Method and apparatus for controlling a vehicle occupant protection device
US7499781B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 5, 2001 |
| Grant date | Mar 3, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 5, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB60R2021/0102
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method for controlling a vehicle occupant protection device includes the steps of providing a mass of a vehicle as an operand and a dependence between a deformation of the vehicle body and work to be performed for the deformation. The vehicle acceleration is recorded with an acceleration sensor. The vehicle occupant protection device is controlled as a function of the mass of the vehicle, the work, and the acceleration. To control the device, the mass and the dependence are stored in a memory. The actual deformation of the vehicle body that occurs during an accident is determined as a function of acceleration recorded, the work, and the mass of the vehicle. The vehicle occupant protection device is controlled as a function of the actual deformation of the vehicle body or of a variable derived from it. An apparatus for controlling the device includes an acceleration sensor having a memory and an arithmetic unit.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.