Patent ID: 6186539
Filing Date: 2001-02-13
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
An apparatus for controlling an actuatable occupant restraining device for a vehicle, said restraining device having a plurality of actuatable stages, said apparatus comprising:a central crash sensor located at a substantially central location of the vehicle for sensing crash acceleration during a vehicle crash condition and providing a first crash acceleration signal indicative thereof;velocity determining means responsive to said first crash acceleration signal for determining a crash velocity value from said first crash acceleration signal and providing a crash velocity signal indicative thereof;crush zone sensor located at a forward location of the vehicle so as to be subjected to crash acceleration relatively early during the vehicle crash condition, said crush zone sensor providing a second crash acceleration signal indicative thereof;control means coupled to said actuatable device, said central crash sensor, and said crush zone sensor for (i) effecting actuation of a first of said actuatable stages when said determined crash velocity value exceeds a first threshold value, (ii) effecting actuation of said first of said actuatable stages when a value functionally related to said crash acceleration value from said crush zone sensor exceeds a second threshold value, (iii) upon said determined crash velocity value exceeding a third threshold value, determining a first crash severity index having a value related to a time interval from when said determined crash velocity value exceeds said first threshold value to when said determined crash velocity value exceeds said third threshold value, and (iv) upon said determined crash acceleration from said crush zone sensor exceeding a fourth threshold value, determining a second crash severity index having a value related to a time interval from when said determined crush zone sensor crash acceleration value exceeds said second threshold value to when said determined crush zone sensor crash acceleration value exceeds said fourth threshold value, said control means controlling actuation of a second of said actuatable stages in response to one of said first and second crash severity index values.