Enhanced front impact detection utilizing pressure tube sensor

Abstract

A method for controlling an actuatable safety device (110) for helping to protect a vehicle occupant includes sensing left-front and right-front pressure values via a pressure tube sensor (18). The method also includes executing pressure tube metrics that evaluate the left-front and right-front pressure values and selecting switched crash thresholds in response to the pressure tube metrics. The method also includes sensing vehicle acceleration parameters (99) and executing one or more crash metrics that evaluate the vehicle acceleration parameters to determine whether the switched crash thresholds are exceeded. The method further includes controlling deployment of the actuatable safety device (110) in response to determining that the switched crash thresholds are exceeded. A vehicle safety system (100) implements the method.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.