Method and apparatus for controlling an actuatable restraining device using switched thresholds based on crush zone sensors
US6776435B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 9, 2001 |
| Grant date | Aug 17, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 17, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB60R2021/01027
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The present invention is directed to controlling a vehicle multistage actuatable occupant restraining system (14, 18). A crash sensor (32, 36) senses crash acceleration and provides a crash acceleration signal (110, 160) indicative thereof. Crash velocity and crash displacement are determined (118, 168) in response to the crash acceleration signal. A first stage (90, 94) of the multistage actuatable occupant restraining system is actuated when the determined crash velocity as a function of crash displacement exceeds a low threshold (130, 132, 180, 182). A crush zone accelerometer (40, 42) senses crash acceleration at a crush zone location. The crush zone acceleration as a function of the crash displacement is compared (226, 256) against a crush zone threshold (220, 222, 250, 252). The value of the low threshold (130, 180) is switched to a different value (132, 182) when the crush zone acceleration exceeds the crush zone threshold.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.