US5424583A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for triggering a passive safety system
Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
•
Filing: 1992-05-18
•
Granted: 1995-06-13
•
Expires: 2012-05-18
Abstract
Abstract A device for triggering a passive safety system in a vehicle upon detection of an impact. At least two acceleration sensors, the sensitivity axes of which are aligned for detecting an angle of a frontal impact, are each assigned to a signal channel which, in series with the respective impact sensor, comprises an evaluation circuit, particularly an integrator circuit for its output signals, and a threshold value circuit. During the formation of the speed integral, the physical signal course and the course of the signal edges is evaluated by several logic units in a logical unit (LOG) in order to obtain factors which influence the integration constant of integrators (by multiplication and reduction) to enlarge the area that can be evaluated.
Inventors
- 👤 Hans Spies
- 👤 Peter Hora
- 👤 Gunter Fendt
- 👤 Kenneth Francis
- 👤 Helmut Steurer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 18:27
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/01; B60R21/013; B60R21/0132; B60R21/0133; G; G01; G01P; G01P15/00; G01P15/02; G01P15/08; B60R2021/01322
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
Apparatus for triggering a vehicle safety system of a vehicle upon detecting of an impact comprising: at least two acceleration sensors having sensitivity axes which are oriented to detect an angle of a frontal impact; at least two signal channels for processing acceleration signals generated by said acceleration sensors, one of said signal channels being connected to each of said acceleration sensors, each of said signal channels having an acceleration signal evaluation circuit for forming a speed signal, and a threshold value comparator circuit; logic means, coupled to receive said acceleration signals, for evaluating a time sequence of said acceleration signals including edges thereof, during an impact, and for generating integration factors; at least two integrators, each being coupled to receive outputs from said logic means; and means responsive to said integration factors for adjusting an integration constant and applying said integration constant to each of said at least two integrators.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
151 words
Apparatus for triggering a vehicle safety system of a vehicle upon detecting of an impact comprising: at least two acceleration sensors having sensitivity axes which are oriented to detect an angle of a frontal impact; at least two signal channels for processing acceleration signals generated by said acceleration sensors, one of said signal channels being connected to each of said acceleration sensors, each of said signal channels having an acceleration signal evaluation circuit for forming a speed signal, and a threshold value comparator circuit; logic means, coupled to receive said acceleration signals, for evaluating a time sequence of said acceleration signals including edges thereof, during an impact, and for generating integration factors; at least two integrators, each being coupled to receive outputs from said logic means; and means responsive to said integration factors for adjusting an integration constant and applying said integration constant to each of said at least two integrators.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the logic means has a variable triggering threshold that is a function of both a constant and a variable of integration.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, when the speed signal is formed only by acceleration values which exceed a defined slope are determined.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the integrators use variable integration constants to form an integral.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the integration constant is determined as a function of a combination of thresholds and edge steepness of the edges of said acceleration signals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the integration constant is determined as a function of successive acceleration values.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the integration constant is a function of an angle at which the vehicle impacts an object.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein when the speed signal is formed only by acceleration values which exceed a defined slope are determined.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein during the determination of said angle by said logic means, an acceleration signal time window of a selected length is used by said logic means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when the speed signal is formed only by acceleration values which exceed a defined slope are determined.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein variable integration constants form an integral.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the integrators use variable integration constants to form an integral.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the integration constant is determined as a function of a combination of thresholds and edge steepness of the edges of said acceleration signals.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the integration constant is determined as a function of successive acceleration values.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the integration constant is determined as a function of a combination of thresholds and edge steepness of the edges of said acceleration signals.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the integration constant is determined as a function of successive acceleration values.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
162 words
Apparatus for triggering a vehicle safety system of a vehicle upon detection of an impact comprising: at least two acceleration sensors having sensitivity axes which are oriented to detect an angle of a frontal impact; at least two signal channels for processing acceleration signals generated by said acceleration sensors, one of said signal channels being connected to each of said acceleration sensors, each of said signal channels having an acceleration signal evaluation circuit for forming a speed signal, and a threshold value comparator circuit; logic means, coupled to receive said acceleration signals, for evaluating a time sequence of said acceleration signals including edges thereof, during an impact, and for generating integration factors; at least two integrators, each being coupled to receive outputs from said logic means; means responsive to said integration factors for adjusting an integration constant and applying said integration constant to each of said at least two integrators; and wherein instead of the integration constant, the acceleration signal is varied.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
162 words
Apparatus for triggering a vehicle safety system of a vehicle upon detection of an impact comprising: at least two acceleration sensors having sensitivity axes which are oriented to detect an angle of a frontal impact; at least two signal channels for processing acceleration signals generated by said acceleration sensors, one of said signal channels being connected to each of said acceleration sensors, each of said signal channels having an acceleration signal evaluation circuit for forming a speed signal, and a threshold value comparator circuit; logic means, coupled to receive said acceleration signals, for evaluating a time sequence of said acceleration signals including edges thereof, during an impact, and for generating integration factors; at least two integrators, each being coupled to receive outputs from said logic means; means responsive to said integration factors for adjusting an integration constant and applying said integration constant to each of said at least two integrators; and wherein instead of the integration constant, the acceleration signal is varied.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
170 words
Apparatus for triggering a vehicle safety system of a vehicle upon detection of an impact comprising: at least two acceleration sensors having sensitivity axes which are oriented to detect an angle of a frontal impact; at least two signal channels for processing acceleration signals generated by said acceleration sensors, one of said signal channels being connected to each of said acceleration sensors, each of said signal channels having an acceleration signal evaluation circuit for forming a speed signal, and a threshold value comparator circuit; logic means, responsive to said acceleration signals, for evaluating said acceleration signals during an impact in order to generate integration factors that vary according to time, direction, force and duration of said impact; at least two integrators, each being coupled to receive outputs from said logic means; one or more devices responsive to said integration factors for setting an integration constant applied to said integrators, and triggering means which vary the time between said impact and triggering of the safety system according to the integration constant.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
170 words
Apparatus for triggering a vehicle safety system of a vehicle upon detection of an impact comprising: at least two acceleration sensors having sensitivity axes which are oriented to detect an angle of a frontal impact; at least two signal channels for processing acceleration signals generated by said acceleration sensors, one of said signal channels being connected to each of said acceleration sensors, each of said signal channels having an acceleration signal evaluation circuit for forming a speed signal, and a threshold value comparator circuit; logic means, responsive to said acceleration signals, for evaluating said acceleration signals during an impact in order to generate integration factors that vary according to time, direction, force and duration of said impact; at least two integrators, each being coupled to receive outputs from said logic means; one or more devices responsive to said integration factors for setting an integration constant applied to said integrators, and triggering means which vary the time between said impact and triggering of the safety system according to the integration constant.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the logic means has a variable triggering threshold that is a function of both a constant and a variable of integration.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein, when the speed signal is formed only by acceleration values which exceed a defined slops are determined.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
(Once Amended) Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the integrators use variable integration constants to form an integral.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the integration constant is determined as a function of a combination of thresholds and edge steepness of the edges of said acceleration signals.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the integration constant is determined as a function of successive acceleration values.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the integration constant is a function of an angle at which the vehicle impacts an object.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 24, wherein, when the speed signal is formed only by acceleration values which exceed a defined slope are determined.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus according to claim 24, wherein during the determination of said angle by said logic means, an acceleration signal time window of a selected length is used by said logic means.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein, when the speed signal is formed only by acceleration values which exceed a defined slope are determined.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the integrators use variable integration constants to form an integral.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the integrators use variable integration constants to form an integral.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the integration constant is determined as a function of a combination of thresholds and edge steepness of the edges of said acceleration signals.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the integration constant is determined as a function of successive acceleration values.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein during the determination of an impact angle α, an acceleration signal time window of a selected length is used.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the integration constant is determined as a function of a combination of thresholds and edge steepness of the edges of said acceleration signals.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the integration constant is determined as a function of successive acceleration values.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4836024A
Cited
EP0311039A2
Cited
DE3816588A1
Cited
US5173614A
Cited
DE3924507A1
Cited
US5083276A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-06-12 | 1998-12-12 | 1999-06-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-06-12 | 2002-12-12 | 2003-06-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-06-12 | 2006-12-12 | 2007-06-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |