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US5975231A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Apparatus for aiding escape of passenger

Assignee: Nissan Motor Co Ltd
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Filing: 1996-08-14
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Granted: 1999-11-02
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Expires: 2016-08-14
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Abstract

Abstract An apparatus for aiding escape of passengers having an impact detection unit for detecting an impact which is generated when a vehicle has come into collision, vehicle state detection units for detecting a state of the vehicle realized after the vehicle has come into collision, and operation control units for controlling operations of units mounted on the vehicle in accordance with the impact generated when the vehicle has come into collision and detected by the impact detection unit and the state of the vehicle realized after the vehicle has come into collision and detected by the vehicle state detection units.

Inventors

  • 👤 Sakiko Hirato

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 16:45
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D1/00; B62D1/02; B62D1/16; B62D1/18; B62D1/181; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60N; B60N2/00; B60N2/002; B60R22/00; B60R22/32; B60R22/321; E; E05; E05B; E05B77/00; E05B77/02; E05B77/12; E05F; E05F15/00; E05F15/60; E05F15/603; E05F15/611; E05F15/70; B60N2220/00; B60N2220/20; E05F15/40; E05F15/665; E05F15/689; E05F15/695; E05F15/72; E05Y; E05Y2400/00; E05Y2400/10; E05Y2400/40; E05Y2400/41; E05Y2400/415; E05Y2400/42; E05Y2800/00; E05Y2800/40; E05Y2800/406; E05Y2800/407; E05Y2900/00; E05Y2900/50; E05Y2900/53; E05Y2900/55

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim 147 words
An apparatus for aiding escape of passengers comprising: an impact detection unit configured to detect a signal for determining the occurrence of an impact which is generated when a vehicle has come into collision; a comparison unit configured to compare the detected signal with first and second thresholds, the second threshold being larger than the first threshold; a first operation control unit configured to control operation of a first unit mounted on the vehicle in accordance with the comparison of the detected signal and the first threshold, wherein the first unit is a locking/unlocking unit of the vehicle; and a second operation control unit configured to control operation of at least one second unit mounted on the vehicle in accordance with the comparison of the detected signal and the second threshold, wherein the at least one second unit allows for escape of the passengers from the vehicle.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 147 words
An apparatus for aiding escape of passengers comprising: an impact detection unit configured to detect a signal for determining the occurrence of an impact which is generated when a vehicle has come into collision; a comparison unit configured to compare the detected signal with first and second thresholds, the second threshold being larger than the first threshold; a first operation control unit configured to control operation of a first unit mounted on the vehicle in accordance with the comparison of the detected signal and the first threshold, wherein the first unit is a locking/unlocking unit of the vehicle; and a second operation control unit configured to control operation of at least one second unit mounted on the vehicle in accordance with the comparison of the detected signal and the second threshold, wherein the at least one second unit allows for escape of the passengers from the vehicle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 34 words
An apparatus for aiding escape of passengers according to claim 1, wherein said impact detection unit detects deceleration of the vehicle as the impact which is generated when the vehicle has come into collision.
Claim 4
Independent Claim 189 words
An apparatus for aiding escape of passengers comprising: an impact detection unit configured to detect an impact which is generated when a vehicle has come into collision; a vehicle state detection unit configured to detect a state of the vehicle realized after the vehicle has come into collision; and an operation control means unit configured to control operations of units mounted on the vehicle in accordance with the impact generated when the vehicle has come into collision and detected by said impact detection unit and the state of the vehicle realized after the vehicle has come into collision and detected by said vehicle state detection unit, wherein said vehicle state detection unit includes a first state detection unit configured to detect a state where doors of the vehicle are locked, a second state detection unit configured to detect a state where doors of the vehicle are opened and a third state detection unit configured to detect a state where a foot brake is applied so that the state of the vehicle realized after the vehicle has come into collision is detected by said first to third state detection units.
Claim 5
Independent Claim 189 words
An apparatus for aiding escape of passengers comprising: an impact detection unit configured to detect an impact which is generated when a vehicle has come into collision; a vehicle state detection unit configured to detect a state of the vehicle realized after the vehicle has come into collision; and an operation control means unit configured to control operations of units mounted on the vehicle in accordance with the impact generated when the vehicle has come into collision and detected by said impact detection unit and the state of the vehicle realized after the vehicle has come into collision and detected by said vehicle state detection unit, wherein said vehicle state detection unit includes a first state detection unit configured to detect a state where doors of the vehicle are locked, a second state detection unit configured to detect a state where doors of the vehicle are opened and a third state detection unit configured to detect a state where a foot brake is applied so that the state of the vehicle realized after the vehicle has come into collision is detected by said first to third state detection units.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 42 words
An apparatus for aiding escape of passengers according to claim 1, wherein said second units mounted on the vehicle include a power window, a sun roof, a child safety lock, a seat belt, an automatic driving position system and a trunk opener.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 153 words
An apparatus for aiding escape of passengers comprising: an impact detection unit configured to detect a signal for determining the occurrence of an impact which is generated when a vehicle has come into collision; a comparison unit configured to compare the detected signal with first and second thresholds, the second threshold being larger than the first threshold; a first operation control unit configured to control operation of a first unit mounted on a vehicle in accordance with the comparison of the detected signal and the first threshold; and a second operation control unit configured to control operation of at least one second unit mounted on the vehicle in accordance with the comparison of the detected signal and the second threshold, wherein said at least one second operation control unit operates a seat belt actuator to release a seat belt after a determination is made that an operation of unlocking doors has been successful.
Claim 8
Independent Claim 153 words
An apparatus for aiding escape of passengers comprising: an impact detection unit configured to detect a signal for determining the occurrence of an impact which is generated when a vehicle has come into collision; a comparison unit configured to compare the detected signal with first and second thresholds, the second threshold being larger than the first threshold; a first operation control unit configured to control operation of a first unit mounted on a vehicle in accordance with the comparison of the detected signal and the first threshold; and a second operation control unit configured to control operation of at least one second unit mounted on the vehicle in accordance with the comparison of the detected signal and the second threshold, wherein said at least one second operation control unit operates a seat belt actuator to release a seat belt after a determination is made that an operation of unlocking doors has been successful.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 49 words
An apparatus for aiding escape of passengers according to claim 1, wherein said at least one second unit includes an opener for an alternate escape, wherein said second operation control unit opens the opener when a determination is made that the detected signal is greater than the second threshold.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 18 words
An apparatus for aiding escape of passengers according to claim 6, wherein said opener includes a sunroof opener.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 19 words
An apparatus for aiding escape of passengers according to claim 6, wherein said opener includes a power window opener.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 18 words
An apparatus for aiding escape of passengers according to claim 6, wherein said opener includes a trunk opener.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 37 words
An apparatus for aiding escape of passengers according to claim 6, wherein said second operation control unit operates a passenger access device when a determination is made that the detected signal is less than the second threshold.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 36 words
An apparatus for aiding escape of passengers according to claim 10, wherein said passenger access device includes a child safety lock, and wherein said at least one second operation control means unlocks said child safety lock.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 36 words
An apparatus for aiding escape of passengers according to claim 10, wherein said passenger access device includes a safety belt release, and wherein said at least one second operation control means releases said safety belt release.
Claim 16
Independent Claim 141 words
An apparatus for aiding escape of passengers comprising: an impact detection unit configured to detect an impact which is generated when a vehicle has come into collision; a first operation control unit configured to control a first operation by a first unit mounted on the vehicle in accordance with said impact detected by said impact detection unit; a vehicle state detection unit configured to detect a result of the first operation; and a second operation control unit configured to control operation of at least one second unit mounted on the vehicle in accordance with said result of the first operation detected by said vehicle state detection unit, wherein said first unit includes a power door lock system, wherein said first operation control unit performs an unlock operation, and wherein said vehicle state detection unit detects a result of the unlock operation.
Claim 17
Independent Claim 141 words
An apparatus for aiding escape of passengers comprising: an impact detection unit configured to detect an impact which is generated when a vehicle has come into collision; a first operation control unit configured to control a first operation by a first unit mounted on the vehicle in accordance with said impact detected by said impact detection unit; a vehicle state detection unit configured to detect a result of the first operation; and a second operation control unit configured to control operation of at least one second unit mounted on the vehicle in accordance with said result of the first operation detected by said vehicle state detection unit, wherein said first unit includes a power door lock system, wherein said first operation control unit performs an unlock operation, and wherein said vehicle state detection unit detects a result of the unlock operation.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 48 words
An apparatus for aiding escape of passengers according to claim 13, wherein said at least one second unit includes an opener for an alternate escape, wherein said second operation control unit opens the opener when a determination is made that an operation of unlocking doors has been unsuccessful.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 18 words
An apparatus for aiding escape of passengers according to claim 14, wherein said opener includes a sunroof opener.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 19 words
An apparatus for aiding escape of passengers according to claim 14, wherein said opener includes a power window opener.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 18 words
An apparatus for aiding escape of passengers according to claim 14, wherein said opener includes a trunk opener.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 39 words
An apparatus for aiding escape of passengers according to claim 13, wherein said at least one second operation control unit operates a passenger access device when a determination is made that an operation of unlocking doors has been successful.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 36 words
An apparatus for aiding escape of passengers according to claim 18, wherein said passenger access device includes a child safety lock, and wherein said at least one second operation control unit unlocks said child safety lock.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 36 words
An apparatus for aiding escape of passengers according to claim 18, wherein said passenger access device includes a safety belt release, and wherein said at least one second operation control unit releases said safety belt release.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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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) 2002-11-01 2003-05-03 2003-11-02 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2006-11-01 2007-05-03 2007-11-02 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2010-11-01 2011-05-03 2011-11-02 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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