US5285188A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle collision detecting system
Assignee: Takata Corp
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Filing: 1992-05-29
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Granted: 1994-02-08
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Expires: 2012-05-29
Abstract
Abstract A vehicle collision detecting system includes an impact sensor, a distance sensor for detecting a distance to an obstacle, a differential circuit for differentiating the distance to provide a relative speed, and a microcomputer for computing a distance after a time, based on the detected distance and the relative speed, and determining whether the computed distance becomes zero within a predetermined time. If the calculated distance becomes zero within the predetermined time, a collision unavoidable signal is generated. A collision signal or air bag activating signal is then generated as soon as an impact is detected by the impact detector.
Inventors
- 👤 Ryouichi Yoshida
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 11:24
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/01; B60R21/013; B60R21/0134
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
207 words
A vehicle collision detecting system, comprising: an impact detecting sensor provided at the front portion of a vehicle, said impact detecting sensor outputting a signal immediately after detecting an initial impact caused by collision of the vehicle; and a vehicle collision predicting unit for predicting a collision from a rate of change of a distance to an obstacle from said vehicle, said vehicle collision predicting unit comprising: detecting means for detecting said distance to the obstacle; differentiating means connected to said detecting means for finding said rate of change of said distance by differentiating said distance by time; computing means connected to said detecting means and said differentiating means for computing a distance D(t) after a time t as a function of time based on said distance and said rate of change, said computing means outputting a collision unavoidable signal when said distance D(t) is zero within a predetermined time T; and an AND gate connected to said vehicle collision predicting unit and said impact detecting sensor, said AND gate outputting a collision signal to an air bag system only when and immediately after said impact detecting sensor detects the initial impact after said vehicle collision predicting unit outputs a collision unavoidable signal to said AND gate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
207 words
A vehicle collision detecting system, comprising: an impact detecting sensor provided at the front portion of a vehicle, said impact detecting sensor outputting a signal immediately after detecting an initial impact caused by collision of the vehicle; and a vehicle collision predicting unit for predicting a collision from a rate of change of a distance to an obstacle from said vehicle, said vehicle collision predicting unit comprising: detecting means for detecting said distance to the obstacle; differentiating means connected to said detecting means for finding said rate of change of said distance by differentiating said distance by time; computing means connected to said detecting means and said differentiating means for computing a distance D(t) after a time t as a function of time based on said distance and said rate of change, said computing means outputting a collision unavoidable signal when said distance D(t) is zero within a predetermined time T; and an AND gate connected to said vehicle collision predicting unit and said impact detecting sensor, said AND gate outputting a collision signal to an air bag system only when and immediately after said impact detecting sensor detects the initial impact after said vehicle collision predicting unit outputs a collision unavoidable signal to said AND gate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The vehicle collision detecting system according to claim 1, wherein said time T is determined by dividing said distance by said rate of change of said distance.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The vehicle collision detecting system according to claim 1, wherein said differentiating means for finding said rate of change is a differential circuit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The vehicle collision detecting system according to claim 1, wherein said impact detecting sensor is set to detect an acceleration of at least 2 G.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
193 words
A vehicle collision detecting system, comprising: an impact sensor provided at a first front portion of a vehicle for generating an impact signal immediately after detecting an initial impact caused by collision of the vehicle; a distance detector provided at a second front portion of said vehicle for detecting a distance between said vehicle and an obstacle in front of said vehicle; a differential circuit connected to said distance detector for providing a rate of change of said distance; a control circuit including a microcomputer connected to said distance detector and said differential circuit for forming a function of time D(t) based on said distance and said rate of change and generating a collision unavoidable signal only if said function has a value of zero within a predetermined time T, and an AND gate connected to said microcomputer and said impact sensor for generating a collision signal only when and immediately after said impact detecting sensor detects the initial impact after said control circuit outputs said collision unavoidable signal to said AND gate; and an inflator activating circuit connected to said AND gate for activating an inflator upon reception of said collision signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
193 words
A vehicle collision detecting system, comprising: an impact sensor provided at a first front portion of a vehicle for generating an impact signal immediately after detecting an initial impact caused by collision of the vehicle; a distance detector provided at a second front portion of said vehicle for detecting a distance between said vehicle and an obstacle in front of said vehicle; a differential circuit connected to said distance detector for providing a rate of change of said distance; a control circuit including a microcomputer connected to said distance detector and said differential circuit for forming a function of time D(t) based on said distance and said rate of change and generating a collision unavoidable signal only if said function has a value of zero within a predetermined time T, and an AND gate connected to said microcomputer and said impact sensor for generating a collision signal only when and immediately after said impact detecting sensor detects the initial impact after said control circuit outputs said collision unavoidable signal to said AND gate; and an inflator activating circuit connected to said AND gate for activating an inflator upon reception of said collision signal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-02-07 | 1997-08-09 | 1998-02-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-02-07 | 2001-08-09 | 2002-02-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-02-07 | 2005-08-09 | 2006-02-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |