Abstract: An apparatus detects a vehicle/pedestrian impact event by sensing impact events near a forward location of a vehicle using both acceleration sensors and pressure sensors and providing associated signals indicative thereof, determining metric values for each of the sensor signals, and determining if a vehicle/pedestrian impact has occurred in response to the determined metric values.

Abstract: An apparatus detects a vehicle/pedestrian impact event by sensing impact events near a forward location of a vehicle using a multi-port pressure sensor and acceleration sensors. The multi-port pressure sensor includes multiple pressure sensors in a unified housing, connected via individual pressure ports to multiple impact-sensing hoses mounted along the vehicle bumper. An acceleration sensor may also be installed in the same housing. A single electrical connector provides connection to the multiple pressure sensors and also the acceleration sensors.

Abstract: An apparatus detects a vehicle/pedestrian impact event by sensing impact events near a forward location of a vehicle using both acceleration sensors and pressure sensors and providing associated signals indicative thereof, determining metric values for each of the sensor signals, and determining if a vehicle/pedestrian impact has occurred in response to the determined metric values

Abstract: An apparatus detects a vehicle/pedestrian impact event by sensing impact events near a forward location of a vehicle using both acceleration sensors and pressure sensors and providing associated signals indicative thereof, determining metric values for each of the sensor signals, and determining if a vehicle/pedestrian impact has occurred in response to the determined metric values.

Abstract: A method for controlling an actuatable restraining device includes sensing a plurality of crash event indications, classifying crash events in response to the sensed crash event indications to identify at least one of a forward rigid barrier crash event, an offset deformable barrier crash event, an angular crash event, and a small overlap crash event, and controlling deployment timing of the actuatable restraining device in response to the classification of the crash event.

Abstract: An apparatus (50) detects a pedestrian/vehicle impact, the apparatus including a plurality of sensors (62, 64, 66) mounted near a forward location of a vehicle (52), each sensor providing an associated signal indicative of an impact event. A metric determining device (80) determines metric values for each of the sensor signals. A controller (80) determines if any of said determined metric values indicates the occurrence of a misuse event. The controller also determines if a pedestrian/vehicle impact event is occurring by comparing the metric value of at least one sensor signal against a selectable threshold. An actuation signal is provided in response to the comparison. The selectable threshold is selected in response to the determined occurrence of a misuse event. An actuatable pedestrian impact mitigation device (84) is attached to the vehicle and is actuated in responsive to the actuation signal from said controller.

Abstract: An apparatus detects a vehicle/pedestrian impact event by sensing impact events near a forward location of a vehicle using a multi-port pressure sensor and acceleration sensors. The multi-port pressure sensor includes multiple pressure sensors in a unified housing, connected via individual pressure ports to multiple impact-sensing hoses mounted along the vehicle bumper. An acceleration sensor may also be installed in the same housing. A single electrical connector provides connection to the multiple pressure sensors and also the acceleration sensors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an occupant protection system and, more particularly, to an apparatus and method for detecting a vehicle rollover event using and enhanced sensor input architecture that uses both a roll over sensor and an electronic stability control system.

Abstract: A method for controlling an actuatable restraining device includes sensing a plurality of crash event indications, classifying crash events in response to the sensed crash event indications to identify at least one of a forward rigid barrier crash event, an offset deformable barrier crash event, an angular crash event, and a small overlap crash event, and controlling deployment timing of the actuatable restraining device in response to the classification of the crash event.

Abstract: An apparatus detects a vehicle/pedestrian impact event by sensing impact events near a forward location of a vehicle using both acceleration sensors and pressure sensors and providing associated signals indicative thereof, determining metric values for each of the sensor signals, and determining if a vehicle/pedestrian impact has occurred in response to the determined metric values

Abstract: An apparatus for determining a pitch-over condition of a vehicle comprises a first accelerometer for sensing acceleration in a Z-axis direction substantially perpendicular to both a front-to-rear axis of the vehicle and a side-to-side axis of the vehicle and for providing a first acceleration signal indicative thereof. A second accelerometer for senses acceleration in an X-axis direction substantially parallel to said front-to-rear axis of the vehicle and provides a second acceleration signal indicative thereof. A controller determines a Z-axis velocity value from the first acceleration signal and a pitch-over condition of the vehicle in response to both the determined Z-axis velocity value and the second acceleration signal.

Abstract: An apparatus (50) detects a pedestrian/vehicle impact, the apparatus including a plurality of sensors (62, 64, 66) mounted near a forward location of a vehicle (52), each sensor providing an associated signal indicative of an impact event. A metric determining device (80) determines metric values for each of the sensor signals. A controller (80) determines if any of said determined metric values indicates the occurrence of a misuse event. The controller also determines if a pedestrian/vehicle impact event is occurring by comparing the metric value of at least one sensor signal against a selectable threshold. An actuation signal is provided in response to the comparison. The selectable threshold is selected in response to the determined occurrence of a misuse event. An actuatable pedestrian impact mitigation device (84) is attached to the vehicle and is actuated in responsive to the actuation signal from said controller.

Abstract: An apparatus (50) detects a pedestrian/vehicle impact, the apparatus including a plurality of sensors (62, 64, 66) mounted near a forward location of a vehicle (52), each sensor providing an associated signal indicative of an impact event. A metric determining device (80) determines metric values for each of the sensor signals. A controller (80) determines if any of said determined metric values indicates the occurrence of a misuse event. The controller also determines if a pedestrian/vehicle impact event is occurring by comparing the metric value of at least one sensor signal against a selectable threshold. An actuation signal is provided in response to the comparison. The selectable threshold is selected in response to the determined occurrence of a misuse event. An actuatable pedestrian impact mitigation device (84) is attached to the vehicle and is actuated in responsive to the actuation signal from said controller.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an actuatable occupant restraint device of a vehicle comprises a central crash accelerometer that senses crash acceleration at a vehicle location and that provides a first crash acceleration signal indicative thereof. A side pressure sensor senses pressure in a chamber disposed at a side of the vehicle and provides a side pressure signal indicative thereof. A controller actuates the actuatable occupant restraint device in response to the first crash acceleration signal and the side pressure signal. The controller determines a first moving average of acceleration value comprising a moving average of acceleration in a direction generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle determined from the first crash acceleration signal. The controller determines a change in pressure value comprising a change in pressure in the chamber determined from the side pressure signal.

Abstract: A method for determining a crash condition of a vehicle comprises the step of sensing crash acceleration in a first direction substantially parallel to a front-to-rear axis of the vehicle and providing a first acceleration signal indicative thereof. The method also comprises the step of sensing crash acceleration in a second direction substantially parallel to a side-to-side axis of the vehicle and near opposite sides of the vehicle and providing second acceleration signals indicative thereof. The method further comprises the steps of determining a transverse crash value functionally related to the second acceleration signals and comparing the determined transverse crash value against a safing threshold. The method still further comprises the step of determining a crash condition of the vehicle in response to (a) the comparison and (b) the first acceleration signal.

Abstract: A method for determining a crash condition including sensing crash acceleration in a vehicle X-direction at a central vehicle location and providing a first acceleration signal indicative thereof, sensing crash acceleration in a vehicle Y-direction, sensing crash acceleration in the X-direction at two locations near opposite sides of the vehicle remote from the central location and providing acceleration signals indicative thereof, determining a transverse crash evaluation value functionally related to the second acceleration signal, and determining remote crash evaluation values functionally related to the acceleration signals at the remote locations. The method further comprises the steps of comparing the determined transverse crash evaluation value as a function of the determined remote evaluation values against an associated threshold and determining a crash condition of the vehicle in response to (a) the comparison and (b) the first acceleration signal.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for controlling a vehicle actuatable occupant restraining system including a central crash accelerometer sensing crash acceleration at a central vehicle location and providing a first crash acceleration signal indicative thereof. A crush zone crash accelerometer senses transverse crash acceleration at a forward location of the vehicle. A controller actuates the actuatable occupant restraining system in response to the central crash acceleration signal and the transverse crash acceleration signal from the crush zone sensor.

Abstract: A method for determining a crash condition of a vehicle comprises the step of sensing crash acceleration in a first direction substantially parallel to a front-to-rear axis of the vehicle and providing a first crash acceleration signal indicative thereof. The method also comprises the step of sensing crash acceleration in a second direction substantially parallel to a side-to-side axis of the vehicle and providing a second crash acceleration signal indicative thereof. The method further comprises the steps of determining a crash metric value functionally related to the sensed crash acceleration based on the second acceleration signal and comparing the determined crash metric value as a function of the sensed first crash acceleration signal against an associated threshold. The method still further comprises the step of determining a crash condition of the vehicle in response to (a) the comparison and (b) the first acceleration signal.

Abstract: An apparatus (50) detects a pedestrian/vehicle impact, the apparatus including a plurality of sensors (62, 64, 66) mounted near a forward location of a vehicle (52), each sensor providing an associated signal indicative of an impact event. A metric determining device (80) determines metric values for each of the sensor signals. A controller (80) determines if any of said determined metric values indicates the occurrence of a misuse event. The controller also determines if a pedestrian/vehicle impact event is occurring by comparing the metric value of at least one sensor signal against a selectable threshold. An actuation signal is provided in response to the comparison. The selectable threshold is selected in response to the determined occurrence of a misuse event. An actuatable pedestrian impact mitigation device (84) is attached to the vehicle and is actuated in responsive to the actuation signal from said controller.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining a pitch-over condition of a vehicle comprises a first accelerometer for sensing acceleration in a Z-axis direction substantially perpendicular to both a front-to-rear axis of the vehicle and a side-to-side axis of the vehicle and for providing a first acceleration signal indicative thereof. A second accelerometer for senses acceleration in an X-axis direction substantially parallel to said front-to-rear axis of the vehicle and provides a second acceleration signal indicative thereof. A controller determines a Z-axis velocity value from the first acceleration signal and a pitch-over condition of the vehicle in response to both the determined Z-axis velocity value and the second acceleration signal.