DE102007024195A1 - Controller for controlling personal protection unit, has fusion module fusing DV-signal and oscillation energy to form fusion signal, and control circuit controlling personal protection unit based on fusion signal - Google Patents

Abstract

The controller (SG) has an interface (IF) supplying a signal of an acceleration sensor technology (BS) to a vehicle front. An integrator integrates the signal to a DV-signal. A determination module determines oscillation energy of the signal. A fusion module fuses the DV-signal and the oscillation energy to form a fusion signal. A control circuit (FLIC) controls a personal protection unit (PS) based on the fusion signal. The fusion signal is determined from the product of the oscillation energy and a weight factor. An independent claim is also included for a method for controlling a personal protection unit.

Description

State of the art

The The invention relates to a control device or a method for Control of personal protection devices according to the type of independent Claims.

Out DE 10 2005 018 084 A1 It is known that occur in outsourced acceleration sensors, which are referred to, for example, as upfront sensors, resonances in the vehicle structure, which are in the useful signal spectrum of the acceleration sensor. These are damped in the present case. Out DE 10 2004 043 594 A1 It is known that sensor signals are cut off by a clipping. In the present case, this cut-off signal is supplemented again.

Disclosure of the invention

The the control unit according to the invention or the inventive Method for controlling personal protective equipment with the features the independent claims have in contrast the advantage that both an offset of the signal of the acceleration sensor, as well as non-linearities, such as by thresholds arise and the rotation of such outsourced acceleration sensors compensated according to the invention as adverse effects Be in addition to the integration of the acceleration signal another feature is used to secure the signal and this further feature is the vibrational energy of the signal. The integrated signal, hereinafter referred to as DV signal and the Vibration energy is fused according to the invention and enter the evaluation algorithm as a fusion signal.

integration is to be understood in the present case, d. H. it is first of all Line to understand a computational integration, but for what also a summation, averaging or other equivalent Techniques belong.

The Interface that provides the signal may be software or be formed in terms of hardware. Is it hardware-related before, then it can be an integrated circuit, a majority from integrated circuits to a discrete circuit design or a combination of discrete and integrated circuitry act. The necessary integrator is either integrated, discrete or software technology available. This also applies to the Determination module that determines the vibration energy of the signal and also for the fusion module containing the DV signal and the Vibration energy fused to the fusion signal.

• 1. Es kann ein Fensterintegral über die Amplitudenquadrate oder über die Beträge vorgenommen werden.
• 2. Nach einer Bandpassfilterung und einer Betragsbildung kann auch eine nachgeschaltete FIR oder IIR-Filterung genutzt werdenn, um die Energien in bestimmten Frequenzbereichen herauszuarbeiten.
• 3. Weiterhin kann eine Spektralanalyse des Beschleunigungssignals, beispielsweise ein Spektrogramm verwendet werden.
• 4. Weiterhin kann eine Wavelet-Analyse verwendet werden. Diese Methode liefert eine Lokalität im Zeit- und Frequenzbereich, so dass die Schwingungsenergie für ein bestimmtes Frequenzband zu einem bestimmten Zeitpunkt geschätzt werden kann.

The drive circuit may be part of the microcontroller or as a separately formed ignition circuit. In this case, a plurality of integrated circuits can be used. Advantageous improvements of the control device or method for controlling personal protective equipment specified in the independent patent claims are possible by the measures and developments listed in the dependent claims. It is particularly advantageous that the oscillation energy is determined by one of the following methods: A summation is made over a time series of the amplitude squares or the amounts.

• 1. A window integral can be made over the amplitude squares or over the amounts.
• 2. After bandpass filtering and magnitude generation, downstream FIR or IIR filtering can also be used to work out the energies in certain frequency ranges.
• 3. Furthermore, a spectral analysis of the acceleration signal, for example a spectrogram, can be used.
• 4. Furthermore, a wavelet analysis can be used. This method provides a locality in the time and frequency domain so that the vibrational energy for a given frequency band can be estimated at a given time.

Farther It is advantageous that the vibration energy in dependence from the DV signal is used as the fusion signal. This means, that only if the DV signal as a feature a special condition fulfilled, the vibration energy used as a fusion signal can be. The vibration energy can be a certain signal processing, how to undergo filtering or weighting. This will be the DV signal just taken to hedge that the vibrational energy can be used as a fusion signal.

It is furthermore advantageous that the vibration energy in dependence is weighted by the DV signal. This weighting is because the DV signal will change, dynamically. This weighting can instead or be supplemented by the integration time, which was spent on the integration of the DV signal.

in the reversed case, however, it is also advantageously possible the DV signal as a function of the vibration energy to weight.

It is also possible the different possibilities to merge to merge to another fusion signal produce.

After all it is also possible to make a classification namely the DV signal and the vibrational energy to the fusion signal to create. This classification can therefore be in the two-dimensional Feature space (energy over DV) are performed. The result is a logical value (flag), which is transmitted to the kernel algorithm.

embodiments The invention are illustrated in the drawings and in the explained in more detail below description.

It demonstrate

1 a first block diagram of the control device according to the invention with connected components,

2 software functions necessary for the invention on the microcontroller,

3 a flow chart of the method according to the invention,

4 a first acceleration time diagram,

5 a first DV timing diagram,

6 a first vibration energy time diagram,

7 a second acceleration time diagram,

8th a second DV time diagram,

9 a second vibration energy time diagram,

10 a first block diagram for illustrating the invention,

11 a second block diagram,

12 a third block diagram and

13 a fourth block diagram.

Crash signals like an acceleration signal, can be approximated split into two summands. The low-frequency component and the high-frequency component Proportion of. The inventive method or the Control unit according to the invention are suitable for the processing of signals with comparatively high Wechselanteil, as for example in a frontal crash at the Position of the upfront sensors occurs. According to the invention to reduce the impact of offsetting and clipping. This is inventively by an additional Feature for DV signal causes. This feature reflects the vibrational energy the signal again. Another advantage is that vibrations the front structure in the event of a crash occur in all three spatial directions, so that a twist from the main direction of travel is less strongly affects the characteristic of vibration energy.

The Signal is analyzed on two paths: the first path that is the DV path, calculates the DV signal, the second path is calculated a measure of the vibration energy and is in Following with E-Path. Downstream is a logic the information from both paths merged.

The Resulting feature is in turn by the kernel algorithm with combined the other signals. This approach combines the robust properties of the E-Path with the direction information of the DV path.

1 shows a block diagram of the control device according to the invention with connected components in a vehicle FZ. The control unit SG according to the invention in the vehicle FZ is mounted, for example, on the vehicle tunnel. As a central element, the control unit SG has a microcontroller which receives data via an interface IF from a sensor system BS, which is arranged in the region of the bumper. The sensor system BS represents an acceleration sensor system with at least two acceleration sensors in the comparatively easily deformable region of the front end, for example on the cross member or behind the bumper cover. The interface IF can also be designed as a software interface to the microcontroller .mu.C. The acceleration sensor system BS has micromechanically designed acceleration sensors.

The control unit SG processes the acceleration sensors of the acceleration sensor system BS by means of a memory S, from which the microcontroller μC loads the algorithm for processing the acceleration signals. The memory S is also used for temporarily storing intermediate results. The microcontroller μC carries out the functions according to the invention by determining the acceleration signal on the one hand integrated by means of an integrator and on the other hand the vibration energy in the signal according to one of the methods described above. In response to this fusion signal, the evaluation algorithm is calculated and, depending on the result of this calculation, a decision is made as to whether a drive signal drive circuit FLIC is to be transmitted. This drive signal is usually carried out by means of an SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface) transmission. But others too Methods of transmission are possible in the present case.

Of the For simplicity, only those for understanding the invention necessary components in the control unit SG shown.

The Drive signal is from the drive circuit FLIC to personal protection PS, wherein the passenger protection airbags, belt tensioners, crash-active headrests and pedestrian protection could be.

The inventive function leads, as above shown, the microcontroller μC off by his Software modules used.

2 explains some of these software modules. IF1 marks a software interface. The reference number 20 shows a software-trained integrator, while reference numerals 21 sets out the determination module. The reference number 22 Figure 4 shows the fusion module fusing the vibrational energy and the DV signal together, with fusion, as shown above, being a very broad term, encompassing all possible associations and combinations of the two signals as illustrated in the embodiments. In the block 23 the drive module is shown, which transmits a drive signal, usually via the SPI bus, to the ignition switches in the case of a triggering decision. In addition to the SPI transmission, however, other forms of transmission are additionally or instead possible. The meaning of the signal is usually the same.

3 shows in a flow chart the inventive method. In process step 300 the acceleration signal is provided as the signal. This happens through the interface IF. In process step 301 This signal is integrated into a DV signal. In process step 302 however, an oscillation energy is additionally determined from the signal. In process step 303 the fusion of the DV signal and the vibration energy takes place to a fusion signal. In process step 304 the generation of the drive signal takes place.

4 shows in an acceleration time diagram an ideal signal, that is, there is no real signal, but a synthetic signal to illustrate the effects before and one derived therefrom offset signal. The ideal signal 41 is drawn with the solid line, while the offset-affected signal 40 is drawn by dashed lines. Offset therefore means a shift with respect to the ordinate, which corresponds to 5 , which sets out a DV timing diagram that can lead to integration into too high a value. In 5 shows the curve 50 , which is drawn by dashed lines, the falsified offset signal and the curve 51 the original signal is displayed. The integration, ie the DV signal, leads to a value that is too high for an offset-affected signal.

6 shows in a vibration energy time diagram, that the vibration energy in an offset signal 60 compared to the original signal 61 hardly shows any deviations. Only slight fluctuations are noted. This shows that the vibration energy is an advantageous feature for analysis in the case of an offset-related sensor signal.

7 shows in an acceleration time diagram an original signal with the solid line, a signal with a so-called clipping, which is indicated by the vertical lines and the clipping boundaries, which are shown dotted. The original signal is denoted by the reference numeral 70 , the clipped signal with the reference numeral 71 and the clipping boundaries with the reference numeral 72 characterized.

The clipping is a non-linearity, according to 8th , which sets forth a DV timing diagram, also results in an error in the integration and shown here by the curve 81 in comparison to the original 80 leads to an underestimation of the DV signal.

9 shows a vibration energy time diagram, wherein the curve 90 the original signal and the curve 91 sets the signal with clipping. Some underestimation of the original signal is due to the clipped signal. However, this deviation is less than that occurring in the integration. In order to avoid this deviation, some embodiments of the invention are set forth below.

10 shows such a first embodiment, which is still very general. The acceleration signal a _X , which indicates the deceleration in the vehicle longitudinal axis, goes in two paths 100 and 101 , The first path 100 is the so-called DV path and includes in block 103 the integration to generate the DV signal. The DV signal then goes into the fusion block 105 one. In the path 101 the so-called E-path is marked, being first in a filter 102 the signal is filtered, then in the block 104 to estimate the vibrational energy. This vibrational energy also goes into the fusion block 105 one, so that from the DV signal and the vibration energy the fusion signal 106 can arise.

11 Now shows in detail how the merger can look exactly. In the path 107 , characterized by Ê the vibration energy comes into the block 110 So the fusion block. The vibrational energy is called a fusion signal 111 let through, though a so-called DV_Flag indicates a 1, otherwise only a 0 is output. Therefore, this type of fusion can be represented by a switch. The DV_Flag is in the block 109 determines which performs a threshold comparison. This will be the DV signal that is in the DV path 108 was generated, and compared by integration with a threshold that depends on the integration time t _integration . If the condition is fulfilled then the DV_Flag is set and in the block 110 entered.

12 shows a further embodiment of the invention. The e-path 112 in turn supplies the vibrational energy. This goes to the block 115 one. In the DV path 113 is the DV signal and the integration time t _integration into the block 114 entered to determine a weighting factor or weighting factors. This weight factor becomes the block 115 to hand over. The fusion signal is then determined from the product of the vibrational energy and the weighting factor. This is the fusion signal 116 in front.

13 shows a further embodiment of the invention. The upper path 117 is now the DV path. Therefore, the lower path is 118 around the e-path. Here goes in the lower path 118 the vibration energy Ê and the integration time t _Integration into the determination 119 the weight factors. These weight factors or the weight factor become the block 120 transmit, which multiplies the DV signal with this weighting factor or weighting factors to generate the fusion signal. The output signal 121 is then the fusion signal, which is evaluated by the evaluation algorithm for controlling the personal protection means.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list The documents listed by the applicant have been automated generated and is solely for better information recorded by the reader. The list is not part of the German Patent or utility model application. The DPMA takes over no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102005018084 A1 [0002]
• - DE 102004043594 A1 [0002]

Claims (10)

Control unit (SG) for controlling personal protection means (PS) comprising: - at least one interface (IF, IF1) which provides a signal of an acceleration sensor system (BS) on the vehicle front - an integrator which integrates the signal into a DV signal Determination module that determines a vibration energy (Ê) of the signal - a fusion module ( 115 . 120 ) that the DV signal and the vibration energy to a fusion signal fused - a drive circuit (FLIC), which controls the passenger protection means (PS) in response to the fusion signal. Method for controlling personal protective equipment (PS) with the following process steps: - Provide a signal of an acceleration sensor (BS) at the front of the vehicle is arranged - Integrate the signal to one DV signal - Determining a vibration energy (Ê) the signal - Fusion of the DV signal and the vibration energy to a fusion signal - Driving the personal protective equipment (PS) depending on the fusion signal Method according to claim 2, characterized in that that the vibrational energy is determined by one of the following methods becomes: - summation over amplitude squares or amounts of the signal - Window integral over the amplitude squares or the amounts - Spectral analysis - wavelet analysis - Filtering Method according to claim 2 or 3, characterized that the vibration energy is dependent on the DV signal is used as the fusion signal. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that that when the DV signal exceeds a threshold, the Vibration energy is used as the fusion signal. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that that the vibrational energy is dependent on the DV signal is weighted. Method according to Claim 6, characterized that weighting in addition to an integration time depends on the generation of the DV signal. Method according to one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that the DV signal in dependence is weighted by the vibrational energy. Method according to claims 5 and 6 or 8, characterized that the fusion signal from a weighting of the DV signal and the Vibration energy and from the threshold comparison of the DV threshold is determined. Method according to one of claims 2 to 9, characterized in that the fusion signal by a classification of the DV signal and the vibration energy is generated.