US 7,350,808 B2 · Activation control unit and control method thereof for occupant protection apparatus

Abstract

A floor sensor (14) is disposed at a center portion of a vehicle body (10) and front sensors (16, 18) are disposed at front portions of the vehicle body (10). An airbag apparatus (30) always activates when a value determined by the relationship between a floor deceleration (GF) detected by the floor sensor (14) and a change in floor velocity (Vn) exceeds a High Map toward the high side of the floor velocity. The airbag apparatus (30) also activates on the condition that the value determined by the relationship between the front deceleration (Gs*) detected by the front sensors (16, 18) and the change in floor velocity (Vn) exceeds a Front Map toward the high side of the floor deceleration (GF) when the value determined by the relationship between the floor deceleration (GF) detected by the floor sensor (14) and the change in floor velocity (Vn) exceeds the Low Map but does not exceed the High Map toward the high side of the floor velocity.

Claims31

Dependent claims

An activation control unit for an occupant protection apparatus comprising:

a first sensor disposed in a predetermined location in a vehicle, the first sensor outputting a signal indicative of a deceleration acting on the vehicle;
second sensors disposed farther forward than the location in which the first sensor is disposed in the vehicle, the second sensors outputting signals indicative of a deceleration acting on the vehicle;
and
an activation controller which determines whether to activate the occupant protection apparatus mounted in the vehicle,
wherein the activation controller makes a determination to activate the occupant protection apparatus both
i) when a deceleration obtained based on an output signal from the first sensor exceeds a first threshold value, and
ii) when the deceleration obtained based on the output signal from the first sensor exceeds a second threshold value that is smaller than the first threshold value and a deceleration obtained based on output signals from the second sensors exceeds a third threshold value,
wherein a front map is provided for the second sensors comprising the third threshold value which is plotted in a non-linear line, the third threshold value changes according to a variable so as to form a predetermined pattern.

5 more elements

An activation control unit for an occupant protection apparatus, comprising:

a first sensor disposed in a predetermined location in a vehicle, the first detecting a signal indicative of a deceleration acting on the vehicle;
second sensors disposed farther forward than the location in which the first sensor is disposed in the vehicle, the second sensors detecting signals indicative of a deceleration acting on the vehicle;
an activation determining portion which determines whether to activate the occupant protection apparatus based on whether the deceleration obtained based on the output signal from the first sensor exceeds a first threshold value, and;
a threshold value changing portion which changes the first threshold value in accordance with whether the deceleration obtained based on the output signals from the second sensors exceeds a second threshold value that changes in a predetermined pattern,
wherein a front map is provided for the second sensors comprising the second threshold value which is plotted in a non-linear line, the second threshold value changes according to a variable so as to form the predetermined pattern.

2 more elements

An activation control unit for an occupant protection apparatus, comprising:

a first sensor disposed in a predetermined location in a vehicle, the first sensor detecting a signal indicative of a first deceleration acting on the vehicle;
second sensors disposed farther forward than the location in which the first sensor is disposed in the vehicle, the second sensors detecting signals indicative of a second deceleration acting on the vehicle, a front map is provided for the second sensors comprising a second threshold value which is plotted in a non-linear line, the second threshold value changes according to a variable so as to form a predetermined pattern;
a threshold value setting portion which sets one value, from among at least a low and a high value, as a first threshold value based on whether the output signals from the second sensors exceed or do not exceed the second threshold value;
and
an activation determining portion which determines whether to activate the occupant protection apparatus based on whether the first deceleration obtained based on the output signal from the first sensor exceeds the first threshold value set by the threshold value setting portion.

2 more elements

A control method of an activation control unit for an occupant protection apparatus, comprising the steps of:

detecting a first deceleration acting on a predetermined location in a vehicle;
detecting a second deceleration acting on a location farther forward than the predetermined location in the vehicle;
and
determining whether to activate the occupant protection apparatus based on whether the first deceleration exceeds a first threshold value which is set according to whether the second deceleration exceeds a second threshold that changes in a predetermined pattern;
changing the first threshold value in accordance with whether the second deceleration exceeds the second threshold value, and
wherein a front map is provided for the second sensors comprising the second threshold value which is plotted in a non-linear line, the second threshold value changes according to a variable so as to form a predetermined pattern.

3 more elements

A control method of an activation control unit for an occupant protection apparatus, comprising the steps of:

detecting a first deceleration acting on a predetermined location in a vehicle with a first sensor;
detecting a second deceleration acting on a location farther forward than the predetermined location in the vehicle with second sensors, a front map is provided for the second sensors comprising a second threshold value which is plotted in a non-linear line, the second threshold value changes according to a variable so as to form a predetermined pattern;
setting one value, from among at least a high and a low value, as a first threshold value, based on whether the second deceleration exceeds or does not exceed the second threshold value;
and
determining whether to activate the occupant protective apparatus mounted in the vehicle based on whether the first deceleration exceeds the set first threshold value.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Activation control unit and control method thereof for occupant protection apparatus

Life of this patent

Activation control unit and control method thereof for occupant protection apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims31