# US 8,463,500 B2 · Method for operating a pre-crash sensing system to deploy airbags using inflation control

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- Number: US 8,463,500 B2
- Document ID: US8463500B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/277,999
- Filed: 2006-03-30
- Published: 2007-10-04
- Granted: 2013-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2006-03-30
- Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Applicants: Mark Cuddihy; Manoharprasad K. Rao; Ian Hall
- Inventors: Mark Cuddihy; Manoharprasad K. Rao; Ian Hall
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8463500B2

## CPC

- B60R 21/0132: responsive to vehicle motion parameters {, e.g. to vehicle longitudinal or transversal deceleration or speed value}
- B60R 21/0134: responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle {, e.g. using radar systems}
- B60R 21/01512: {Passenger detection systems}
- B60R 21/01554: {Seat position sensors}
- B60R 21/01544: {detecting seat belt parameters, e.g. length, tension or height-adjustment}
- B60R 2021/01231: {control of expansion timing or sequence}
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A method of operating a restraint system comprises deploying an airbag in response to a pre-crash sensing system prior to collision in a first stage and controlling an inflation of the airbag in a second stage in response to acceleration signals of the vehicle.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of operating a restraint system comprising:
deploying an airbag prior to a collision in pre-collision mode in response to a pre-crash sensing system output signal including a predicted time to impact;
activating active vents based on the predicted time to impact;
confirming a collision using vehicle acceleration signals, wherein the collision is confirmed at an elapsed time that differs from the predicted time to impact;
adjusting the predicted time to impact based on the vehicle acceleration signals; and
controlling the active vents according to the adjusted predicted time to impact.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A method as recited in claim 1 wherein controlling the active vents comprises controlling the timing of an airbag vent.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A method as recited in claim 2 wherein the timing of the vent is determined in response to an occupant characteristic.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

A method as recited in claim 2 wherein the timing of the vent is determined in response to a seat position.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the airbag comprises a dual stage airbag comprising the first stage and the second stage with a means to control time delay between the two stages.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising monitoring a seatbelt status and wherein controlling the active vent comprises controlling the inflation also in response to the seatbelt status.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising determining an occupant characteristic and wherein controlling the active vents comprises controlling the active vents also in response to the occupant characteristics.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising classifying a collision into a collision classification in response to a pre-crash sensing system.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

A method as recited in claim 8 wherein the block of classifying comprises scanning a frontal zone with a pre-crash sensing system.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

A method as recited in claim 8 wherein the block of classifying comprises determining a relative velocity of a threat.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising determining a confidence factor threshold and a pre-crash collision confidence factor and wherein deploying comprises deploying in response to comparing the confidence factor and the confidence factor threshold.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

A method as recited in claim 11 wherein if the confidence factor is not above a threshold, determining a collision in response to a vehicle accelerometer and wherein controlling the restraint system in response to the vehicle accelerometer in a post-collision mode.

### Claim 13

A method of operating an airbag having a controllable vent comprising:
deploying an airbag prior to a crash in response to a pre-crash sensing system output including a predicted time to impact;
operating an airbag vent to control a rate of inflation;
determining a crash severity;
determining occupant information;
confirming a crash using vehicle acceleration signals wherein the crash is confirmed at a point in time other than the predicted time to impact;
adjusting a predicted time to impact based on the vehicle acceleration signals; and
operating the airbag vent in response to confirmation of the crash, the crash severity, the occupant information, and the adjusted predicted time to impact.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

A method as recited in claim 13 wherein determining occupant information comprises determining belted or unbelted status.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

A method as recited in claim 13 wherein determining occupant information comprises determining a weight range.