WO2001032475A1 - Ameliorations concernant un systeme de commande - Google Patents

Ameliorations concernant un systeme de commande Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2001032475A1
WO2001032475A1 PCT/SE2000/002117 SE0002117W WO0132475A1 WO 2001032475 A1 WO2001032475 A1 WO 2001032475A1 SE 0002117 W SE0002117 W SE 0002117W WO 0132475 A1 WO0132475 A1 WO 0132475A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
sensor
vehicle
acceleration
safety device
frontal impact
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/SE2000/002117
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Jean-Louis Nicaise
Vincent Mathevon
Mark Willerton
Original Assignee
Autoliv Development Ab
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Autoliv Development Ab filed Critical Autoliv Development Ab
Publication of WO2001032475A1 publication Critical patent/WO2001032475A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
    • B60R21/01—Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents
    • B60R21/013—Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
    • B60R21/0132—Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over responsive to vehicle motion parameters, e.g. to vehicle longitudinal or transversal deceleration or speed value
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
    • B60R21/01—Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents
    • B60R21/013—Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
    • B60R2021/0002—Type of accident
    • B60R2021/0006—Lateral collision
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
    • B60R2021/0002—Type of accident
    • B60R2021/0018—Roll-over
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
    • B60R21/01—Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents
    • B60R21/013—Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
    • B60R21/0132—Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over responsive to vehicle motion parameters, e.g. to vehicle longitudinal or transversal deceleration or speed value
    • B60R2021/01325—Vertical acceleration

Definitions

  • THE PRESENT INVENTION relates to a contiol system, and more particularly relates to a control system for the deployment of a safety device in a motor vehicle.
  • the triggering arrangement that is utilised to deploy the safety device typically includes two switches, both of which must be closed before the triggering device will deploy the air-bag.
  • One switch performs an arming function or an enabling function, and is closed in response to an appropriate signal from an arming function sensor.
  • the arming function sensor may be a relatively cheap sensor responsive to axial deceleration.
  • the second switch is closed in response to an appropriate signal from a crash sensor.
  • the crash sensor may comprise a more accurate, and thus more expensive, accelerometer responsive to acceleration in the axial direction of the vehicle.
  • the present invention seeks to provide an improved control system.
  • a control system for a vehicle safety device comprising at least a first acceleration sensitive sensor, and a second acceleration sensitive sensor, the system further incorporating evaluating means adapted to evaluate a signal from the first sensor to evaluate a risk of a frontal impact, and to provide an output signal when a risk of a frontal impact exists, and a second evaluating means using a signal from the second sensor for evaluating the existence of a frontal impact, and providing an output when a frontal impact occurs, the control system further incorporating a triggering circuit for actuating the safety device in response to the signals from both said first evaluating means and said second evaluating means wherein the first sensor is sensitive only to acceleration having a principal component perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and the second sensor is an accelerometer for sensing acceleration substantially along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.
  • the first sensor senses lateral acceleration.
  • the vehicle safety device is a device adapted to provide protection in a frontal impact of the vehicle and wherein the second sensor is utilised to detect a lateral crash, and to deploy a further safety device adapted to provide protection in a lateral crash situation.
  • the first sensor senses vertical acceleration.
  • the vehicle safety device is adapted to provide protection in a frontal impact of the vehicle, and wherein the second sensor is responsive to a roll-over situation to deploy a further safety device adapted to provide protection in a roll-over situation.
  • a sensor responsive to a roll-over situation may incorporate a sensing mechanism which determines angular velocity or angular acceleration and provides an output when the measured valve exceeds a threshold. Such a sensor may also measure velocity or acceleration in the Z- (or vertical) direction.
  • Preferably frontal impact risk is evaluated in response to a signal from the first sensor and also a third sensor, the third sensor sensing acceleration having a principal component perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.
  • first sensor and third sensor are respectively located adjacent the left and right side of the vehicle.
  • FIGURE 1 is a block diagram of a prior art control system in association with an air-bag unit
  • FIGURE 2 is a block diagram corresponding to Figure 1 illustrating a first embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIGURE 3 is a block diagram corresponding to Figure 1 showing a second embodiment of the invention.
  • a prior art control system for a vehicle safety device comprises a first accelerometer 1, responsive to acceleration in the axial or "X" direction of the vehicle.
  • the accelerometer may be located in alignment with the axis of the vehicle.
  • the accelerometer 1 need not be a very accurate accelerometer and consequently can be relatively cheap.
  • the accelerometer 1 has an output connected to a comparator 2 which acts as an evaluating means to evaluate the risk of a front impact.
  • the comparator compares the output of the accelerometer with a predetermined threshold value and provides an output when the threshold is exceeded.
  • the output of the comparator 2 is utilised to control a switch 3.
  • the control arrangement incorporates a second accelerometer 4, again adapted to sense acceleration in the axial direction.
  • the accelerometer 4 may be a relatively accurate accelerometer.
  • the output of the accelerometer 4 is supplied to an integrator 5 where the output is integrated, and the output of the integrator is connected to a comparator 6.
  • the comparator 6 acts as an evaluating means to evaluate the existence of a frontal impact and compares the output of the accelerometer with a predetermined threshold.
  • the comparator provides an output when the signal from the integrator exceeds the predetermined threshold.
  • the output of the comparator controls a second switch 7.
  • the switches 3 and 7 are connected in a series connection between a first high source of potential 8 and a second source of potential 9, the series connection incorporating a squib resistor 10 that is present within an air-bag unit. It is to be appreciated that when both of the switches 3 and 7 have been closed, current will flow through the series connection and the squib resistor 10 will initiate the generation of gas from a gas generator unit present within the air-bag unit 11.
  • An optional additional feature shown in Figure 1 is the presence of a further comparator 12 which receives a signal from the second relatively accurate accelerometer 4, and compares that signal with a predetermined value, the output of the comparator 12 being forwarded as one input to an AND- gate 13.
  • the second input of the AND-gate 13 is the output of the first compaiator 12, and the output of the AND-gate is connected to control the switch 3.
  • Some vehicles are now provided with air-bag arrangements which are specifically adapted to be inflated in the event that a side impact or roll-over should occur.
  • many vehicles are provided with side impact sensors, and such side impact sensors typically comprise accelerometers which are responsive to an acceleration which has a veiy substantial component in a direction which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.
  • a typical sensor used to sense a side impact may be sensitive to a horizontal acceleration transverse to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, that is to say acceleration on the "Y" axis.
  • a sensor may be utilised to sense a roll-over situation, and such a sensor may be responsive to an acceleration in the vertical direction, that is to say acceleration which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle substantially in alignment with the "Z" axis.
  • accelerometers are utilised which are responsive to acceleration having a substantial component perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Consequently, in using the embodiments described with reference to Figures 2 and 3, it is possible to utilise one accelerometer which is specifically responsive to acceleration in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and also to use one or more accelerometers which have been provided primarily in use for deploying safety devices which are to be activated in response to a side impact, or rollover, meaning that the overall costs incurred are minimised.
  • the described control system is, overall, relatively similar to the control system of Figure 1.
  • the same reference numerals have been used for the same components as present in Figure 1, and these components will not be re- described at this time.
  • the accelerometer 1 of the embodiment of Figure 1 which was used to measure axial direction, has been replaced by an accelerometer 20, which is an accelerometer specifically intended to measure acceleration of part of the vehicle that has a substantial component extending perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.
  • the accelerometer 20 may be intended to be responsive to acceleration in the horizontal plane extending transversely of the longitudinal (or "X") axis of the vehicle, that is to say acceleration along the "Y" axis of the vehicle.
  • the accelerometer 20 may be adapted to sense acceleration on a vertical axis, that is to say an axis perpendicular to the horizontal longitudinal (or "X") axis of the vehicle, namely acceleration along the "Z" axis of the vehicle.
  • the output of the accelerometer 20 is forwarded again to a comparator 2 where the signal is compared with a threshold value. Once the acceleration sensed by the accelerometer 20 exceeds the threshold value, an output signal is provided which may be utilised to control the switch 3. As in the embodiment described with reference to Figure 1, the output from the comparator 2 may be supplied, together with the output from the comparator 12 as two inputs to an AND-gate 13, the output of which is used to control the switch 3.
  • FIG 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the invention.
  • the relatively accurate sensitive accelerometer 4 of Figure 1 is provided together with the associated integrator 5 and comparator 6 to control the switch 7 in the series connection between the two sources of potential 8 and 9.
  • two separate accelerometers 21, 22 are provided, which may, for example, be located on the left side of the vehicle and the right side of the vehicle respectively. Both of these accelerometers may be responsive to acceleration in the horizontal plane with a substantial component extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal (or "X") axis of the vehicle, that is to say acceleration along the "Y" axis of the vehicle. These accelerometers may be provided primarily to be responsive to a side impact on the left side of the vehicle and a side impact on the right side of the vehicle respectively. Thus the sensors are located on the left side and the right side of the vehicle.
  • the output of the accelerometer 21 is supplied to a comparator 23 where the output is compared with a predetermined value, and the output of the comparator 23 is supplied to a gate 24 which may be an AND- gate or which alternatively may be an OR-gate.
  • the output of the accelerometer 22 is forwarded to a comparator 25 where the output of the accelerometer is compared with a threshold value. If the output exceeds the threshold value, a signal is passed from the comparator 25, the output from the comparator 25 is passed as a second input to the gate 24.
  • the output of the gate 24 is utilised to control the switch 3.
  • both of the sensors 21 and 22 must sense an acceleration having a substantial component in the "Y" axis in excess of a predetermined threshold before the switch 3 is closed, whereas if the gate 24 is an OR-gate, only one of the accelerometers 21 or 22 need sense an acceleration in excess of a predetermined threshold for the switch 3 to be closed.
  • the output of the accelerometer 4 must be such that the integrated output, as integrated by the integrator 5 exceeds a predetermined threshold, as determined by the comparison of the output of the integrator 5 with a predetermined threshold within the comparator 6, before the switch 7 is closed.
  • control system for controlling the deployment of an air-bag
  • control system may be utilised to control other safety devices within a motor vehicle such as, for example, a seat-belt pre-tensioner.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Air Bags (AREA)

Abstract

Un système de commande d'un dispositif de sécurité, tel qu'une unité sac gonflable (11) d'un véhicule automobile possède deux détecteurs. Un premier détecteur (20) sensible à l'accélération a un composant principal perpendiculaire à l'axe longitudinal du véhicule et est associé à des moyens d'évaluation (2) conçus pour fermer un premier commutateur (3). Le deuxième détecteur (4) détecte une accélération le long de l'axe longitudinal du véhicule et est associé à des moyens d'évaluation (5, 6) qui génèrent un signal pour fermer un deuxième commutateur (7). Quand les deux commutateurs sont fermés, un courant être appliqué à l'unité sac gonflable (11) pour déployer le sac gonflable.
PCT/SE2000/002117 1999-11-03 2000-10-30 Ameliorations concernant un systeme de commande WO2001032475A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9926067A GB2356075A (en) 1999-11-03 1999-11-03 Improvements relating to a control system within a vehicle
GB9926067.1 1999-11-03

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2001032475A1 true WO2001032475A1 (fr) 2001-05-10

Family

ID=10863909

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/SE2000/002117 WO2001032475A1 (fr) 1999-11-03 2000-10-30 Ameliorations concernant un systeme de commande

Country Status (2)

Country Link
GB (2) GB2369708B (fr)
WO (1) WO2001032475A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7454277B2 (en) * 2004-07-07 2008-11-18 Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft Airbag firing electronic system for vehicles

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6682094B1 (en) * 2000-08-25 2004-01-27 Ford Global Technologies, Llc Restraint system
GB2416419B (en) * 2004-07-19 2008-10-15 Autoliv Dev Improvements in or relating to an arrangement for triggering a vehicle safety device
DE102005056203A1 (de) * 2005-11-25 2007-06-06 Robert Bosch Gmbh Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Ansteuerung von Personenschutzmitteln

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1996039315A1 (fr) * 1995-06-06 1996-12-12 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Dispositif de commande pour declencher un dispositif de retenue sur un vehicule en cas de choc lateral
US5620202A (en) * 1995-01-23 1997-04-15 Delco Electronics Corp. Interface between impact sensor and controller for a supplemental inflatable restraint system
EP0785112A1 (fr) * 1996-01-22 1997-07-23 Trw Inc. Procédé et dispositif pour détecter des conditions d'impact latéral avec fonction de sécurité
US5732374A (en) * 1994-10-31 1998-03-24 Daewoo Electronics Co., Ltd. Method for judging collision with three directional accelerative signals and apparatus for performing the same
WO1998050256A1 (fr) * 1997-05-07 1998-11-12 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Dispositif pour commander un moyen de protection des occupants d'un vehicule automobile
EP0934855A1 (fr) * 1998-02-06 1999-08-11 Delphi Technologies, Inc. Dispositif de capteur de retournement de véhicule basé sur un filtre de Kalman étendu
WO1999047383A1 (fr) * 1998-03-17 1999-09-23 Autoliv Development Ab Systeme de securite d'un vehicule automobile

Family Cites Families (2)

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US5483447A (en) * 1988-09-17 1996-01-09 Robert Bosch Gmbh Apparatus for tripping a system for the protection of occupants of a vehicle
US5746444A (en) * 1996-09-27 1998-05-05 Trw Inc. Method and apparatus for single point sensing of front and side impact crash conditions

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5732374A (en) * 1994-10-31 1998-03-24 Daewoo Electronics Co., Ltd. Method for judging collision with three directional accelerative signals and apparatus for performing the same
US5620202A (en) * 1995-01-23 1997-04-15 Delco Electronics Corp. Interface between impact sensor and controller for a supplemental inflatable restraint system
WO1996039315A1 (fr) * 1995-06-06 1996-12-12 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Dispositif de commande pour declencher un dispositif de retenue sur un vehicule en cas de choc lateral
EP0785112A1 (fr) * 1996-01-22 1997-07-23 Trw Inc. Procédé et dispositif pour détecter des conditions d'impact latéral avec fonction de sécurité
WO1998050256A1 (fr) * 1997-05-07 1998-11-12 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Dispositif pour commander un moyen de protection des occupants d'un vehicule automobile
EP0934855A1 (fr) * 1998-02-06 1999-08-11 Delphi Technologies, Inc. Dispositif de capteur de retournement de véhicule basé sur un filtre de Kalman étendu
WO1999047383A1 (fr) * 1998-03-17 1999-09-23 Autoliv Development Ab Systeme de securite d'un vehicule automobile

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7454277B2 (en) * 2004-07-07 2008-11-18 Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft Airbag firing electronic system for vehicles

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2356075A (en) 2001-05-09
GB2369708B (en) 2002-08-07
GB9926067D0 (en) 2000-01-12
GB0203914D0 (en) 2002-04-03
GB2369708A (en) 2002-06-05

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