Vehicular safety systems status display

• US 8,239,101 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2009
• Issued: 08/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Tippy, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): LOUIE, WAE LENNY
• Application Number:
  US12/492,173
• Publication Number:
  US 20100332069A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,138 Days
• Field of Search: 701/29, 701/104, 701/45, 180/268, 180/284, 280/735
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0136 responsive to actual contact with an obstacle , e.g. to vehicle deformation, bumper displacement or bumper velocity relative to the vehicle monitoring crash strength in combination with passenger seat detection B60R21/01558

Abstract

Apparatus for a road vehicle has a plurality of deployable devices, each performing a crash safety function. A device controller controls deployment of a respective deployable device and that provides respective status messages according to a deployment status of the respective deployable device. Respective status messages for each deployable device include a ready message and a deployed message. A crash sensor detects a crash event when the vehicle is involved in an impact, wherein the crash sensor generates a crash event message. A display controller is coupled to the deployable devices to receive the status messages and coupled to the crash sensor to receive the crash event message. A display is coupled to the display controller for displaying status information to a driver of the vehicle. The displayed status information includes pre-crash status of the deployable devices and post-crash status of the deployable devices.

Claims

1. Apparatus for a road vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of deployable devices, each performing a crash safety function, wherein the deployable devices include a plurality of inflatable airbags;

at least one device controller that controls deployment of a respective deployable device and that provides respective status messages according to a deployment status of the respective deployable device, wherein respective status messages for a deployable device include a ready message and a deployed message;

a crash sensor detecting a crash event when the vehicle is involved in an impact, wherein the crash sensor generates a crash event message;

a display controller coupled to the device controller to receive the status messages, wherein the display controller further receives the crash event message; and

a display coupled to the display controller for displaying status information to a driver of the vehicle, wherein the displayed status information includes pre-crash status of the deployable devices and post-crash status of the deployable devices, wherein the post-crash status is displayed on the display in response to the display controller receiving the crash event message, wherein the display controller checks whether a deployed message was received for each inflatable airbag, and wherein the display controller generates a deployed icon for each inflatable airbag for which a respective deployed message was received.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pre-crash status displayed on the display includes a plurality of icons, wherein the display controller checks whether a ready message was received for each deployable device, and wherein the display controller generates a readiness icon for each deployable device having a respective ready message.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein a readiness icon on the pre-crash status display corresponding to an inflatable airbag for which a respective ready message has been received is colored in green to indicate readiness.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein a not-ready icon is colored in red to indicate lack of readiness on the pre-crash status display corresponding to each inflatable airbag for which a respective ready message was not received.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pre-crash status displayed on the display includes a plurality of icons, wherein the controller checks whether a ready message was received for each deployable device, and wherein the display controller generates a not-ready icon for each deployable device for which a respective ready message was not received.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the display controller checks whether a deployed message was received for each deployable device, and wherein the display controller generates a deployed icon for each deployable device for which a respective deployed message was received.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the deployable devices include a deployable device with a driver resettable feature, wherein the display controller checks whether a deployed message was received for the deployable device with the driver resettable feature, and if the deployed message was received then the display controller generates a text message on the display providing instructions for resetting the driver resettable feature.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the deployable device with a driver resettable feature is comprised of a fuel pump and wherein the device controller is comprised of an engine control unit for selectively activating the fuel pump.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the crash sensor is incorporated within a deployable device.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the status messages further include a fault message and wherein the pre-crash status and post-crash status are displayed with a respective fault icon for each deployable device for which a respective fault message was received.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the post-crash status includes a display element indicating a location of impact on the vehicle that has been detected by the crash sensor.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the display controller and display are integrated with a vehicle navigation system.