Abstract: A rollover determination system 20 includes a first roll rate sensor 22, a lateral G-sensor 26, and a main rollover determination unit 30. The first roll rate sensor 22 detects roll rate of a vehicle. The lateral G-sensor 26 detects acceleration in the lateral direction of the vehicle. The main rollover determination unit 30 determines a possibility of rollover of the vehicle based on roll rate RR and lateral acceleration Gy. A safing determination unit 70 for confirming an occurrence of rollover is additionally incorporated in the main rollover determination unit 30.

Abstract: Satellite sensors (16, 18) that output level signals corresponding to an impact on a vehicle (10) are provided right and left portions of a forward portion of the vehicle (10), separately from a floor sensor (14). If a map (Lo1, Lo2, Lo3, Hi) selected as a threshold changing pattern from an impact (deceleration) detected based on the output signal of one of the satellite sensors (16, 18) and a map (Lo1, Lo2, Lo3, Hi) selected as a threshold changing pattern from an impact (deceleration) detected based on the output signal of the other satellite sensor are different from each other, the map of a smaller threshold is selected from the maps based on the output signals of the two satellite sensors (16, 18), and is set as a threshold changing pattern for determining whether to activate an airbag apparatus (30).

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an output of an air bag device (30) such that the output is made relatively high when a deceleration value (GF) detected by a floor sensor (14) disposed in a central portion of a vehicle body is higher than a threshold which changes with a velocity (?GF·dt) which is obtained as a time integral of the deceleration value (GF). The threshold is changed from a normally selected high value to a low value when one of two deceleration values (GSL, GSR) detected by respective two satellite sensors (16, 18) disposed in front left and right portions of the vehicle body has reached a threshold value which changes with the velocity (?GF·dt).

Abstract: A roll over detector for a vehicle is disclosed, which includes a roll over phenomenon detecting circuit that detects a roll over phenomenon of the vehicle based on a relationship between at least a type of physical quantity representative of a roll state of the vehicle and a predetermined threshold; a reacting roll phenomenon detecting circuit that detects a reacting roll phenomenon of the vehicle based on a predetermined criterion, which reacting roll phenomenon occurs in reaction to the roll phenomenon in an opposite direction; and a threshold changing circuit that changes the predetermined threshold from a first threshold to a second threshold so that the roll over phenomenon becomes difficult to be detected by the roll over phenomenon detecting circuit if the reacting roll phenomenon is detected by the reacting roll phenomenon detecting circuit.

Abstract: An airbag trigger control system is provided with a first sensor which is disposed in a predetermined position in a vehicle body and outputs a signal corresponding to an impact exerted to the vehicle body, a trigger control system which triggers an airbag when a parameter determined on the basis of the signal output from the first sensor exceeds a predetermined threshold value, a second sensor which is disposed forward of the first sensor in the vehicle body and outputs a signal corresponding to an impact exerted to the vehicle body, and a threshold value changing device which changes the predetermined threshold value in accordance with the signal output by the second sensor. The second sensor outputs a predetermined signal at predetermined intervals, and the threshold value changing device changes the predetermined threshold value to a given value when the output signal of the second sensor is not detected in a predetermined number of successive control cycles.

Abstract: A floor sensor (14) is disposed at a center portion of a vehicle body (10) and front sensors (16, 18) are disposed at front portions of the vehicle body (10). An airbag apparatus (30) always activates when a value determined by the relationship between a floor deceleration (GF) detected by the floor sensor (14) and a change in floor velocity (Vn) exceeds a High Map toward the high side of the floor velocity. The airbag apparatus (30) also activates on the condition that the value determined by the relationship between the front deceleration (Gs*) detected by the front sensors (16, 18) and the change in floor velocity (Vn) exceeds a Front Map toward the high side of the floor deceleration (GF) when the value determined by the relationship between the floor deceleration (GF) detected by the floor sensor (14) and the change in floor velocity (Vn) exceeds the Low Map but does not exceed the High Map toward the high side of the floor velocity.

Abstract: A collision type identifying device is disposed in a central portion of a vehicle main body and has first deceleration detecting means (22), peak time detecting means (32), required time detecting means (34), and type identifying means (36). The deceleration detecting means (22) detects a vehicle deceleration in the longitudinal direction. The peak time detecting means (32) detects, as a first peak time (tp), a time from the excess of a preset threshold (GTH) by a waveform of the vehicle deceleration (G) detected by the deceleration detecting means (22) to a first peak. The required time detecting means (34) detects, as a required time (tn), a time when an integrated deceleration (VG) obtained through time quadrature of the vehicle deceleration (G) becomes equal to a predetermined integrated value set in advance. The type identifying means (36; 78) identifies a vehicle collision type on the basis of the first peak time (tp) and the required time (tn).

Abstract: A rollover determining apparatus and methods for determining whether a vehicle is about to roll over distinguishes a type of rollover that is likely to occur to the vehicle based on the lateral acceleration of the vehicle and the roll angle of the vehicle. Moreover, a determination is made whether the state of the vehicle indicated by a first quantity corresponding to the distinguished type of rollover is in a rollover region determined by a predetermined threshold line. The apparatus and methods can also change the threshold line in accordance with the magnitude of second quantity that is different from the first quantity and that corresponds to the distinguished type of rollover.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an output of an air bag device (30) such that the output is made relatively high when a deceleration value (GF) detected by a floor sensor (14) disposed in a central portion of a vehicle body is higher than a threshold which changes with a velocity (∫GF·dt) which is obtained as a time integral of the deceleration value (GF). The threshold is changed from a normally selected high value to a low value when one of two deceleration values (GSL, GSR) detected by respective two satellite sensors (16, 18) disposed in front left and right portions of the vehicle body has reached a threshold value which changes with the velocity (∫GF·dt).

Abstract: A product-sum operation portion for performing a product-sum operation (wavelet transformation) with respect to an input time-series signal by using as a base of integral a complex function in which the imaginary number portion is &pgr;/2 shifted in phase from the real number portion, a phase calculation portion for calculating a phase &thgr; from the ratio between the real number portion and the imaginary number portion of a result of the product-sum operation, a peak time detection portion for detecting a time point at which the calculated phase &thgr; changes from 2&pgr; to zero, as a peak time, are provided. Since the wavelet transformation is performed by using a basic wavelet function that is localized in terms of time and frequency, a peak time can be promptly detected. Furthermore, since a differential operation is not employed but the product-sum operation is performed, false detection caused by noises or the like can be prevented.

Abstract: An airbag trigger control system is provided with a first sensor which is disposed in a predetermined position in a vehicle body and outputs a signal corresponding to an impact exerted to the vehicle body, a trigger control system which triggers an airbag when a parameter determined on the basis of the signal output from the first sensor exceeds a predetermined threshold value, a second sensor which is disposed forward of the first sensor in the vehicle body and outputs a signal corresponding to an impact exerted to the vehicle body, and a threshold value changing device which changes the predetermined threshold value in accordance with the signal output by the second sensor. The second sensor outputs a predetermined signal at predetermined intervals, and the threshold value changing device changes the predetermined threshold value to a given value when the output signal of the second sensor is not detected in a predetermined number of successive control cycles.

Abstract: A collision severity determining system for determining severity of a collision of a vehicle includes a first deceleration detector disposed in a central portion of a vehicle for detecting a deceleration in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and a second deceleration detector disposed in a front portion of the vehicle for detecting a deceleration in the longitudinal direction. A controller calculates a velocity change amount of the vehicle by integrating the vehicle deceleration with respect to time, and determines severity of the collision by comparing the vehicle deceleration with a threshold value corresponding to the same velocity change amount. When a problem, such as a failure or breakdown of the second deceleration detector, occurs, the severity determining unit operates in a predetermined fail-safe mode for selecting an appropriate severity determination map stored in the controller, and makes a severity determination based on the selected severity determination map.

Abstract: An activation control apparatus of an air bag system of a motor vehicle includes a first sensor disposed at a predetermined position within a vehicle body, for generating a signal indicative of an impact applied to the vehicle, and at least one second sensor disposed frontwardly of the position of the first sensor, for generating a signal indicative of an impact applied to the vehicle. The control apparatus is operable to activate an air bag device when a parameter determined based on the output signal of the first sensor exceeds a predetermined threshold pattern that is determined based on the output signal of the second sensor. When the predetermined threshold pattern is changed from a reference pattern to a desired threshold pattern that provides lower threshold values, the pattern is changed step by step at predetermined time intervals, without skipping an intermediate pattern or patterns between the reference pattern and the desired pattern.

Abstract: Satellite sensors (16, 18) that output level signals corresponding to an impact on a vehicle (10) are provided right and left portions of a forward portion of the vehicle (10), separately from a floor sensor (14). If a map (Lo1, Lo2, Lo3, Hi) selected as a threshold changing pattern from an impact (deceleration) detected based on the output signal of one of the satellite sensors (16, 18) and a map (Lo1, Lo2, Lo3, Hi) selected as a threshold changing pattern from an impact (deceleration) detected based on the output signal of the other satellite sensor are different from each other, the map of a smaller threshold is selected from the maps based on the output signals of the two satellite sensors (16, 18), and is set as a threshold changing pattern for determining whether to activate an airbag apparatus (30).

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a vehicle-occupant protecting apparatus provided on a vehicle such that the apparatus is controlled upon determination that the vehicle has had a rollover motion, the control system including a first detector that determines whether the vehicle has crashed, a second detector that determines whether the vehicle has had a rollover motion, and an invalidating device that invalidates the determination by the second detector that the vehicle has had the rollover motion such that the determination by the second detector is invalidated for a predetermined time after the determination by the first detector that the vehicle has crashed. Furthermore, a controller controls the vehicle-occupant protecting apparatus based on outputs of the second detector and the invalidating device to prevent unnecessary operation of the vehicle-occupant protecting device.

Abstract: A satellite sensor and a floor sensor are provided in a forward portion and a central portion, respectively, of a vehicle body. A calculated value and a speed are determined through predetermined processing of a deceleration detected based on an output signal of the floor sensor. If a value determined from the relationship between the calculated value and the speed exceeds a predetermined threshold changing pattern, an airbag apparatus is activated. The threshold changing pattern is set by selecting a map from a Hi map, a Lo1 map, a Lo2 map and a Lo3 map based on a deceleration determined from an output signal of the satellite sensor. If a map different from the current map is to be set as a threshold changing pattern, the threshold changing pattern is set to the desired map after a state that allows the map to be set continues for a time corresponding to a difference between the two maps.

Abstract: A collision severity determining system for determining severity of a collision of a vehicle includes a first deceleration detector disposed in a central portion of a vehicle body for detecting a vehicle deceleration in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and a second deceleration detector disposed in a front portion of the vehicle for detecting a deceleration in the longitudinal direction. A controller of the system calculates a velocity change amount of the vehicle by integrating the vehicle deceleration with respect to time, and determines severity of the vehicle collision by comparing the vehicle deceleration with a threshold value corresponding to the same velocity change amount.

Abstract: A product-sum operation portion for performing a product-sum operation (wavelet transformation) with respect to an input time-series signal by using as a base of integral a complex function in which the imaginary number portion is &pgr;/2 shifted in phase from the real number portion, a phase calculation portion for calculating a phase &thgr; from the ratio between the real number portion and the imaginary number portion of a result of the product-sum operation, a peak time detection portion for detecting a time point at which the calculated phase &thgr; changes from 2&pgr; to zero, as a peak time, are provided. Since the wavelet transformation is performed by using a basic wavelet function that is localized in terms of time and frequency, a peak time can be promptly detected. Furthermore, since a differential operation is not employed but the product-sum operation is performed, false detection caused by noises or the like can be prevented.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a vehicle-occupant protecting apparatus provided on a vehicle such that the apparatus is controlled upon determination that the vehicle has had a rollover motion, the control system including a first detector that determines whether the vehicle has crashed, a second detector that determines whether the vehicle has had a rollover motion, and an invalidating device that invalidates the determination by the second detector that the vehicle has had the rollover motion such that the determination by the second detector is invalidated for a predetermined time after the determination by the first detector that the vehicle has crashed. Furthermore, a controller controls the vehicle-occupant protecting apparatus based on outputs of the second detector and the invalidating device to prevent unnecessary operation of the vehicle-occupant protecting device.

Abstract: An activation control apparatus of an occupant safety system is an activation control apparatus 2 for controlling activation of airbag system 36 mounted on a vehicle in the event of the vehicle colliding with an obstacle, which has a front sensor 30B mounted in the left part of the vehicle, a front sensor 30A mounted in the right part of the vehicle, a collision type identifying part 42 for identifying a type of collision of the vehicle, based on values detected by the front sensor 30B and the front sensor 30A, and an activation control 40 for controlling the activation of the airbag system 36, based on the type of the collision identified by the collision type identifying part 42.