US6087928A — Predictive impact sensing system for vehicular sa…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 229 words

An improved safety restraint system for a motor vehicle comprising: first wave generator means, located proximate one corner of the motor vehicle for generating and propagating an electromagnetic first wave of predetermined frequency, wavelength, spectrum, duration and power to provide a desired sensing range and for receiving a first reflected wave reflected off of an obstacle within the range of the first wave generator means, the predetermined frequency of the first wave being in a radar frequency range; second wave generator means, located proximate another corner of the motor vehicle for generating and propagating an electromagnetic second wave of predetermined frequency, wavelength, spectrum, duration and power to provide a desired sensing range and for receiving a second reflected wave reflected off of the obstacle with the range of the second wave generator means, the predetermined frequency of the second wave being in a radar frequency range; collision means for predicting the time and location of impact of an obstacle with the motor vehicle, including determining that the obstacle is simultaneously within the range of the first and the second wave generator means and by triangularly tracking a trajectory associated with the obstacle, the collision means generating an output signal indicative thereof; and safety restraint means, actuated within the vehicle in response to the output signal of the collision means, for protecting an occupant within the vehicle during a crash.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 229 words

An improved safety restraint system for a motor vehicle comprising: first wave generator means, located proximate one corner of the motor vehicle for generating and propagating an electromagnetic first wave of predetermined frequency, wavelength, spectrum, duration and power to provide a desired sensing range and for receiving a first reflected wave reflected off of an obstacle within the range of the first wave generator means, the predetermined frequency of the first wave being in a radar frequency range; second wave generator means, located proximate another corner of the motor vehicle for generating and propagating an electromagnetic second wave of predetermined frequency, wavelength, spectrum, duration and power to provide a desired sensing range and for receiving a second reflected wave reflected off of the obstacle with the range of the second wave generator means, the predetermined frequency of the second wave being in a radar frequency range; collision means for predicting the time and location of impact of an obstacle with the motor vehicle, including determining that the obstacle is simultaneously within the range of the first and the second wave generator means and by triangularly tracking a trajectory associated with the obstacle, the collision means generating an output signal indicative thereof; and safety restraint means, actuated within the vehicle in response to the output signal of the collision means, for protecting an occupant within the vehicle during a crash.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 57 words

The device as defined in claim 1 further including: an auxiliary sensing means, having a predetermining auxiliary sensing range, and actuated when the obstacle is within such auxiliary sensing range and capable of discriminating between animate and inanimate obstacles and for generating an auxiliary activation signal to activate protective devices located about the exterior of the vehicle.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 49 words

The system as defined in claim 2 wherein the auxiliary sensing means comprises one of an ultrasonic wavelength generator or receiver, an infra-red wavelength generator or receiver, and an optical imaging and recognition sensing systems each of which are capable of discriminating between animate and inanimate objects or obstacles.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 30 words

The system as defined in claim 1 wherein each the first and second wave generator means produces a wave characterized by a beam coverage angle of at least 270 degrees.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 21 words

The system as defined in claim 4 including two additional wave generator means each located at other corners of the vehicle.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 56 words

The system as defined in claim 5 wherein each of additional wave generator means produces a wave characterized by a beam coverage angle of at least 270 degrees to provide an effective 360 degree beam coverage angle about the entire vehicle in concert with the beam coverage angles of the first and second wave generator means.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 100 words

The device as defined in claim 1 wherein the collision means includes first means responsive to the first reflected wave, originating from the first generator means, for determining a first distance from the obstacle to the first wave generator means and responsive to a second reflected wave, originating from the second wave generator means, for determining a second distance from the obstacle to the second wave generator means and for determining a triangulated distance between the obstacle and the vehicle by triangulation using the first and second distances and a separation distance between the first and second wave generator means.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 44 words

The device as defined in claim 7 wherein the collision means includes storage means for storing at subsequent calculation intervals, the triangulated distance between the obstacle and the vehicle and for predicting the location on the vehicle where the obstacle will impact the vehicle.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 133 words

An improved safety restraint system for a motor vehicle comprising: first radiation wave generator, located proximate one corner of the motor vehicle for generating and propagating an electromagnetic first wave of predetermined frequency, wavelength, spectrum, duration and power, and for receiving a first reflected wave reflected off of an obstacle within the range of the first radiation wave generator; second radiation wave generator, located proximate another corner of the motor vehicle for generating and propagating an electromagnetic second wave of predetermined frequency, wavelength, spectrum, duration and power, and for receiving a second reflected wave reflected off of an obstacle within the range of the second radiation wave generator; and collision means for predicting the location and time of impact of a target with the vehicle based on said first and second reflected waves.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 133 words

An improved safety restraint system for a motor vehicle comprising: first radiation wave generator, located proximate one corner of the motor vehicle for generating and propagating an electromagnetic first wave of predetermined frequency, wavelength, spectrum, duration and power, and for receiving a first reflected wave reflected off of an obstacle within the range of the first radiation wave generator; second radiation wave generator, located proximate another corner of the motor vehicle for generating and propagating an electromagnetic second wave of predetermined frequency, wavelength, spectrum, duration and power, and for receiving a second reflected wave reflected off of an obstacle within the range of the second radiation wave generator; and collision means for predicting the location and time of impact of a target with the vehicle based on said first and second reflected waves.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 34 words

The improved safety restraint system of claim 9, wherein said collision means includes means for determining distance to the target and trajectory of the target through multiple determinations of position and trajectory over time.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 31 words

The improved safety restraint system of claim 9, wherein said safety restraint system is one of a driver air bag, passenger air bag, side impact air bag, and pretensioning seat belt.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 45 words

The improved safety restraint system of claim 9, wherein the collision means further comprises a central processing unit (CPU) for tracking the distance to the target by triangulating the position of the target from the first and second wave generators at different points in time.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 42 words

The improved safety restraint system of claim 9, further comprising an auxiliary sensing means capable of discriminating between animate and inanimate targets and for generating an auxiliary activation signal to activate different safety measures based on the predicted attributes of the target.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 44 words

The improved safety restraint system of claim 9, further comprising an auxiliary sensing means capable of identifying obstacles and for generating an auxiliary activation signal to activate different safety measures based on the identification of the target and the predicted attributes of the target.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-07-11	2004-01-10	2004-07-11	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-07-11	2008-01-10	2008-07-11	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-07-11	2012-01-10	2012-07-11	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Predictive impact sensing system for vehicular safety restraint systems

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