Abstract: A dynamic quantity detection device includes a detection portion, a signal process portion, and an operation mode switch portion. The detection portion detects a dynamic quantity applied from an outside and generates a sensor signal in accordance with the dynamic quantity. The signal process portion processes the sensor signal from the detection portion to have a property suitable for an external device. When the sensor signal output from the detection portion is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold value, the operation mode switch portion sets an operation mode to a power save mode by stopping an operation of the signal process portion. When the sensor signal output from the detection portion is greater than the predetermined threshold value, the operation mode switch portion switches the operation mode to a normal mode by activating the signal process portion.

Abstract: A dynamic quantity detection device includes a detection portion, a signal process portion, and an operation mode switch portion. The detection portion detects a dynamic quantity applied from an outside and generates a sensor signal in accordance with the dynamic quantity. The signal process portion processes the sensor signal from the detection portion to have a property suitable for an external device. When the sensor signal output from the detection portion is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold value, the operation mode switch portion sets an operation mode to a power save mode by stopping an operation of the signal process portion. When the sensor signal output from the detection portion is greater than the predetermined threshold value, the operation mode switch portion switches the operation mode to a normal mode by activating the signal process portion.

Abstract: A collision determination system for a vehicle is disclosed. The system includes a vehicle behavior recognition unit that recognizes specific vehicle behavior indicative of a probable vehicle collision. The system also includes a collision detection sensor that detects a predetermined state change resulting from a vehicle collision. Furthermore, the system includes a collision determination unit that determines whether the vehicle collision necessitates activation of a vehicle passenger protection device based on the specific vehicle behavior recognized by the vehicle behavior recognition unit and the detected predetermined state change.

Abstract: An occupant protection device controller includes a main sensor, a safing sensor, a main control circuit, a sub control circuit, and a trigger signal output circuit. Whereas the main control circuit has a CPU, and the sub control circuit has no CPU. The main control circuit determines whether to output a main control signal based on both an output of the main sensor and an output of the safing sensor. The sub control circuit has a comparator and determines whether to output a sub control signal based on a comparison of the output of the main sensor with a threshold value. The trigger signal output circuit outputs a trigger signal for activating an occupant protection device upon receipt of both the main control signal and the sub control signal.

Abstract: A method for detecting a collision of a vehicle based on an output value of a pressure sensor for detecting change of a pressure in an interior space of the vehicle, includes: a process for calculating an environmental pressure around the vehicle; a process for correcting a pressure value determined based on the output value of the pressure sensor in accordance with the calculated environmental pressure; and a process for determining whether the corrected pressure value exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A determination device includes a single acceleration sensor that measures an acceleration of a vehicle and a determination circuit that is electrically connected with the acceleration sensor. The determination circuit has a plastic deformation pulse detection section and a severity determination section. The plastic deformation pulse detection section detects a plastic deformation pulse by separating the plastic deformation pulse from an acceleration waveform produced by the acceleration sensor. The severity determination section determines severity of a collision in a vehicle accident based on the detected plastic deformation pulse. A passive safety device is operated according to the determined severity.

Abstract: A vehicle has two acceleration sensors, which are provided forward and rearward respectively from the rear end of a driver seat in the vehicle. The acceleration sensors output signals, which are the basis for sensing a signal related to rotation of the vehicle. The sensed signal is the basis for determining whether the vehicle has a lateral collision.

Abstract: A determination device includes a single acceleration sensor for measuring an acceleration of a vehicle and a determination circuit for determining severity of a collision in an accident. A plastic deformation pulse detection section and an elastic deformation pulse detection section of the determination circuit detect a plastic deformation pulse and an elastic deformation pulse, respectively, from a waveform of measured accelerations. A severity determination section of the detection circuit determines the severity of a collision based on a correlation between a vehicle speed and a plastic deformation pulse, and a correlation between the vehicle speed, the plastic deformation pulse, and an elastic deformation pulse.

Abstract: An apparatus for activating occupant restraint devices of a vehicle includes first and second sensors, first and second determination units, an output circuit, and an activation unit. The first sensor generates a first signal indicative of dynamic movement of the vehicle, and the first determination unit determines, using a CPU, whether or not to output a first activation signal depending on the first signal. The second sensor generates a second signal indicative of the dynamic movement of the vehicle, and the second determination unit determines, using two thresholds of deceleration and acceleration or a single selectively provided deceleration threshold, whether or not to output a second activation signal depending on the second signal. The output circuit outputs a final activation signal upon receiving both the first and second activation signals, and the activation unit activates the occupant restraint devices of the vehicle upon receiving the final activation signal.

Abstract: An occupant protection device controller includes a main sensor, a safing sensor, a main control circuit, a sub control circuit, and a trigger signal output circuit. Whereas the main control circuit has a CPU, the sub control circuit has no CPU. The main control circuit determines whether to output a main control signal based on both an output of the main sensor and an output of the safing sensor. The sub control circuit has a comparator and determines whether to output a sub control signal based on a comparison of the output of the main sensor with a threshold value. The trigger signal output circuit outputs a trigger signal for activating an occupant protection device upon receipt of both the main control signal and the sub control signal.

Abstract: A loading system for a vehicle passenger protection device performs collision determination without using inaccurate signals included among acceleration signals input to a collision determination unit. First and second normal/abnormal judgment units judge whether output signals from a main G sensor and a satellite G sensor are normal signals or abnormal signals. If abnormal, then abnormal signal processing is performed to replace the abnormal signal value with the output value of an immediately preceding normal signal, to thereby produce an abnormal signal processing signal. Segment integration is then performed on the normal signals and the abnormal signal processing signal(s) to determine whether the vehicle has collided.

Abstract: Satellite sensors are disposed in both sidewalls of a vehicle; each of the satellite sensors detects as an acceleration a collision of an obstruction with the corresponding sidewall. A floor G sensor is disposed in a central portion of the vehicle for detecting as an acceleration a collision of an obstruction with either of both the sidewalls. A two-dimensional correlational map is produced to have two parameters of an acceleration detected by the satellite sensor and speed variation derived from an acceleration detected by the floor G sensor. A collision determining threshold line is set on the correlational map. When a tracking line crosses the threshold line from the side containing the original point to the other side, a collision occurrence of a given pattern requiring activation of an occupant protection device is determined.

Abstract: A passenger protection system includes acceleration sensors as well as a passenger protection ECU. At least one acceleration sensor is provided on one of the width-direction sides of the vehicle and at least one accelerator sensor is provided on the other width-direction side of the vehicle. Based on signals generated by the acceleration sensors the passenger protection ECU determines occurrence of a collision, and drives passenger protection apparatus accordingly. In the event of a collision, the passenger protection ECU performs an AND operation on a signal from the acceleration sensor on the colliding one of the width-direction sides of the vehicle, and a signal from the acceleration sensor on the other width-direction side not experiencing the collision, to drive the passenger protection apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a rollover of a vehicle is provided. The apparatus comprises a detector, memory unit, calculator, and rollover determination unit. The detector detects a roll angular velocity of the vehicle. The memory unit memorizes a value of the roll angular velocity detected by the detector. The calculator calculates a predictive value to the roll angular velocity to be expected when a predetermined period of time elapses, by using a past value of the roll angular velocity of the vehicle, the past value being memorized in the memory unit. The rollover determination unit determines whether or not there is a possibility that the vehicle will make a rollover, on the basis of the predictive value to the roll angular velocity.

Abstract: In a rollover judging device for a vehicle, an acceleration differential value of an acceleration of a vehicle in a lateral direction is calculated. And a roll angle of the vehicle is calculated from a roll rate. Then, the acceleration differential value is compared with a predetermined value corresponding to respective roll angles, to judge a trip-type rollover of the vehicle.

Abstract: A collision determination system for a vehicle is disclosed. The system includes a vehicle behavior recognition unit that recognizes specific vehicle behavior indicative of a probable vehicle collision. The system also includes a collision detection sensor that detects a predetermined state change resulting from a vehicle collision. Furthermore, the system includes a collision determination unit that determines whether the vehicle collision necessitates activation of a vehicle passenger protection device based on the specific vehicle behavior recognized by the vehicle behavior recognition unit and the detected predetermined state change.

Abstract: A vehicle has two acceleration sensors, which are provided forward and rearward respectively from the rear end of a driver seat in the vehicle. The acceleration sensors output signals, which are the basis for sensing a signal related to rotation of the vehicle. The sensed signal is the basis for determining whether the vehicle has a lateral collision.

Abstract: A vehicle has two acceleration sensors, which are provided forward and rearward respectively from the rear end of a driver seat in the vehicle. The acceleration sensors output signals, which are the basis for sensing a signal related to rotation of the vehicle. The sensed signal is the basis for determining whether the vehicle has a lateral collision.

Abstract: A method for detecting a collision of a vehicle based on an output value of a pressure sensor for detecting change of a pressure in an interior space of the vehicle, includes: a process for calculating an environmental pressure around the vehicle; a process for correcting a pressure value determined based on the output value of the pressure sensor in accordance with the calculated environmental pressure; and a process for determining whether the corrected pressure value exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: Angular velocity in a rolling action of a vehicle is detected by an angular velocity sensor, and a difference between two angular velocities detected in a short time interval is calculated. The calculated angular velocity difference is compared with a predetermined threshold value. If the angular velocity difference is larger than the threshold value, a passenger-protecting device is activated. A rolling angle of the vehicle may be calculated by integrating the detected angular velocity, and a combination of the rolling angle and the angular velocity may be compared with a predetermined threshold. If the combination exceeds the threshold, it is determined that the vehicle is rolling over and the passenger-protecting device is activated.