Method and apparatus for disabling an actuatable restraint based on determined crash velocity and displacement

An apparatus for controlling an actuatable restraint in a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

• an accelerometer providing a crash acceleration signal indicative of crash acceleration of the vehicle;
• velocity determining means coupled to said accelerometer for determining a crash velocity value from said crash acceleration signal;
• first comparing means for comparing said determined crash velocity value against a velocity threshold value and providing a first comparison signal indicative of the result of said comparison by said first comparing means;
• displacement determining means coupled to said accelerometer for determining a crash displacement value from said crash acceleration signal;
• second comparing means for comparing said determined crash displacement value against a displacement threshold value and providing a second comparison signal indicative of the result of said comparison by said second comparing means;
• deployment determining means coupled to and responsive to said crash acceleration signal for determining if a deployment crash event is occurring and for providing a deployment control signal when it determines that a deployment crash event is occurring;
• means for processing said deployment control signal with the first and second comparison signals so that said deployment control signal is prevented from actuating said actuatable restraint when said first comparison signal indicates that said determined velocity value is greater than said velocity threshold value and said second comparison signal means indicates that said determined displacement value is greater than said displacement threshold value.

A method for controlling an actuatable restraint comprising the steps of:

• sensing a vehicle crash condition;
• determining crash velocity;
• determining crash displacement;
• and
• actuating said restraint in response to said sensed crash condition, said determined crash velocity, and said determined crash displacement so that said restraint is not actuated if said determined crash velocity and crash displacement exceed associated limits prior to said step of sensing a vehicle crash condition sensing a deployment crash condition.

A method for controlling an actuatable restraint in a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

• sensing crash acceleration of the vehicle and providing a crash acceleration signal indicative of crash acceleration of the vehicle;
• determining a crash velocity value from said crash acceleration signal;
• comparing said determined crash velocity value against a velocity threshold value;
• providing a first comparison signal indicative of the result of said comparison of said crash velocity value against said velocity threshold value;
• determining a crash displacement value from said crash acceleration signal;
• comparing said determined crash displacement value against a displacement threshold value;
• providing a second comparison signal indicative of the result of said comparison of said crash displacement value against said displacement threshold value;
• determining if said actuatable restraint should be actuated based on said crash acceleration signal and providing a deployment control signal when it is determined that a deployment crash event is occurring;
• processing said deployment signal with the first and second comparison signals so that said deployment control signal is prevented from actuating said actuatable restraint when said determined velocity value is greater than said velocity threshold value and determined displacement value is greater than said displacement threshold value.