Abstract: A vehicle-data recorder records vehicle data into a storage when a recording condition is satisfied. The recording condition includes a condition that a steering-related value representing a state of a steering operation performed by a driver or a vehicle behavior caused by the steering operation is greater than or equal to a threshold value. The vehicle-data recorder includes: an object-information obtainer that obtains object information relating to an object in an area; and a threshold-value changer that changes the threshold value to a smaller value when a relative positional relationship between an own vehicle and the object located in the area and identified based on the obtained object information is a specific relationship in which it is estimated that a steering operation is to be performed in a direction in which the own vehicle avoids the object, than when the relative positional relationship is not the specific relationship.

Abstract: A vehicle-data recorder records vehicle data into a storage when a recording condition is satisfied. The recording condition includes a condition that a steering-related value representing a state of a steering operation performed by a driver or a vehicle behavior caused by the steering operation is greater than or equal to a threshold value. The vehicle-data recorder includes: an object-information obtainer that obtains object information relating to an object in an area; and a threshold-value changer that changes the threshold value to a smaller value when a relative positional relationship between an own vehicle and the object located in the area and identified based on the obtained object information is a specific relationship in which it is estimated that a steering operation is to be performed in a direction in which the own vehicle avoids the object, than when the relative positional relationship is not the specific relationship.

Abstract: An event information collecting system installed on a vehicle includes a status information acquiring device that acquires and generates vehicle status information, a control device that receives the vehicle status information generated from the status information acquiring device, a storage device connected to the control device, a main power supply that supplies electric power to the control device, and an auxiliary power supply that supplies electric power to the control device when supply of power from the main power supply is stopped. In the event information collecting system, the control device stores, in the storage device, the vehicle status information generated from the status information acquiring device and a condition of power supply from the main power supply, at the time of occurrence of a given event.

Abstract: A collision detection apparatus that is mounted in a vehicle and that determines whether an object has collided with a side surface of the vehicle from outside the vehicle includes: an acceleration detection portion that detects acceleration in a transverse direction of the vehicle which is applied to a door portion of the vehicle from outside; an integration execution portion that starts integration of the acceleration detected by the acceleration detection portion and finds velocity by integrating the acceleration if the detected acceleration is greater than or equal to a pre-set positive first threshold value, or is less than or equal to a pre-set negative second threshold value; and a collision determination portion that determines whether an object has collided with a side surface of the vehicle based on the detected acceleration and the velocity found by the integration execution portion.

Abstract: A collision detection apparatus that is mounted in a vehicle and that determines whether an object has collided with a side surface of the vehicle from outside the vehicle includes: an acceleration detection portion that detects acceleration in a transverse direction of the vehicle which is applied to a door portion of the vehicle from outside; an integration execution portion that starts integration of the acceleration detected by the acceleration detection portion and finds velocity by integrating the acceleration if the detected acceleration is greater than or equal to a pre-set positive first threshold value, or is less than or equal to a pre-set negative second threshold value; and a collision determination portion that determines whether an object has collided with a side surface of the vehicle based on the detected acceleration and the velocity found by the integration execution portion.

Abstract: An event information collecting system installed on a vehicle includes a status information acquiring device that acquires and generates vehicle status information, a control device that receives the vehicle status information generated from the status information acquiring device, a storage device connected to the control device, a main power supply that supplies electric power to the control device, and an auxiliary power supply that supplies electric power to the control device when supply of power from the main power supply is stopped. In the event information collecting system, the control device stores, in the storage device, the vehicle status information generated from the status information acquiring device and a condition of power supply from the main power supply, at the time of occurrence of a given event.

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: 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: 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: 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 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: 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: 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: 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.