Activation control apparatus for occupant protection apparatus

An activation control apparatus for controlling activation of an occupant protection apparatus that protects an occupant during collision of a vehicle, comprising:

• a first sensor disposed in a vehicle body to be located at a predetermined position, the first sensor outputting a signal corresponding to deceleration acting on the vehicle;
• a second sensor disposed in the vehicle body to be located forward with respect to the first sensor, the second sensor outputting a signal corresponding to deceleration acting on the vehicle;
• collision severity determination means for determining, on the basis of the signals output from the first and second sensors, a collision speed experienced by the vehicle;
• collision symmetry determination means for determining, on the basis of the signals output from the first and second sensors, whether a collision portion of the vehicle involved in the collision has symmetry;
• delay time changing means for changing, on the basis of the collision speed determined by the collision severity determination means and results of the symmetry determination performed by the collision symmetry determination means, a delay time to be provided between a point in time when a first output of the occupant protection apparatus is activated and a point in time when a second output of the occupant protection apparatus is activated;
• wherein when the collision severity determination means determines that the collision speed experienced by the vehicle is high or the collision speed experienced by the vehicle is low relative to a threshold and the collision symmetry determination means determines that the collision portion of the vehicle does not have symmetry, the delay time changing means sets the delay time to a long time as compared with a case in which the collision portion of the vehicle has symmetry;
• and
• activation control means for controlling the activation of the first and second outputs of the occupant protection apparatus on the basis of the delay time changed by the delay time changing means.