US6560520B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle collision damage reduction system
Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Japan GK
•
Filing: 2002-07-08
•
Granted: 2003-05-06
•
Expires: 2022-07-08
Abstract
Abstract A vehicle collision damage reduction system is provided. The system works by detecting the relative speed between the vehicle and an object, such as another vehicle. A danger level is calculated based on parameters such as speed and distance to the object; the danger level could be at an “emergency level” or at some lower level. Based on the danger level, different corrective measures and the degree of the corrective measures can be adjusted to attempt to minimize occupant injury. For example, the airbag can be adjusted to better protect the occupant, a pre-tensioner can be activated at a certain level, and the inclination of a child restraint seat may be adjusted as well.
Inventors
- 👤 Keishi Yokota
- 👤 Hiroaki Fujii
- 👤 Tadayuki Ato
- 👤 Eiji Yanagi
- 👤 Hiroshi Aoki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 06:25
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/01; B60R21/013; B60R21/0134; B60N; B60N2/00; B60N2/24; B60N2/26; B60N2/28; B60N2/2821; B60N2/2857; B60N2/286; B60N2/2863; B60N2/2884; B60N2/42; B60N2/4207; B60N2/4214; B60N2/4221; B60N2/427; B60N2/42727; B60N2/42745; B60N2/42772; B60N2/4279; B60R19/00; B60R21/0132; B60R21/015; B60R21/01512; B60R21/01554; B60R21/01556; B60R2019/007; B60R2021/0002; B60R2021/0023; B60R2021/01013; B60R2021/01027; B60R21/01544; B60R21/01548
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
163 words
A vehicle collision damage reduction system comprising: means for sequentially detecting distance information to an object to be impacted moving relatively; means for determining a collision danger level using the distance information; means for absorbing collision energy in a vehicle structure formed to support part of the vehicle structure and absorbing collision energy applied thereto in a collision; and means for controlling the collision absorbing energy means by outputting an operational command, before the collision, on the basis of either the object detecting means or the collision danger level means, wherein the collision energy absorbing means is an airbag for at least a portion of the vehicle structure, the airbag being inflatable, before a collision, by an operational command from the controlling means and deforming so as to absorb collision energy applied thereto when the vehicle structure deforms at the collision and wherein the expansion rate or the energy absorbing amount of the airbag is adjustable in response to the collision danger level.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
163 words
A vehicle collision damage reduction system comprising: means for sequentially detecting distance information to an object to be impacted moving relatively; means for determining a collision danger level using the distance information; means for absorbing collision energy in a vehicle structure formed to support part of the vehicle structure and absorbing collision energy applied thereto in a collision; and means for controlling the collision absorbing energy means by outputting an operational command, before the collision, on the basis of either the object detecting means or the collision danger level means, wherein the collision energy absorbing means is an airbag for at least a portion of the vehicle structure, the airbag being inflatable, before a collision, by an operational command from the controlling means and deforming so as to absorb collision energy applied thereto when the vehicle structure deforms at the collision and wherein the expansion rate or the energy absorbing amount of the airbag is adjustable in response to the collision danger level.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
114 words
A vehicle collision damage reduction system comprising: an object detector for detecting distance information to an object to be impacted by the vehicle; an electronic control unit for using the distance information and speed information of at least the speed of the vehicle to determine a collision danger level; an airbag positioned to support a portion of the vehicle structure for absorbing collision energy applied thereto in a collision, the airbag being inflatable in response to a signal from the electronic control unit, wherein the expansion rate or the energy absorbing amount of the airbag vehicle structure is changed in stages in response to the collision danger level determined by the electronic control unit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
114 words
A vehicle collision damage reduction system comprising: an object detector for detecting distance information to an object to be impacted by the vehicle; an electronic control unit for using the distance information and speed information of at least the speed of the vehicle to determine a collision danger level; an airbag positioned to support a portion of the vehicle structure for absorbing collision energy applied thereto in a collision, the airbag being inflatable in response to a signal from the electronic control unit, wherein the expansion rate or the energy absorbing amount of the airbag vehicle structure is changed in stages in response to the collision danger level determined by the electronic control unit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 2 , wherein the object detector sequentially detects distance information to an object to be impacted moving relatively.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 2 , wherein the airbag is positioned to absorb the impact energy applied to the vehicle in a substantially head on collision.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 2 , wherein the airbag is positioned to support part of the energy absorbing structure of the crushable zone of a vehicle structure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 2 , wherein the airbag is accommodated in a case that also absorbs a part of the collision energy.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
138 words
A vehicle collision damage reduction system comprising: an object detector for sequentially detecting distance information to an object to be impacted moving relatively; and an electronic control unit for determining a collision danger level using the distance information and for outputting an operational command, before a collision, to activate a safety device in response to the collision danger level, wherein the safety device comprises an airbag positioned to support part of a vehicle structure for absorbing collision energy applied thereto in the collision, the airbag being inflatable, before the collision, by the operational command from the electronic control unit and deforming so as to absorb collision energy applied thereto when the vehicle structure deforms at the collision, wherein the expansion rate or the energy absorbing amount of the airbag is adjustable in response to the collision danger level.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
138 words
A vehicle collision damage reduction system comprising: an object detector for sequentially detecting distance information to an object to be impacted moving relatively; and an electronic control unit for determining a collision danger level using the distance information and for outputting an operational command, before a collision, to activate a safety device in response to the collision danger level, wherein the safety device comprises an airbag positioned to support part of a vehicle structure for absorbing collision energy applied thereto in the collision, the airbag being inflatable, before the collision, by the operational command from the electronic control unit and deforming so as to absorb collision energy applied thereto when the vehicle structure deforms at the collision, wherein the expansion rate or the energy absorbing amount of the airbag is adjustable in response to the collision danger level.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 7 , wherein the airbag is positioned to absorb impact energy applied to the vehicle in a substantially head on collision.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
158 words
A vehicle collision damage reduction system comprising: an object detector for sequentially detecting distance information to an object to be impacted moving relatively; and an electronic control unit for determining a collision danger level using the distance information and for outputting an operational command, before a collision, to activate a safety device in response to the collision danger level, wherein the safety device comprises an airbag for absorbing collision energy in a vehicle structure formed to support part of the vehicle and for absorbing collision energy applied thereto in the collision, the airbag being inflatable, before the collision, by the operational command from the electronic control unit and deforming so as to absorb collision energy applied thereto when the vehicle structure deforms at the collision, wherein the expansion rate or the energy absorbing amount of the airbag for the vehicle structure is changed in stages in response to the collision danger level obtained from the electronic control unit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
158 words
A vehicle collision damage reduction system comprising: an object detector for sequentially detecting distance information to an object to be impacted moving relatively; and an electronic control unit for determining a collision danger level using the distance information and for outputting an operational command, before a collision, to activate a safety device in response to the collision danger level, wherein the safety device comprises an airbag for absorbing collision energy in a vehicle structure formed to support part of the vehicle and for absorbing collision energy applied thereto in the collision, the airbag being inflatable, before the collision, by the operational command from the electronic control unit and deforming so as to absorb collision energy applied thereto when the vehicle structure deforms at the collision, wherein the expansion rate or the energy absorbing amount of the airbag for the vehicle structure is changed in stages in response to the collision danger level obtained from the electronic control unit.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3860923A
Cited
US4518183A
Cited
US4673937A
Cited
US6186537B1
Cited
US5585798A
Cited
US5451094A
Cited
US5748477A
Cited
US5558370A
Cited
JPH09132113A
Cited
JPH09123942A
Cited
JPH09183331A
Cited
US6014601A
Cited
US6123357A
Cited
US5825098A
Cited
WO1998050254A1
Cited
JP2000225921A
Cited
US6278360B1
Cited
US6256565B1
Cited
JP2001039269A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-05-05 | 2006-11-04 | 2007-05-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-05-05 | 2010-11-04 | 2011-05-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-05-05 | 2014-11-04 | 2015-05-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |