Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc.

Debra A Rice

Leonard Steven Cech

Craig W White

William Todd Watson

Michael P Bruce

Jeffrey S Bennett

A signal generated responsive to a magnetic field in a magnetic circuit is decomposed into first and second filtered signals, wherein, at at least one first frequency, a magnitude of a component of the first filtered signal is greater than that of the second filtered signal, and at at least one second frequency greater than the at least one first frequency, a magnitude of a component of the second filtered signal is greater than that of the first filtered signal. A condition of a magnetic circuit is sensed responsive to the first and second filtered signals. In one embodiment, actuation of a safety restraint actuator of a vehicle is controlled responsive to the sensed condition of the magnetic circuit that includes a portion of the vehicle susceptible to a crash. A deployment threshold is adjusted responsive to a door opening state.

Magnetic crash sensing method

A vehicular crash discrimination system (10) incorporates first (12) and second (14) crash sensors operatively coupled to a logic AND gate (16), which activates a safety restraint system (2). The first crash sensor (12) is mounted in a location which for a preferred sensing characteristic causes susceptibility to activation by crashes which are so directed that the safety restraint system (2) should not otherwise be activated. The second crash sensor (14), having a lower detection threshold than the first crash sensor (12), is mounted at a distinct location and is responsive to crashes for which the safety restraint system (2) is preferably activated, but is not responsive to those crashes which cause false activation of the first crash sensor (12). The instant invention thus provides for a preferred sensing characteristic determined by a first crash sensor mounted in an inferior location without being subject to false activation of the safety restraint system (2). In another aspect, the first crash sensor (2) incorporates a plurality of crash sensing characteristics and the selection of the active sensing characteristic is dependent upon the operative state of the second crash sensor (14).

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Northville, MI, United States of America

Debra A Rice