# US 9,751,483 B2 · Control device for occupant protection device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,751,483 B2 - Document ID: US9751483B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/194,701 - Filed: 2016-06-28 - Published: 2016-11-10 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-10-24 - Assignees: Autoliv Development AB - Applicants: Autoliv Development AB - Inventors: Yoriko Nakamura - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9751483B2 ## 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 2021/01322: {comprising variable thresholds, e.g. depending from other collision parameters} - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract The occurrence of a vehicle collision is determined using an output signal of one satellite sensor disposed offset from a vehicle center line. A control device for an occupant protection device includes an acceleration sensor disposed at a front position of a vehicle; and a control unit that determines the occurrence of a collision based on an output signal of the acceleration sensor and operates an occupant protection device. The acceleration sensor is one satellite sensor disposed so as to be offset in a vehicle width direction from a vehicle front center position. The control unit includes: a first threshold setting unit that sets one or more thresholds so as to correspond to a traveling speed of the vehicle or a relative speed signal related to the relative speed between a vehicle and another movable objects such as another vehicle; and a determining unit that compares a level of the output signal of the acceleration sensor with the one or more thresholds to determine the occurrence of a collision. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A control device for an occupant protection device, comprising: an acceleration sensor disposed at a front position of a vehicle; a control unit that determines the occurrence of a collision based on a first output signal of the acceleration sensor and operates the occupant protection device, wherein the acceleration sensor is one satellite sensor disposed offset in a vehicle width direction from a vehicle front center position, and the control unit includes: a threshold setting unit that sets a threshold so as to correspond to a range of traveling speed of the vehicle or a relative speed between the vehicle and a movable object; and a determining unit that compares a level of the first output signal of the acceleration sensor with the threshold to determine the occurrence of a collision. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A control device for an occupant protection device in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a speed sensor for measuring the traveling speed of the vehicle and providing a first speed signal input to the control unit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A control device for an occupant protection device in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a ranging system for providing a second speed signal related to a relative speed between the vehicle and a movable object input to the control unit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A control device for an occupant protection device in accordance with claim 1 further comprising: a speed sensor for measuring the traveling speed of the vehicle and providing a first speed signal input to the control unit, a ranging system for providing a second speed signal related to a relative speed between the vehicle and a movable object input to the control unit, and the determining unit compares a level of the first or the second speed signals with the threshold to determine the occurrence of a collision. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A control device for an occupant protection device in accordance with claim 1 further comprising, a calculating unit that integrates the first output signal of the acceleration sensor to output a speed signal input to the control unit. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A control device for an occupant protection device in accordance with claim 1 further comprising: a speed sensor for measuring the traveling speed of the vehicle and providing a first speed signal input to the control unit, a ranging system for providing a second speed signal related to the relative speed between the vehicle and a movable object input to the control unit, and the control unit includes: a first threshold setting unit that sets a first threshold so as to correspond to a traveling speed of the vehicle as determined from the first speed signal or a relative speed between the vehicle and a movable object as determined from the second speed signal; a second threshold setting unit that sets a second threshold so as to correspond to the traveling speed of the vehicle as determined from the first speed signal or a relative speed between the vehicle and a movable object as determined from the second speed signal; the determining unit is configured to compare a level of the first or the second speed signals with the first threshold to determine the occurrence of a collision; and the determining unit is configured to compare the level of the first or the second speed signal with the second threshold to determine the occurrence of a collision. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The control device for an occupant protection device according to claim 6, wherein the first or the second threshold is expressed as a function of time elapsed from the occurrence of a collision, and time-change characteristics of the first or the second threshold is set in accordance with the traveling speed of the vehicle or the relative speed between the vehicle and a movable object. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The control device for an occupant protection device according to claim 6, wherein the first threshold setting unit sets the first threshold corresponding to a traveling speed of the vehicle or a relative speed between the vehicle and a movable object at a low velocity level range; and the second threshold setting unit sets the second threshold corresponding to a traveling speed of the vehicle or a relative speed between the vehicle and a movable object at a medium velocity level range, wherein the second threshold is set at a higher level than the first threshold. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The control device for an occupant protection device according to claim 6, wherein the first threshold setting unit sets the first threshold corresponding to a traveling speed of the vehicle or a relative speed between the vehicle and a movable object at a medium velocity level range; and the second threshold setting unit sets the second threshold corresponding to a traveling speed of the vehicle or a relative speed between the vehicle and a movable object at a high velocity level range, wherein the second threshold is set at a lower level than the first threshold. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The control device for an occupant protection device according to claim 6, further comprising, a third threshold setting unit that sets a third threshold so as to correspond to the traveling speed of the vehicle as determined from the first speed signal or a relative speed between the vehicle and a movable object as determined from the second speed signal; wherein the first threshold setting unit sets the first threshold corresponding to a traveling speed of the vehicle or a relative speed between the vehicle and a movable object at a low velocity level range; and the second threshold setting unit sets the second threshold corresponding to a traveling speed of the vehicle or a relative speed between the vehicle and a movable object at a medium velocity level range, and the third threshold setting unit sets the third threshold corresponding to a traveling speed of the vehicle or a relative speed between the vehicle and a movable object at a high velocity level range, wherein the second threshold is set at a higher level than the first threshold, and the third threshold is set at a lower level than the second threshold. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The control device for an occupant protection device according to claim 1, further comprising, wherein the occupant protection device is in the form of an inflatable restraint system. ### Claim 12 A control device for an occupant protection device, comprising: an acceleration sensor disposed at a front position of a vehicle; a control unit that determines the occurrence of a collision based on a first output signal of the acceleration sensor and operates the occupant protection device, wherein the acceleration sensor is one satellite sensor disposed offset in a vehicle width direction from a vehicle front center position, and the control unit includes: a threshold setting unit that sets a plurality of thresholds so as to correspond to a traveling speed range of the vehicle or a relative speed range between the vehicle and a movable object, the plurality of thresholds including two or more of a first threshold associated with a low vehicle speed range, a second threshold associated with a medium vehicle speed range, and a third threshold associated with a high vehicle speed range; and a determining unit that compares a level of the first output signal of the acceleration sensor with the plurality of thresholds to determine the occurrence of a collision. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A control device for an occupant protection device in accordance with claim 12 further comprising a speed sensor for measuring the traveling speed of the vehicle and providing a first speed signal input to the control unit. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) A control device for an occupant protection device in accordance with claim 12 further comprising a ranging system for providing a second speed signal related to a relative speed between the vehicle and a movable object input to the control unit. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The control device for an occupant protection device according to claim 12, wherein the second threshold is set at a higher level than the first threshold. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The control device for an occupant protection device according to claim 12, wherein the second threshold is set at a lower level than the first threshold. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The control device for an occupant protection device according to claim 12, further comprising, wherein the second threshold is set at a higher level than the first threshold, and the third threshold is set at a lower level than the second threshold. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The control device for an occupant protection device according to claim 12, further comprising the plurality of thresholds includes the first threshold, the second threshold, and the third threshold, wherein the second threshold is at a higher level than the first threshold, and the third threshold is at a lower level than the second threshold. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The control device for an occupant protection device according to claim 12, further comprising, wherein the occupant protection device is in the form of an inflatable restraint system.