Abstract: A collision recording apparatus records times in a memory, when a collision waveform provided accompanying a collision of a mobile unit and a waveform derived from the collision waveform reach predetermined values. The collision recording apparatus also records waveform types in association with the times, respectively.

Abstract: A method for rollover detection for automotive vehicles with safety-related devices, such as roll bars, (side) airbags and seat-belt tensioners involves the following steps and features. An angular rate of rotation (&ohgr;x) around the vehicle longitudinal axis is provided by the signal of a gyrosensor, and an initial position angle (&agr;0) identifying the initial position of the vehicle transverse axis is determined from at least one sensor signal. An integral of the angular rate is added to the initial position angle. The absolute value of the resulting sum, which is proportional to the momentary inclination angle relative to the horizontal plane, is then compared to a trigger threshold that is a function of the angular rate and vehicle-specific parameters. A safety-related device is triggered if the absolute value of the resulting sum exceeds the trigger threshold.

Abstract: A sensor system for initiating deployment of an occupant protection apparatus in a motor vehicle, such as an airbag, to protect an occupant of the vehicle in a crash. The system includes a sensor mounted to the vehicle for sensing accelerations of the vehicle and producing an analog signal representative thereof; an electronic converter for receiving the analog signal from the sensor and for converting the analog signal into a digital signal, and a processor which receives the digital signal. The processor includes a pattern recognition system and produces a deployment signal when the pattern recognition system determines that the digital signal contains a pattern characteristic of a vehicle crash requiring occupant protection. A deployment initiation mechanism is coupled to the processor and, responsive to the deployment signal, initiates deployment of the occupant protection apparatus.

Abstract: A vehicle rollover detection apparatus and method are provided for detecting an overturn condition of the vehicle. The rollover detection apparatus includes an angular rate sensor sensing angular rate of the vehicle, and a vertical accelerometer for sensing vertical acceleration of the vehicle. A controller processes the sensed angular rate signal and integrates it to produce an attitude angle. The vertical acceleration signal is processed to determine an inclination angle of the vehicle. The rollover detection apparatus adjusts the attitude angle as a function of the inclination angle and compares the adjusted attitude angle and the processed angular rate signal to a threshold level to provide a vehicle overturn condition output signal. Additionally, the rollover detection apparatus detects a near-rollover event and adjusts the variable threshold in response thereto to prevent deployment of a vehicle overturn condition, thus providing immunity to such events.

Abstract: An apparatus (20) determines a vehicle occupant location characteristic. The apparatus (20) includes at least one sensor (e.g., 46) for echo ranging at first and second ultrasonic frequencies. A timer function portion (84) of a microcomputer (66) determines a time-of-flight for each frequency signal. The microcomputer (66) determines the occupant location characteristic using at least one of the determined times-of-flight.

Abstract: An improved weight-based occupant characterization method reliably distinguishes between a child or small adult and a tightly cinched child seat based on a variance in the sensed occupant weight and a variance in the vehicle acceleration. The weight variance and acceleration variance are used to determine a relative or normalized variance that compensates for the effects of operating the vehicle on a rough road surface. The occupant is characterized as a child seat if the normalized variance is below a first threshold for a predetermined interval, and as a child or small adult if the normalized variation exceeds a second threshold for a predetermined interval.

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: Method, apparatus and computer programs are described for compensating for the effect of temperature on the sensitivity of electrostatic ultrasound (US) transducers, particularly as used in an automotive occupancy sensing (AOS) systems for sensing the nature or type of occupant and the location of the occupant with respect to the vehicle interior. The invention permits the AOS to classify the occupancy state of the vehicle from a US echo signal substantially free of the effects of temperature on signal amplitude. A capacitive divider or voltage monitor is employed to measure the capacitance of the transducer. The voltage monitor output is used by the scaling algorithm of a compensator to determine the scaling factor to be applied to the US transducer signal to compensate for the effect of temperature oil the transducer sensitivity.

Abstract: Method, apparatus and computer programs are described for compensating for the effect of temperature on the sensitivity of electrostatic ultrasound (US) transducers, particularly as used in an automotive occupancy sensing (AOS) systems for sensing the nature or type of occupant and the location of the occupant with respect to the vehicle interior. The invention permits the AOS to classify the occupancy state of the vehicle from a US echo signal substantially free of the effects of temperature on signal amplitude. A capacitive divider or voltage monitor is employed to measure the capacitance of the transducer. The voltage monitor output is used by the scaling algorithm of a compensator to determine the scaling factor to be applied to the US transducer signal to compensate for the effect of temperature on the transducer sensitivity.

Abstract: An action counter (27) counts the number of turn-on actions by an operator to an ignition switch (3) over a prescribed period of time, and a deceleration sensor (9) senses a deceleration imparted to the vehicle within a prescribed period of time. After the counted number of turn-on actions has exceeded a prescribed count value, if the deceleration exceeds a prescribed value, a switching intent determiner (5) makes a judgment of the operator's intent to switch the display mode of an air bag failure display device (17) from a normal mode to a maintenance mode.

Abstract: An occupant classification system utilizes a rules-based expert system to automatically classify the occupant of a seat for the purposes of airbag deployment. The invention provides users with the ability to create, test, and modify the image attributes or “features” used by the expert system to classify occupants into one of several predefined occupant-type categories. Users are also provided the ability to create, test, and modify the processes utilizing those chosen features. The user of the invention designs the features and the algorithms used by the expert system classifier. A feature extractor is used to extract features from an image of the occupant and surrounding seat area, and the values relating to those features are sent in a vector of features to the expert system classifier. The expert system classifier classifies the image of the occupant according to the internal rules for that classifier.

Abstract: In a controller for a motor-driven power steering mechanism, a motor control section outputs to a drive circuit a control signal corresponding to a torque command output from a torque calculation section. A digital signal processor receives the control signal, calculates an average of values of the control signal during a predetermined period of time, and outputs the average to an anomalous-state monitor section. The anomalous-state monitor section counts the number of times the average deviates from an allowable range. When the number of times has reached a predetermined number, the anomalous-state monitor section judges that the controller has come into an anomalous-state, and outputs a control prohibition signal to the motor control section.

Abstract: System and method for controlling operation of a vehicle or a component thereof based on recognition of a individual including a processor embodying a pattern recognition algorithm trained to identify whether a person is the individual by analyzing data derived from optical images and an optical receiving unit for receiving images including the person and deriving data from the images. The optical receiving unit provides the data to the algorithm to obtain an indication from the algorithm whether the person is the individual. A security system enables operation of the vehicle when the algorithm provides an indication that the person is an individual authorized to operate the vehicle and prevents operation of the vehicle when the algorithm does not provide an indication that the person is an individual authorized to operate the vehicle. A component adjustment system adjusts the component based on the recognition of the individual.

Abstract: A crash detection system comprises two sensors with complementary performance characteristics, a controller evaluates the signals from both sensors to determine whether an airbag should be activated, when an airbag should be activated and whether multiple stages of the airbag should be activated. The first sensor preferably comprises a ball-in-tube sensor and the second sensor preferably comprises an electronic sensing module comprising an accelerometer and a CPU. The CPU receives signals from the accelerometer and the ball-in-tube sensor. The controller activates the airbag only if both sensors generate fire signals. The controller generates an airbag activation signal based upon crash type and the sum of the times required from the beginning of the crash for both sensors to generate fire signals.

Abstract: A vehicle detector comprising a loop sensor, phase lock loop (PLL), frequency change detector, and a micro-processor including a logic circuit. Output of the PLL and the frequency change detector is inputted to the logic circuit, and the logic circuit performs logical OR operation of the output of the PLL and the output of the frequency change detector. The output of the logic circuit is used as a vehicle detection signal. The vehicle detector can detect vehicles at a low speed as well as vehicle at high speed accurately.

Abstract: A passenger detection system for detecting seating status of a passenger on a seat of a vehicle in which structure of electrodes placed on the seat is improved, is proposed. A plurality of electrodes are placed apart on the upper side of the seat, and a weak alternating electric field is generated between a transmission electrode, selected from the electrodes plurality of and reception electrodes other than the transmission electrode, and displacement currents passing in the reception plurality of electrodes, caused by the weak alternating electric field are detected. The seating status of the passenger on the seat is determined by analyzing the detected displacement currents. An electrode structure is preliminarily formed by fixing the electrodes apart on an electrical insulating base material, and the electrode structure is placed between a cushion material and a covering material of the seat. Preferably, the electrode structure is fixed to one or more components of the seat.

Abstract: A structure and method for enabling a passive vehicle occupant restraint to be activated at the earliest possible timing, irrespective of a type of a collision. A floor sensor measures a deceleration G applied to the length of a vehicle and outputs the deceleration as the measurement G. An arithmetic unit carries out a predetermined arithmetic operation on the measurement G output from the floor sensor, so as to determine a function f(G). A conditional activation unit has a variation pattern of a threshold value T that varies with a variation in velocity v of a non-stationary object. The conditional activation unit reads a threshold value T corresponding to an input velocity v from the variation pattern and compares the threshold value T with the value of the function f(G). In case that the value of the function f(G) exceeds the threshold value T, an activation signal A is input to a driving circuit.

Abstract: A system for alerting a vehicle occupant that an anti-whiplash system has been activated includes a wire disposed within an anti-whiplash system integrated into a vehicle seat. The wire is partially encased in a plastic plug which is easily inserted into a hole in the anti-whiplash system. At one end of the wire, a current generator is attached to provide a current therethrough. Also attached to the wire, at a location downstream of the anti-whiplash system, is a sensor that is configured to detect a change in the current flow through the wire. When the anti-whiplash system is activated, the moving parts shear the plastic plug and the wire contained inside, thus breaking the electrical circuit. The current sensor detects this change in current and then activates a warning signal indicator which provides notice to a vehicle occupant that the anti-whiplash system has been activated.

Abstract: A submergence detection portion 21 is provided in a circuit substrate, or the like, which carries electronic circuits of a power window control portion. The submergence detection portion 21 is configured to have an elliptical hole portion 25 provided in the circuit substrate so as to be immersed in water in case of submergence of a vehicle, and electrically conductive patterns 26 and 27 provided in the circuit substrate so as to be opposite to each other with respect to the hole portion 25. End portions of the electrically conductive patterns 26 and 27 near to the hole portion 25 are formed as electrically conductive pads 26a and 27a made of electrically conductive portions exposed. When the hole portion 25 is filled with water in case of submergence, the electrically conductive patterns 26 and 27 are electrically connected to each other.

Abstract: In an air bag system of the type that inflates one air bag using a plurality of inflators, an air bag inflation control apparatus is provided that can make a proper determination of inflator activation mode and a correct decision to activate or not activate the inflators according to the severity of a collision.

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.

Abstract: Method, apparatus and computer programs are described for compensating for the effect of temperature on the sensitivity of electrostatic ultrasound (US) transducers, particularly as used in an automotive occupancy sensing (AOS) systems for sensing the nature or type of occupant and the location of the occupant with respect to the vehicle interior. The invention permits the AOS to classify the occupancy state of the vehicle from a US echo signal substantially free of the effects of temperature on signal amplitude. A capacitive divider or voltage monitor is employed to measure the capacitance of the transducer. The voltage monitor output is used by the scaling algorithm of a compensator to determine the scaling factor to be applied to the US transducer signal to compensate for the effect of temperature on the transducer sensitivity.

Abstract: A rollover detection system or apparatus 10 deployed on a vehicle 30. Apparatus 10 includes a controller 12 having a memory unit 14 and operating under stored program control. Controller 12 is electrically, physically, and communicatively coupled to sensors 16, 18, 20, and to vehicle occupant safety devices or assemblies 22, 24 by use of a communications bus or path 26. Controller 12 receives signals generated by sensors 16-20, processes and utilizes the received signals to determine when a vehicle rollover situation is imminent or relatively certain to occur, and selectively activates safety devices 22, 24, if such a determination is made.

Abstract: An automobile airbag deactivation system is provided to enable emergency services personnel to prevent uninflated airbags from inflating when crash victims are being extricated from crashed automobiles. The system would enable emergency services personnel to deactivate all airbag inflation systems. The airbag deactivation system includes an interrupt switch and a switch control. The interrupt switch is located so as to prevent airbag inflation, such as between the airbag control circuitry and the airbag actuator or between the airbag actuator and the airbag. The switch control includes a device to open the interrupt switch and an access control device. The access control device prevents deactivation of the airbag inflating system by non-emergency personnel. Embodiments of the access control device include restricted electromagnetic band communication between a signal source and a signal transducer. The transducer opens the interrupt switch to deactivate the airbag inflation system.

Abstract: In the restraint system, in which coupled to a bus line are a central control unit and a plurality of data processing units that are provided to trigger restraint devices, a plurality of data channels that are clearly separable from each other are to be transmittable. In this context, data of high priority and high time-related urgency are transmitted with a high signal level and a high bit rate, data of lower priority and lower time-related urgency are transmitted with a low signal level and a low bit rate, data of high priority and lower time-related urgency are transmitted with a high signal level and a low bit rate, and data of a lower priority and high time-related urgency are transmitted with a low signal level and a high bit rate.

Abstract: A collision-determining device arranged to prevent a passenger protection mechanism from erroneously operating by determining the polar relationship between an acceleration signal indicative of vehicle acceleration and a pseudo signal used to determine whether a vehicle collision has occurred. A G sensor generates the pseudo signal having a polarity opposite from that of a deceleration signal based on a control signal from a microcomputer. An A-D converter receives the pseudo signal via a signal processing circuit and generates a pseudo voltage. The microcomputer determines whether a collision has occurred based on whether the pseudo voltage has been generated and based on the polarity thereof.

Abstract: An impact system employs an accelerometer (40), which produces an acceleration signal (70), and communicates it with a restraints control module (38) that, in turn, determines when switches (58) for passive restraint actuation will be activated. The restraints control module (38) decomposes the acceleration signal (70) via low (44) and high (46) pass filters into a high frequency signal (74), which is used for impact mode determination (78), and a low frequency signal (76), which is used for impact severity determination (80). The results of the two determinations are then used to make a deployment decision (82) for one or more of the passive restraints (30, 32, 34) in the vehicle (20).

Abstract: A vehicle safety system (10) includes a first vehicle occupant safety device (50) including a first pyrotechnic device (60) that is electrically energizable in response to a first actuation signal (76). The system also includes a second vehicle occupant safety device (50) including a second pyrotechnic device that is electrically energizable in response to a second actuation signal (80). The system includes at least one sensor (14-28) for sensing a first occupant or vehicle condition and for providing a first output signal indicative of the sensed first condition. An electronic control unit (ECU) (30) receives the first output signal (14-28) and in response to the first output signal determines whether one or both of the first and second safety devices should be actuated. An radio frequency (RF) transmitter (40) electrically connected with the ECU (30) is selectively actuatable by the ECU to transmit first and second individually coded RF signals (72, 80).

Abstract: A sonic back-up proximity sensor employs a first sonic transducer and a second sonic transducer mounted on a rearward portion of a riding lawn mower to create three discrete zones of protection. The first sonic transducer has an associated first region of coverage, or sector, and the second sonic transducer has an associated second sector. The first sonic transducer and second sonic transducer are directed toward one another such that the first sector and second sector at least partially overlap. The overlapping portion of the first sector and second sector provides redundant coverage in an area directly behind the lawn mower. The non-overlapping portion of the first sector defines a second protection zone on one side of the lawn mower. The non-overlapping portion of the second sector defines a third protection zone on a second side of the lawn mower.

Abstract: A floor sensor 32 measures a deceleration G applied to the length of a vehicle and outputs the deceleration as the measurement G. An arithmetic unit 58 carries out a predetermined arithmetic operation on the measurement G output from the floor sensor 32, so as to determine a function f(G). A conditional activation unit 60 has a variation pattern of a threshold value T that varies with a variation in velocity v of a non-stationary object. The conditional activation unit 60 reads a threshold value T corresponding to an input velocity v from the variation pattern and compares the threshold value T with the value of the function f(G). In case that the value of the function f(G) exceeds the threshold value T, an activation signal A is input to a driving circuit 34. A satellite sensor 30 outputs an ON signal when a deceleration of not less than a predetermined reference value is applied to the vehicle.

Abstract: An occupant-restraint deployment system and method for an automotive vehicle measures an initial vehicle velocity and a vehicle acceleration over a discrete time interval and calculates a vehicle velocity. An energy-momentum (e-m) waveform is determined for the time interval based upon the vehicle velocity and a vehicle mass. A semimetric distance is calculated between the e-m waveform and each of a set of signature waveforms characterizing collision classes. Identification of a collision class is then made based upon the semimetric distances, and deployment of an occupant restraint is activated if the identified collision class indicates a collision for which deployment is appropriate.

Abstract: An improved deployment method for a vehicular supplemental restraint system, wherein the timing of restraint deployment in response to a detected a rear impact of sufficient severity is based on the attainment of a predefined characteristic by a signal representative of the slope of a filtered acceleration signal. As a result, the deployment of the restraints is accurately timed for any given crash event, and provides consistent performance regardless of the nature of the impact. The deployment is conditioned upon (1) detection of a predefined level of severity, and (2) a subsequent reduction in the slope of a filtered acceleration signal to a predefined level. Preferably, the predefined level of severity--i.

Abstract: The relative motion and force between two interconnected elements can be counteracted with active controls when such motion and force is predictable. Magnitudes, wavelengths and locations of rocking motion by vehicles traveling along fixed guideways can be recorded, and such records can be used in subsequent trips to predict rocking motion causing forces. Active controls can be installed and programmed to exert timely counteracting forces to prevent rocking motion forces from passing from wheels via springs to upper vehicle bodies.

Abstract: The invention describes a process for triggering a passive safety device for vehicle occupants inside a vehicle, in particular airbags, pretensioning systems, buckle switches, and roll-over bars, where--by means of electric sensors, an evaluation circuit evaluating the acceleration signals of these sensors, and a triggering agent--an activation of these triggering agents is effected if the acceleration signals indicate a vehicle condition which may be potentially hazardaous for the vehicle occupants. According to the invention, the sensor signals will first be quantified, followed by detection of those signals that indicate simultaneously an impact direction against the direction of vehicle travel. At the same time that such sensor signals are detected, a linearly increasing crash signal as well as a trigger threshold increasing with the clock pulse are generated. If the crash signal reaches this dynamic trigger threshold, the trigger agents will be activated.

Abstract: A person-on-board protecting apparatus having ignition timing estimating means for outputting an ignition signal by determining a collision on the basis of an output from an acceleration sensor and estimating timing at which the head of a person on board reaches a predetermined position, expansion rate control means for outputting a control signal for controlling the expansion force of an air bag according to the head position of the person on board from a forward predetermined reference position, and an inflator having a plurality of detonators. The ignition modes of the plurality of detonators provided for the inflator are controlled according to an ignition signal from the ignition timing estimating means and a control signal from expansion force control means, so that the expansion rate and timing of the air bag are controlled.

Abstract: The method for recording and monitoring of a partial space, specifically for determination of space occupancy in a vehicle and therefrom derivable activation and/or switching of accessory devices provides for the radiation of ultra sound from a sensor (5) with transmitter and receiver in the direction of the partial space. The return beam signal supplied by the receiver is passed to an evaluation unit and analyzed. Dependent thereon, accessory devices can be activated and/or switched. The sensor for the partial space (12) employs several transmitters (6) and several receivers (7). The return signals are recorded with respect to travel time difference, thus with respect to distance and/or with respect to signal contour determined by the amplitudes and evaluated with respect to object contour in the partial space (12).

Abstract: A system for sensing the presence, position and type classification of an occupant in a passenger seat of a vehicle, as well as for sensing the presence of a rear-facing child seat therein, for use in controlling a related air bag activator control system to enable, disable or control inflation rate or amount of inflation of an air bag. The sensor system employs sensor fusion, a process of combining information provided by two or more sensors (24, 26), each of which "sees" the world in a unique sense. In a preferred embodiment, infrared sensor inputs (78) and ultrasonic sensor inputs (79) are combined in a microprocessor by a sensor fusion algorithm (80) to produce an occupancy state output signal (85) to the air bag controller.

Abstract: A system for sensing the presence of an object within a vehicle's passenger compartment including an occupant in a motor vehicle comprising of: one or more safety restraint device such as air bag or pretensioner for protecting the occupant during a crash, actuating device includes within the restraint device for activating the safety restraint device to protect an occupant during a collision; a first occupant sensor, fixedly positioned in the vehicle, for generating a reflected electric field within the passenger compartment for generating an output signal indicative of the presence of an object, the electric field being of predetermined size, wherein the presence of an object effects the reflected electric field causing a change in the output signal of the sensor, the sensor mounted on one of a vehicle's steering wheel assembly for driver position detection or instrument panel near the passenger air bag module for passenger position detection; a crash sensor coupled to electronic control unit for sensing an

Abstract: In a crew member detecting device, an acoustic wave generator element mounted on a vehicle body generates a standing wave between the acoustic wave generator element and a bucket seat, and an acoustic wave receiver element is provided in the region of the standing wave, to detect the presence of a person on the bucket seat from variations in the output of the acoustic wave receiver element which are due to the movement of the person on the bucket seat.

Abstract: Communications equipment for use in a combat vehicle with at least one transmitting antenna and at least one receiving antenna and with more communications terminals than transmitting antennas or receiving antennas. Control logic accordingly contains a signal-path matrix by which any communications terminal can be connected, depending on its operating state "transmit" or "receive", either to a transmitting antenna along a high-frequency transmission path that includes a power adder or to the receiving antenna along a high-frequency reception path that includes a level distributor.

Abstract: An improved deployment method for a vehicular restraint system having an acceleration sensor and a restraint device to be deployed for occupant protection in a crash event, where a measure of the impact severity based on the difference between the cumulative change in filtered acceleration over a predefined window, and the slope of such cumulative change, is used to characterize the crash event and to adjust the deployment threshold accordingly. Low energy impacts having a soft onset, such as an impact with a gravel pile or a low speed fill frontal impact, will produce a relatively high value of the measure, referred to herein as the Soft Impact Index, or SI Index, in the early progression of the sensed event, whereas high speed impacts that require deployment will produce a relatively low SI Index in the early progression of the event. If the SI Index exceeds a threshold early in the progression of a sensed crash event, an offset is added to the .DELTA.

Abstract: A vehicle occupant sensing apparatus is provided for use with an associated vehicle having a seat. The vehicle occupant sensing apparatus includes a first range measurement system for sensing a first distance from the first range measurement system towards a first area of the seat, a second range measurement system for sensing a second distance from the second range measurement system toward a second area of the seat and a controller. The controller includes operating means for operating the first and second range measurement systems and determining means for determining if an object is located on the seat in response to the first and second distances. In this way it can be determined if a child seat is present on the seat of the associated vehicle and further whether it is a front facing or back facing child seat.

Abstract: Polynomial functions of acceleration and time are used to develop an air bag activation decision. The polynomial functions include windowing constraints, a spike detector to detect the oscillatory signal in side impacts, and an above bias delay detector to help detect low speed impacts.

Abstract: A method for judging vehicle collision in which an output signal from an acceleration sensor carried on a vehicle, which is obtained from a time of start of judgment on collision, is outputted through interval windows each having a predetermined time width of a plurality of sampling cycles and provided as those successively delayed by one sampling cycle respectively. A waveform of the output signal is Hadamard-transformed and decomposed into frequency components for each of the interval windows by using an Hadamard-transforming unit. A threshold value set for a predetermined frequency component and outputted from a threshold-outputting unit is compared with a level value of the predetermined frequency component selected from the frequency components obtained by the decomposition in the Hadamard-transforming unit, by using a collision-judging unit. Occurrence of collision of the vehicle is judged on the basis of a result of the comparison.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling deployment of an inflatable passenger restraint utilize distance-based thresholds to improve deployment time in high-speed crash events and to improve event discrimination for side impacts. The invention uses an acceleration signal to calculate distance and to calculate average acceleration using three buffers holding differing numbers of samples. The three average accelerations are used to determine the length of the acceleration curves above and below the zero axis which is defined as positive and negative jerk. Average acceleration and jerk are compared to the distance-based thresholds to determine whether or not to deploy the inflatable restraint.

Abstract: A system for sensing the presence, position and type classification of an occupant in a passenger seat of a vehicle, as well as for sensing the presence of a rear-facing child seat therein, for use in controlling a related air bag activator control system to enable, disable or control inflation rate or amount of inflation of an air bag. The sensor system employs sensor fusion, a process of combining information provided by two or more sensors (24, 26), each of which "sees" the world in a unique sense. In a preferred embodiment, infrared sensor inputs (78) and ultrasonic sensor inputs (79) are combined in a microprocessor by a sensor fusion algorithm (80) to produce an occupancy state output signal (85) to the air bag controller.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a vehicle passenger restraint system having a restraint device for protecting a passenger in a vehicle. The system includes an acceleration sensor for sensing an acceleration of the vehicle, and an A/D converter for converting an output of the acceleration sensor into a digital signal indicative of the acceleration of the vehicle. A wavelet transform processor transforms the output of the A/D converter by a wavelet function into a wavelet coefficient. The wavelet function is provided on the basis of a mother wavelet function localized in time, scaled in response to a scale parameter, and shifted in response to a shift parameter indicative of a time localization. A speed variation computing unit sets a first condition when the wavelet coefficient transformed by the wavelet transform processor exceeds a predetermined value, and integrates the output of the A/D converter for a predetermined period to provide a speed variation.

Abstract: An analog signal processing system and decision logic for controlling airbag deployment includes low pass filter circuitry, differentiation circuitry and integration circuitry operable to receive an analog acceleration signal and provide a differentiated analog bandpass acceleration signal, a reduced bandpass analog acceleration signal, a low pass analog acceleration signal, an analog velocity signal and an analog displacement signal. An interface circuit receives the foregoing analog signals and converts such signals to a number of logic level signals based on comparison with a number of predefined analog threshold signals. A decision logic circuit receives the converted logic level signals and processes such signals to discriminate between severe and non-severe impact events, and control airbag deployment in accordance therewith.

Abstract: The deceleration of a vehicle on receiving an impact is detected to produce an analog deceleration signal, which is converted to digital samples. The digital samples that occur during a successively shifted window are integrated to produce a velocity signal. The analog deceleration signal is passed through an analog bandpass filter to extract frequency components which appear uniquely on receiving the impact The bandpass-filtered signal is converted to a digital bandpass-filtered signal which is converted to a first impact energy signal having an absolute digital value and the velocity signal is differentiated to produce a second impact energy signal. The first and second impact energy signals are compared with first and second threshold values and first and second decision outputs are produced when the first and second impact energy signals are respectively higher than the first and second threshold values.

Abstract: An actuatable restraint system (10) includes a satellite crash sensing module (20) which is electrically connected to, and remotely located away from, a main module (22). Satellite crash sensing module (20) includes an accelerometer (26) and satellite controller (28). Satellite controller (28) determines whether a deployment crash event is occurring in response to the acceleration signal by performing a crash algorithm. Satellite controller (28) provides coded signals (63) indicating whether or not a deployment crash event has occurred. A main controller (44) in main control module (22) receives and interprets the coded signals (63). If main controller (44) interprets the coded signal as indicating the occurrence of a deployment crash condition, main controller (44) actuates a restraint device.