Abstract:
Proposed is a device for triggering a restraining system in a vehicle, the device triggering the restraining system as a function of a mass estimate of an impact object. In this context, the device is configured such that it performs mass estimates as a function of at least one pre-crash signal, at least one vehicle datum, the own vehicle speed, and at least one impact signal.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a device for triggering a restraining system in a vehicle.  
       BACKGROUND INFORMATION  
       [0002]     A passenger protection system having a proximity sensory system is known from German Patent No. 198 18 586. In addition, at least one mass detection sensor for estimating the mass of the impact object is provided in the external contour of the vehicle. The mass detection sensor may be configured as a pressure difference sensor or as an acceleration sensor. Characteristic is that the mass detection sensor is movable away from the external contour toward the obstacle.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     In contrast, the device of the present invention for triggering a restraining system in a vehicle has the advantage that typically available sensory system for a restraining system, i.e., the inertial sensor and the pre-crash sensor, as well as vehicle data and the speed of the own vehicle may be used to determine the mass of the impact object. This results in a significantly simpler solution entailing less production and development expenditure. In particular, this makes it possible to detect the accident situation more precisely and as such to better trigger the restraining means of the restraining system.  
         [0004]     It is particularly advantageous that the pre-crash signal indicates the relative speed, the vehicle data provides the mass and stiffness of the vehicle, the speed signal, which was measured by a speed sensor and is available on the CAN bus of the vehicle for example, includes the speed of the own vehicle, and the impact signal is generated by an impact sensor. An acceleration sensor is preferably used as the impact sensor, the signal of which may be used to detect the crash type as a function of the impact speed. The crash type detection may then be used to determine the stiffness, which is needed for the mass estimate. This stiffness is the stiffness of the impact object.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]      FIG. 1  shows a block diagram of the device of the present invention.  
         [0006]      FIG. 2  shows a flow chart. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0007]     The acceleration signal, which is measured by the central acceleration sensor or upfront sensor, is analyzed to determine the instantaneous impact speed, stiffness, as well as mass of the object impacting in a vehicle crash. These parameters are only able to be determined in combination in this context. The pre-crash sensory system allows the impact speed to be measured and to thus be used as an independent variable. As a result, only the two parameters, mass and stiffness, must still be determined in combination. These parameters are the parameters of the impact object. In accordance with the present invention, the mass of the impact object is determined as a value independent of the stiffness in order to be able to arrive at the decision to activate restraining means in a vehicle in a more precise, reliable, and situation-specific manner. The mass of the impact object is determined from the impact speed determined by the pre-crash sensory system and the vehicle data regarding the own vehicle. As a result, it is possible to record the accident situation more accurately and as such to better trigger the restraining means. These restraining means include airbags, belt pretensioners, and roll bars.  
         [0008]      FIG. 1  shows a block diagram of the device of the present invention. An environment sensor  11  is connected via a first data input to a control unit  14 . An acceleration sensor  12  is connected via a second data input to the control unit, and a sensor  13  for determining the own speed is connected via a third data input to the control unit. In this context, it is possible for example for the own speed to be available on the CAN bus and for the control unit to receive information regarding the own speed from there. Control unit  14  is assigned a processor  15 , on which an algorithm for calculating the trigger times of a restraining means runs. It is possible for additional algorithms for triggering other restraining means to also be processed. Control unit  14  is connected via a data output to restraining means  16 . Examples of these restraining means  16  include airbags, belt pretensioners, or a roll bar. Restraining means  16  may be triggered either by control unit  14  or by a further control unit for the restraining means. Only one environment sensor  11  and one acceleration sensor  12  are mentioned here as examples. However, more than one environment sensor and more than one acceleration sensor may be used. Environment sensor  11  may be a radar, ultrasound, or video sensor, for example. As a result, it is particularly possible to measure the speed of a detected object. The acceleration sensor is used as an impact sensor that determines the acceleration resulting from the impact.  
         [0009]     Algorithm  15 , which runs in the control unit, is shown in  FIG. 2  as a flow chart and is based in particular on the law of the impact of two bodies. Impulse and energy are conserved during impact. If subscript 1 designates vehicle  1 , subscript 2 vehicle  2 , the prime mark the value after impact, m the mass, v the speed, and v c  the relative speed between the two vehicles, i.e., the impact speed, the following is true for the conservation of the impulse: 
 
 m   1   v   1   +m   2   v   2   =m   1   v′   1 + 2   v′   2 .   (1) 
 
         [0010]     The course of a crash may be divided into two phases: the impact phase and braking phase. During the impact phase, significant deceleration values act on the occupants so that they must be protected by the restraining systems, while during the braking phase only low decelerations occur due to the friction and braking processes so that the occupants no longer require the protection of the restraining systems. In the case of a real crash, it may be assumed with sufficient accuracy that the speed of the two vehicles is equal at the end of the impact phase. If v e  is the common end speed, the following is true: 
 
V′ 1 =V′ 2 =V e .   (2) 
 
         [0011]     Since the impact speed equals the sum of the two own speeds, the following is true: 
 
 v   1   +v   2   =V   c .   (3) 
 
         [0012]     Since v 1  is the own speed and v c  is the impact speed measured by pre-crash sensor  11 , both speeds are known to the control unit of vehicle  1 . As a result, equation 3 may be used to calculate v 2 . Replacing v 2  with the difference between v c  and v 1  and inserting equation 2 in equation 1 yields the following: 
 
 m   1   v   1   +m   2 ( v   c   −v   1 )=( m   1   +m   2 ) V   e .   (4) 
 
         [0013]     If E reduced  is the reduced energy, the following is true for the energy balance prior to and following impact:  
                   1   2     ⁢     m   1     ⁢     v   1   2       +       1   2     ⁢     m   2     ⁢     v   2   2         =       E   reduced     +       1   2     ⁢     m   1     ⁢     v   1   2       +       1   2     ⁢     m   2     ⁢       v   2   2     .                 (   5   )             
 
         [0014]     Inserting equation 2 in equation 5 and replacing v 2  with the difference between v c  and v 1  yields:  
                   1   2     ⁢     m   1     ⁢     v   1   2       +       1   2     ⁢         m   2     ⁡     (       v   c     -     v   1       )       2         =       E   reduced     +       1   2     ⁢     (       m   1     +     m   2       )     ⁢       v   e   2     .                 (   6   )             
 
         [0015]     Under the precondition that E reduced  is known, the two unknown values m 2  and v e  are then able to be calculated using equations 4 and 6. The reduced energy is dependent on the impact speed, the mass, and the stiffness of the own vehicle and the impact object: 
 
E reduced −f(v c ,m 1 ,m 2 ,s 1 ,s 2 ).   (7) 
 
         [0016]     If the opposing object as the impact object is firmly anchored in the ground, it corresponds with an infinite mass m 2 . Values v c , m 1 , and s 1 , respectively, are known in the control unit from the pre-crash sensor or the own vehicle data provided in a memory. Stiffness s 2  of the opposing object may be determined via crash type detection from the acceleration signal and the impact speed. As a result, all parameters are known except for m 2 , and m 2  is able to be calculated by the system using equations 4 and 6.  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  again shows that input values m 1    20 , v 1    21 , v c    22 , acc  23 , and s 1    24  are connected to one another such that speed v 2  of the impact object is determined from v 1    21  and v c    22 . In this case, v 2  is provided with reference numeral  25 . Stiffness s 2  of the impact object is determined from v c    22  and acc  23 . In this instance, acc  23  designates the acceleration or a signal derived therefrom, e.g., the integrated acceleration. In block  27 , equations 4 and 6 as well as values m 1 , v 1 , v 2 , s 2 , and s 1  are used to calculate the final speed, the v e  of the two vehicles, as well as mass m 2    29  of the impact object.