EP0458796B1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Process for releasing restraining means
Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
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Filing: 1990-01-27
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Granted: 1992-11-11
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Expires: 2010-01-27
Abstract
Abstract In a process for releasing restraining means in a safety system for vehicle occupants, an acceleration signal is measured and integrated with respect to time to yield a speed signal. In order to form a release criterion for the restraining means, at least one threshold value is predetermined for the speed signal. This threshold value can be adapted to special accident situations (e.g., oblique collision) by varying it in function of vehicle operating parameters in order to ensure faster release of the restraining means.
Inventors
- 👤 Bernhard Mattes
- 👤 Werner Nitschke
- 👤 Willi Kuehn
- 👤 Wolfgang Drobny
- 👤 Hugo Weller
- 👤 Peter Taufer
- 👤 Edmund Jeenicke
- 👤 Klaus Reischle
- 👤 Michael Henne
- 👤 Wilfried Burger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 22:09
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/01; B60R21/013; B60R21/0132; B60R21/0133; B60R2021/01322
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 49
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
Process for triggering restraining means in the case of a safety system for vehicle occupants, in which process an acceleration signal is measured, the said acceleration signal is converted by integration with respect to time into a speed, and in which process at least one threshold value can be predetermined for the speed in order to form a triggering criterion, characterized in that the threshold value used as the triggering criterion can be varied as a function of one or more state variables or of temporally prior state variables of the vehicle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
92 words
Process for triggering restraining means in the case of a safety system for vehicle occupants, in which process an acceleration signal is measured, the said acceleration signal is converted by integration with respect to time into a speed, and in which process at least one threshold value can be predetermined for the speed in order to form a triggering criterion, characterized in that the threshold value used as the triggering criterion can be varied as a function of one or more state variables or of temporally prior state variables of the vehicle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
107 words
Process for triggering restraining means in the case of a safety system for vehicle occupants, in which process an acceleration signal is measured, the said acceleration signal is weighted by a weighting function, the weighted acceleration signal is converted by integration with respect to time into an operational signal, and in which process at least one threshold value can be predetermined for the operational signal in order to form a triggering criterion, characterized in that the weighting or the threshold value used as the triggering criterion can be varied as a function of one or more state variables or of temporally prior state variables of the vehicle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
107 words
Process for triggering restraining means in the case of a safety system for vehicle occupants, in which process an acceleration signal is measured, the said acceleration signal is weighted by a weighting function, the weighted acceleration signal is converted by integration with respect to time into an operational signal, and in which process at least one threshold value can be predetermined for the operational signal in order to form a triggering criterion, characterized in that the weighting or the threshold value used as the triggering criterion can be varied as a function of one or more state variables or of temporally prior state variables of the vehicle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
Process according to Claim 2, characterized in that the weighting can be varied as a function of one or more state variables or of temporally prior state variables of the vehicle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
102 words
Process for triggering restraining means in the case of a safety system for vehicle occupants, in which process an acceleration signal is measured, a speed is formed by integration with respect to time, and this speed is converted by weighting into an operational signal, and in which process at least one threshold value can be predetermined for the operational signal in order to form a triggering criterion, characterized in that the weighting or the threshold value used as the triggering criterion can be varied as a function of one or more state variables or of temporally prior state variables of the vehicle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
102 words
Process for triggering restraining means in the case of a safety system for vehicle occupants, in which process an acceleration signal is measured, a speed is formed by integration with respect to time, and this speed is converted by weighting into an operational signal, and in which process at least one threshold value can be predetermined for the operational signal in order to form a triggering criterion, characterized in that the weighting or the threshold value used as the triggering criterion can be varied as a function of one or more state variables or of temporally prior state variables of the vehicle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
126 words
Process for triggering restraining means in the case of a safety system for vehicle occupants, in which process an acceleration signal is measured, the said acceleration signal is weighted by a first weighting function, the weighted acceleration signal is converted by integration with respect to time into a first operational signal, the said first operational signal is converted by a second weighting function into a second operational signal, and in which process at least one threshold value can be predetermined for the operational signal in order to form a triggering criterion, characterized in that the weightings or the threshold value used as the triggering criterion can be varied as a function of one or more state variables or of temporally prior state variables of the vehicle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
126 words
Process for triggering restraining means in the case of a safety system for vehicle occupants, in which process an acceleration signal is measured, the said acceleration signal is weighted by a first weighting function, the weighted acceleration signal is converted by integration with respect to time into a first operational signal, the said first operational signal is converted by a second weighting function into a second operational signal, and in which process at least one threshold value can be predetermined for the operational signal in order to form a triggering criterion, characterized in that the weightings or the threshold value used as the triggering criterion can be varied as a function of one or more state variables or of temporally prior state variables of the vehicle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
Process according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the acceleration signal itself or signals derived therefrom (e.g. the vehicle speed) are used as the state variable.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
Process according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the time elapsed in the crash is used as one of the state variables.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
Process according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the times elapsed since the overshooting of threshold values by one or more state variables are used to form a triggering criterion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
Process according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that not only one or more instantaneous state variables of the vehicle, but also temporally prior state variables of the vehicle are used to form a triggering criterion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
Process according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the output signals of one or more sensors are used as one or more state variables.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
Process according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that in the case of a sensor having a defined switching performance, the threshold value or the weighting functions can be varied as a function of the switching state of this sensor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
64 words
Process according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that a first threshold value is predetermined for the acceleration, in that an amplitude value of the acceleration-time curve is detected by means of a sensor, ant in that a second threshold value used as the triggering criterion is varied if the amplitude value of the acceleration-time curve overshoots the first threshold value.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
87 words
Process according to one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that a first threshold value (as) of the acceleration (a) is predetermined, in that a plurality of amplitude values (ai) of the acceleration-time curve (a=a (t)) are detected at intervals in time, in that the arithmetic mean value (ai) is formed from the plurality of amplitude values (ai) and in that the second threshold value (DV threshold) used as the triggering criterion is varied - independently of the mean value (ai) of the last acceleration values.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
Process according to one of Claims 1 to 12, characterized in that at least five amplitude values (ai) are detected in order to form the mean value (ai).
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
83 words
Process according to one of Claims 1 to 13, characterized in that a first threshold value (as) of the acceleration (a) and a characteristic (f (ai)) assigned to acceleration values (ai) are predetermined, in that at least one amplitude value (ai) of the acceleration-time curve (a=a (t)) is detected, and in that a second threshold value used as the triggering criterion is varied if the value of the characteristic (f (ai)) assigned to the amplitude value (ai) overshoots the first threshold value (as).
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
Process according to one of Claims 1 to 14 characterized in that the second threshold value (DV threshold) used as the triggering criterion is reduced.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
Process according to one of Claims 1 to 15 characterized in that the DV threshold is raised or lowered in accordance with a time-dependent function.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
Process according to one of Claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the DV threshold is raised or lowered in accordance with a function dependent upon the integrator state.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
36 words
Process according to one of Claims 1 to 17, characterized in that the DV threshold is raised or lowered both in accordance with a time-dependent function and by a function dependent upon a DV integrator state.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
72 words
Process according to one of Claims 1 to 18, characterized in that besides the usual integrator (reference integrator) an additional integrator (triggering integrator) is provided, which differs from the reference integrator both in accordance with a time-dependent function and in accordance with a function dependent upon the reference indicator state, and in that the comparison between the DV threshold and the value of the triggering integrator is used as the triggering criterion,
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
48 words
Process according to one of Claims 1 to 19, characterized in that all the variations of the DV threshold are likewise superimposed over the integrator (reference integrator), and in that the triggering integrator formed by this measure then serves together with the DV threshold as the triggering criterion.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
Process according to one of Claims 1 to 20, characterized in that the DV threshold is reduced or raised in accordance with a linearfunction oftime.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
30 words
Process according to one of Claims 1 to 21, characterized in that the DV threshold is reduced or raised in accordance with a non-linear, in particular quadratic, function of time.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
39 words
Process according to one of Claims 1 to 22, characterized in that the DV threshold is reduced with the establishment of the reduction criterion, but is raised once again with a time delay after cancellation of the reduction criterion.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
Process according to one of Claims 1 to 23, characterized in that the time delay is a few milliseconds.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
48 words
Process according to one of Claims 1 to 24, characterized in that the gradient of the acceleration-time curve (a = a(t) ) is detected, and in that the DV threshold is varied, in particular lowered, if the detected gradient of the acceleration-time curve overshoots a predeterminable limiting value.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
46 words
Process according to one of Claims 1 to 25, characterized in that an acceleration signal is detected, and in that before the determination of the speed signal by integration in respect of time of the acceleration signal, the acceleration signal values are modified by an operator.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
22 words
Process according to one of Claims 1 to 26, characterized in that the acceleration signal values are combined with an additive constant.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
22 words
Process according to one of Claims 1 to 27, characterized in that the acceleration signal values are combined with a multiplicative factor.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
23 words
Process according to one of Claims 1 to 28, characterized in that values of a characteristic are assigned to the acceleration signal values.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
25 words
Process according to one of Claims 1 to 29, characterized in that values of a family of characteristics are assigned to the acceleration signal values.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
94 words
Process according to one of Claims 1 to 30, characterized in that a speed signal (DV) is formed by integration with respect to time of the acceleration signal or of a function of the acceleration signal, in that a basic threshold value (DV basic threshold DVG) is established for the speed signal, in that at least one further threshold value (DV1) is established for the speed signal, and in that the DV threshold value is varied, in particular reduced, if the DV integrator (DVI) overshoots the further threshold value (DV1) of the speed signal.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
66 words
Process according to one of Claims 1 to 31, characterized in that at least two threshold values (DV1, DV2), of the speed signal are established, and in that the DV basic threshold value (DVG) is varied, in particular lowered, for as long as the DV integrator (DVI) is located inside the range delimited by the threshold values (DV1, DV2), ora minimum DV threshold value is reached.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
58 words
Process according to one of Claims 1 to 32, characterized in that at least the higher threshold value (DV2) of the threshold values (DV1, DV2) of the speed signal is selected in a time-dependent manner, and varied in a time-dependent manner at least from the instant (T1) at which the DV integrator (DVI) overshoots the threshold value (DV1).
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
25 words
Process according to one of Claims 1 to 33, characterized in that the two threshold values (DV1, DV2) can be varied in a time-dependent manner.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
27 words
Process according to one of Claims 1 to 34, characterized in that the threshold values (DV1, DV2) are dependent upon time in accordance with a linear relationship.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
24 words
Process according to one of Claims 1 to 35, characterized in that the threshold values (DV1, DV2) linearly dependent upon time have different gradients.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
45 words
Process according to one of Claims 1 to 36, characterized in that upon overshooting of a predeterminable lower threshold (DV1) by the reference integrator (R1) at least one timing element is started, which during its running time effects a variation in the DV threshold (DVG).
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
18 words
Process according to one of Claims 1 to 37, characterized in that the DV threshold (DVG) is raised.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
18 words
Process according to one of Claims 1 to 38, characterized in that the DV threshold (DVG) is reduced.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
66 words
Process according to one of Claims 1 to 39, characterized in that the extent of the,variation in the DV threshold (DVG) is selected as a function of acceleration amplitudes, of acceleration amplitudes of specific polarity, or as a function of the value of an integrator state, in order, in particular, to prevent instances of faulty triggering due to brief acceleration signals of high amplitude (jolting, impact).
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
30 words
Process according to one of Claims 1 to 40, characterized in that the at least one timing element is reset once again upon undershooting of the predeterminable lower threshold (DV1).
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
37 words
Process according to one of Claims 1 to 41, characterized in that in order to attain a desired triggering response, the DV threshold (DVG) is varied during the running times of the at least one timing element.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
21 words
Process according to one of Claims 1 to 42, characterized in that a counter circuit is used for each timing element.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
34 words
Process according to one of Claims 1 to 43, characterized in that, in order to represent a plurality of timing elements, a counter circuit is used which can be interrogated for specific counter states.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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