Patent US5732375A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5732375A
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Method of inhibiting or allowing airbag deployment
Assignee: Signal IP Inc
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Filing: 1995-12-01
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Granted: 1998-03-24
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Expires: 2015-12-01
Abstract
Abstract An array of pressure sensors on a vehicle passenger seat senses the presence of an occupant including an infant seat and determines whether the infant seat faces forward or rearward. A microprocessor coupled to the sensors determines whether to allow or inhibit deployment based on the sensor load forces and the pattern of loading. The pattern can identify an infant seat and pattern and loading determine its orientation. Local areas are checked to detect child occupants. Fuzzy logic is used to determine loading and to recognize patterns.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert John Cashler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 20:04
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/01; B60R21/015; B60R21/01512; B60R21/01516; G; G06; G06V; G06V10/00; G06V10/20; G06V10/255; G06V40/00; G06V40/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A method of airbag control in a vehicle having an array of force sensors on the passenger seat coupled to a controller for determining whether to allow airbag deployment based on sensed force and force distribution comprising the steps of: measuring the force detected by each sensor; calculating the total force of the sensor array; allowing deployment if the total force is above a total threshold force; defining a plurality of seat areas, at least one sensor located in each seat area; determining the existence of a local pressure area when the calculated total force is concentrated in one of said seat areas; calculating a local force as the sum of forces sensed by each sensor located in the seat area in which the total force is concentrated; and allowing deployment if the local force is greater than a predefined seat area threshold force.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
144 words
A method of airbag control in a vehicle having an array of force sensors on the passenger seat coupled to a controller for determining whether to allow airbag deployment based on sensed force and force distribution comprising the steps of: measuring the force detected by each sensor; calculating the total force of the sensor array; allowing deployment if the total force is above a total threshold force; defining a plurality of seat areas, at least one sensor located in each seat area; determining the existence of a local pressure area when the calculated total force is concentrated in one of said seat areas; calculating a local force as the sum of forces sensed by each sensor located in the seat area in which the total force is concentrated; and allowing deployment if the local force is greater than a predefined seat area threshold force.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of airbag control as defined in claim 1 including: determining a pattern of sensor loading; determining from the pattern of sensor loading whether an infant seat is on the passenger seat; then determining from the total force and force distribution whether the infant seat is facing forward or rearward; allowing deployment for a forward facing seat; and inhibiting deployment for a rearward facing seat.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of airbag control as defined in claim 2 wherein the step of determining a pattern of sensor loading comprises detecting which sensors are below a first load threshold and which sensors are above a second load threshold.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
69 words
The method of airbag control as defined in claim 2 wherein the step of determining from the pattern of loaded sensors whether an infant seat is present comprises: establishing a table of loaded and unloaded sensor patterns which result from the configuration of the bottom of an infant seat; and deciding that an infant seat is present when the pattern of sensor loading matches one of the table patterns.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
82 words
The method of airbag control as defined in claim 2 wherein the step of determining whether the infant seat is facing forward or rearward comprises: deciding that the seat is facing forward when 1) the total force is greater than a first value, or 2) sensors in the front of the seat are loaded and the total force is greater than a second value; and deciding that the seat is facing rearward when both the conditions 1) and 2) are not true.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
82 words
The method of airbag control as defined in claim 1 including: determining a pattern of sensor loading; prior to the step of allowing deployment if the total force is above a total threshold force, determining from the pattern of sensor loading whether an infant seat is on the seat; then determining from the total force and force distribution whether the infant seat is facing forward or rearward; allowing deployment for a forward facing seat; and inhibiting deployment for a rearward facing seat.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of airbag control as defined in claim 1 wherein the defined seat areas overlap so that some sensors are included in more than one seat area, the seat areas including a front area, a rear area, a right area and a left area.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method of airbag control as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said seat areas includes a secondary group of sensors peculiar to that seat area and the method includes: calculating a modified local force for each secondary group located in a seat area in which the total force is concentrated; and allowing deployment if the modified local force for exceeds a threshold for that secondary group.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of airbag control as defined in claim 8 wherein each secondary group of sensors comprises a pair and the step of calculating a modified local force comprises limiting the higher sensor force to a maximum delta above the lower sensor force and adding the higher sensor force, as limited, to the lower sensor force.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
78 words
The method of airbag control as defined in claim 1 including the steps of: defining a center seat area including a group of sensors located in the center of the passenger seat, calculating a local force for the center seat area as the sum of the forces sensed by the sensors in the center seat area; and allowing deployment if the local force for the center seat area is greater than a predefined center seat area threshold force.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
143 words
A method of airbag control in a vehicle having an array of force sensors on the passenger seat coupled to a controller for determining whether to allow airbag deployment based on sensed force and force distribution comprising the steps of: measuring the force sensed by each sensor; calculating the total force of the sensor array; allowing deployment if the total force is above a total threshold force; assigning a load rating to each sensor based on its measured force, said load ratings being limited to maximum value; summing the assigned load ratings for all the sensors to derive a total load rating; and allowing deployment if the total load rating is above a predefined total load threshold, whereby deployment is allowed if the sensed forces are distributed over the passenger seat, even if the total force is less than the total threshold force.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
143 words
A method of airbag control in a vehicle having an array of force sensors on the passenger seat coupled to a controller for determining whether to allow airbag deployment based on sensed force and force distribution comprising the steps of: measuring the force sensed by each sensor; calculating the total force of the sensor array; allowing deployment if the total force is above a total threshold force; assigning a load rating to each sensor based on its measured force, said load ratings being limited to maximum value; summing the assigned load ratings for all the sensors to derive a total load rating; and allowing deployment if the total load rating is above a predefined total load threshold, whereby deployment is allowed if the sensed forces are distributed over the passenger seat, even if the total force is less than the total threshold force.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of airbag control as defined in claim 11 wherein the step of assigning a load rating to each sensor comprises: establishing a base force; and assigning a load rating according to the measured force minus the base force.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
92 words
The method of airbag control as defined in claim 11 further including the steps of: defining a plurality of seat areas, at least one sensor located in each seat area; determining the existence of a local pressure area when the calculated total force is concentrated in one of said seat areas; calculating a local force as the sum of forces sensed by each sensor located in the seat area in which the total force is concentrated; and allowing deployment if the local force is greater than a predefined seat area threshold force.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of airbag control as defined in claim 13 further including the steps of: determining individual fuzzy values based on the total force, the local forces for each seat area, and total load rating; summing said fuzzy values; and allowing deployment if the summed fuzzy values exceed a threshold.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
66 words
A method of airbag control as set forth in claim 11, including the steps of: determining a fuzzy total force contribution value based on the calculated total force; determining a fuzzy total loading contribution value based on the total load rating; and summing the fuzzy total force and fuzzy total loading contribution values, and allowing deployment if the summed contribution values exceed a predefined fuzzy threshold.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
77 words
The method of airbag control as defined in claim 15 wherein the steps of determining the fuzzy total force and total loading contribution values comprises: setting minimum and maximum thresholds for the total force and total load rating; and subtracting the minimum thresholds from the respective total force and total load rating, and limiting each difference to the respective maximum threshold; and determining the fuzzy total and total loading contribution values based on the respective limited differences.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
170 words
A method of airbag control in a vehicle having an array of force sensors on the passenger seat coupled to a controller for determining whether to allow airbag deployment based on sensed force and force distribution comprising the steps of: measuring the force sensed by each sensor; calculating the total force of the sensor array; allowing deployment if the total force is above a total threshold force; and if the total force is not above the total threshold force, determining a fuzzy total force contribution value based on the calculated total force; defining a plurality of seat areas, at least one sensor located in each seat area, calculating a local force for each seat area as the sum of forces sensed by each sensor located in that seat area, and determining a fuzzy local force contribution value based on each of the calculated local forces; and summing the fuzzy total force and fuzzy local force contribution values, and allowing deployment if the summed contribution values exceed a predefined fuzzy threshold.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
170 words
A method of airbag control in a vehicle having an array of force sensors on the passenger seat coupled to a controller for determining whether to allow airbag deployment based on sensed force and force distribution comprising the steps of: measuring the force sensed by each sensor; calculating the total force of the sensor array; allowing deployment if the total force is above a total threshold force; and if the total force is not above the total threshold force, determining a fuzzy total force contribution value based on the calculated total force; defining a plurality of seat areas, at least one sensor located in each seat area, calculating a local force for each seat area as the sum of forces sensed by each sensor located in that seat area, and determining a fuzzy local force contribution value based on each of the calculated local forces; and summing the fuzzy total force and fuzzy local force contribution values, and allowing deployment if the summed contribution values exceed a predefined fuzzy threshold.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
76 words
The method of airbag control as defined in claim 17 wherein the steps of determining the fuzzy total and local force contribution values comprises: setting a minimum and maximum force threshold for each total and local force; and subtracting the minimum force thresholds from the respective total and local forces and limiting each difference to the respective maximum force threshold; and determining the fuzzy total and local force contribution values based on the respective limited differences.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
120 words
The method of airbag control as defined in claim 17 wherein a pair of sensors are located in each seat area, and wherein: the step of calculating the local force for each seat area comprises the steps of: limiting the higher force of the respective pair of sensors to a set amount greater than the lower force of the respective pair of sensors, and summing the lower force and the higher force, as limited, to derive the local force; and the step of determining a fuzzy local force contribution amount comprises the steps of: setting a maximum pair force threshold, and setting the fuzzy local force contribution amount equal to the local force limited to the maximum pair force threshold.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-03-23 | 2001-09-22 | 2002-03-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-03-23 | 2005-09-22 | 2006-03-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-03-23 | 2009-09-22 | 2010-03-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |