Proximity suppression system tester
AssigneeEaton Corporation
InventorsAlan J. Hutchenreuther, Philip A. Derosier, Kathleen M. Krause
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method for testing an airbag proximity suppression system that includes a positioning system that controls movement of an occupant model and toward a suppression zone. A proximity sensor provides a first output signal indicative of when the occupant model actually enters the suppression zone by monitoring movement of a position marker. The airbag suppression system, the device under test, provides a second output signal indicative of when the airbag suppression system detects that the occupant model has entered the suppression zone. The timing difference between the first and second output signals is indicative of a performance factor of the airing suppression system.
Claims23
A testing system for determining a performance factor of an airbag suppression system sensor, which monitors movement of a vehicle passenger into a suppression zone, comprising:
- an occupant model;
- a positioning system that causes controlled movement of said occupant model into the suppression zone;
- a single proximity sensor, having an activation point defining an outer perimeter of the suppression zone, for detecting when said occupant model actually enters the suppression zone and generating a first output signal in response thereto;
- and
- a controller that determines the suppression system sensor performance factor based on said first output signal and a second output signal, said second output signal being generated by the suppression system sensor when said suppression system sensor detects said occupant model entering the suppression zone;
- wherein the suppression system sensor performance factor is indicative of a time difference between when said single proximity sensor detects said occupant model entering the suppression zone and when the suppression system sensor detects said occupant model entering the suppression zone.
A method of testing an airbag suppression system, comprising the steps of:
- moving an occupant model toward a suppression zone;
- determining a first state when said occupant model actually enters said suppression zone using a single proximity sensor having an activation point defining an outer perimeter of the suppression zone;
- determining a second state when a suppression system sensor detects that said occupant model has entered said suppression zone;
- and
- determining a performance factor of said suppression system sensor based on said first state and said second state.
A method of testing an airbag suppression system, comprising the steps of:
- moving an occupant model toward a suppression zone;
- determining an actual position of said occupant model when the airbag suppression system detects said occupant model crossing a perimeter of said suppression zone, said suppression zone perimeter defined by an activation point of a single proximity sensor;
- and
- comparing said actual position of said occupant model to said suppression zone perimeter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.