Patent · US Expired

Control apparatus of occupant protection device

US6373147B1 · kind B1 · utility

9Cited by
3References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 27, 2000
Grant dateApr 16, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 27, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB60R2021/01006
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A control apparatus of an occupant protection device has at least one front acceleration sensor provided in a front part of a vehicle, in addition to a room acceleration sensor provided in a room of the vehicle. Whether the vehicle is in a collision requiring a drive of the occupant protection device is decided based on each of sensor outputs of the room and front acceleration sensors, respectively, and the occupant protection device is driven when the collision is detected based on at least one of the sensor outputs. Since the front acceleration sensor is provided in the front part of the vehicle, the front acceleration sensor detects a collision acceleration early and gives it to the control unit, even in case of a collision, such as the offset or an oblique collision, in which a collision acceleration transmitted to the room acceleration sensor may be weakened. Therefore, the control unit can exactly drive the occupant protection device without causing delay in collision detection.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.