Vehicle impact-sensing method with improved severity discrimination
US6496764B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 23, 2001 |
| Grant date | Dec 17, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 23, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB60R2021/01315
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A vehicle impact-sensing system is disclosed which discriminates a severe impact event from a minor impact incident. The sensing system is enabled by a preliminary stage of the sensing algorithm in response to an occurrence of an acceleration in excess of an enabling threshold. In the sensing algorithm, a first phase evaluates the likelihood potential of an impact event using a measure derived from the signals provided by a remote sensor at the front end of the vehicle. A second phase determines the timing to trigger the deployment of airbags by using the predicted occupant movement as the measure. A third phase determines the severity of the impact event using a measure derived from accelerometer signals and deploys either a single-stage or a multi-stage inflation of airbags.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.