals to the decentralized controller as a function of real-time occupant-safety system interaction;

a restraint system under the control of the decentralized restraint controller, said restraint controller in operative communication with said ARA controller, said restraint controller programmed to operate said restraint system based on the targets from the ARA controller and the reference safety restraint deployment profile as a function of real-time occupant-safety system interaction.

2. A system as recited in claim 1 comprising a collision sensing system for confirming a crash event.

3. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said restraint system comprises an airbag system.

4. A system as recited in claim 3 wherein said airbag system comprises a multi-stage airbag system with variable venting.

5. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said OSRM controller and ARA controller comprise a centralized controller architecture separate from said decentralized restraint controller.

6. A system as recited in claim 5 wherein said reference safety restraint deployment profile comprises a desired occupant ride-down profile.

7. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said occupant characteristic data includes occupant weight, position and velocity within the vehicle.

8. A system as recited in claim 7 wherein said occupant characteristic data includes seat position and incline data, seat belt usage indicator, and an occupant classifier.

9. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said object threat assessment data includes closing velocity, approach angle and obstacle type, and the predicted velocity-dependent severity.

10. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said vehicle dynamics data includes vehicle speed, yaw rate and steering angle.

11. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said restraint system comprises at least one of a driver airbag system, a passenger airbag system, a side airbag system, a curtain airbag system, a seatbelt system, a deployable knee-bolster system, a deployable lower extremity protection system, a deployable steering system, or an occupant anti-submaring system.

12. A method for operating a vehicle crash safety system for an automotive vehicle comprising:

generating a pre-crash threat assessment signal and vehicle dynamics data from a pre-crash sensing system;

generating occupant characteristic data from an occupant sensing system;

generating a reference safety restraint deployment profile as a function of said pre-crash threat assessment signal, vehicle dynamics data and occupant characteristic data;

communicating said reference safety restraint deployment profile to a restraint system under the control of a respective restraint controller, said restraint controller adapted to operate said restraint system as a function of said reference safety restraint deployment profile; and

in response to a crash event, tracking said reference safety restraint deployment profile during said crash event as a function of real-time occupant-restraint system interaction.

13. A method as recited in claim 12 wherein said restraint system comprises a multi-stage airbag with variable venting, and wherein the step of modifying includes monitoring, during said crash event, an occupant head position, and relative velocity with respect to said airbag and vehicle interior, and in response to said occupant head position, adaptively controlling at least one of an airbag inflation rate or venting rate.

14. A method as recited in claim 12 wherein said restraint comprises an airbag and said reference safety restraint deployment profile comprises a desired occupant initial position and ride-down profile.

15. A method as recited in claim 12 comprising determining pre-crash sensing confidence thresholds, and if confidence thresholds are met, deploying the restraint system before impact or pre-arming, otherwise, deploying said safety restraint only in response to a confirmed collision event.

16. A method as recited in claim 12 wherein said restraint system comprises at least one of a driver airbag system, a passenger airbag system, a side airbag system, a curtain airbag system, a seatbelt system, a deployable knee-bolster system, a deployable lower extremity protection system, a deployable steering system, or an occupant anti-submaring system.

17. A method as recited in claim 12 wherein said occupant characteristic data includes at least one of occupant weight, occupant position within the vehicle, seat position and incline data, seat belt usage indicator, and an occupant classifier.

18. A method as recited in claim 12 wherein the step of communicating includes pre-crash deployment or adjusting the restraint deployment thresholds of said restraint in accordance with said reference safety restraint deployment profile.

19. A vehicle crash safety system for an automotive vehicle comprising:

a pre-crash sensing system generating an object threat assessment;

an occupant sensing system generating occupant characteristic data;

an occupant safety reference model (OSRM) controller in electronic communication with said pre-crash sensing system and said occupant sensing system, said OSRM controller generating a reference occupant ride-down profile as a function of said object threat assessment and occupant characteristic data;

a collision sensing system for signaling a crash event;

an active restraint adaptation (ARA) controller in operative communication with said OSRM controller and a decentralized restraint controller, said ARA controller programmed to send restraint deployment targets and said reference safety restraint deployment profile to the decentralized restraint controller, and modify input signals to the decentralized controller as a function of real-time occupant-safety system interaction;

a multi-stage, variable venting airbag system under the control of the decentralized restraint controller, said decentralized restraint controller remotely located from and in operative communication with said ARA controller, said restraint controller programmed to operate said restraint system before or after impact based on said targets from the ARA, and the reference safety restraint deployment profile as a function of real-time occupant-restraint system interaction.

20. A system as recited in claim 19 wherein said restraint controller tracks and modifies within predefined occupant state and actuator constraints, at least one of airbag deployment flow rate or venting rate, during said crash event, based on detected occupant head position or occupant relative velocity with respect to said airbag and vehicle interior.