Method and apparatus for controlling an actuatable restraining device using XY side satellite accelerometers

An apparatus for controlling a vehicle actuatable occupant restraining system comprising:

• a central crash accelerometer sensing crash acceleration at a central vehicle location and providing a first crash acceleration signal indicative thereof;
• a XY side-satellite accelerometer mounted in a side structure of the vehicle for sensing crash accelerations and for providing XY side-satellite signals indicative thereof;
• and
• a controller actuating the actuatable occupant restraining system in response to the central crash acceleration signal and the XY side-satellite signals, wherein said controller determines a crash velocity value from said first crash acceleration signal and actuates said actuatable occupant restraining system as a first function of said crash velocity value when at least one of said XY side-satellite signals is at a first value and actuates said actuatable occupant restraining system as a second function of said crash velocity value when at least one of said XY side-satellite signals is at a second value.

An apparatus for controlling an actuatable occupant restraining system of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

• a first sensor located at a central vehicle location for sensing crash acceleration of the vehicle in a direction generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle and providing first signals indicative thereof;
• a second sensor located remote from the first sensor and adjacent a side of the vehicle, the second sensor configured to sense crash acceleration in a direction generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle and in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and to provide second signals indicative thereof;
• and
• a controller for actuating the actuatable occupant restraining system in response to the first and second signals, wherein said controller determines a crash velocity value and a crash displacement value from said first signal and actuates said actuatable occupant restraining system as a first function of said crash velocity value as a function of crash displacement when said signal from second sensor as a function of crash displacement is at a first value and actuates said actuatable occupant restraining system as a second function of said crash velocity value when said signal from said second sensor as a function of crash displacement is at a second value.

A method for controlling actuation of an actuatable occupant restraining system of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

• sensing crash acceleration in a direction generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle at a central vehicle location and providing first signals indicative thereof;
• sensing crash acceleration in a direction generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle and in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle at a location remote from the central vehicle location and adjacent a side of the vehicle and providing second signals indicative thereof;
• determining a crash velocity value and a crash displacement value from said first crash acceleration signal;
• and actuating the actuatable occupant restraining system as a first function of said crash velocity value when said second signal at a first value and actuating said actuatable occupant restraining system as a second function of said crash velocity value when said second signal is at a second value.

A method for controlling a vehicle actuatable occupant restraining system comprising the steps of:

• sensing forward crash acceleration at a central vehicle location;
• sensing forward crash acceleration at a side location of the vehicle;
• determining a crash velocity value and a crash displacement value from said sensed acceleration at the central location;
• and
• actuating the actuatable occupant restraining system as a first function of said crash velocity value when said signal from the side location is at a first value and actuating said actuatable occupant restraining system as a second function of said crash velocity value when said signal from the side location is at a second value.