Delco Electronics Corporation

Delphi Technologies, Inc.

Jiyao Liu

Jon Paul Kelley

Gregory J Manlove

Walter Kirk Kosiak

Richard Joseph Ravas

An analog signal processing system for determining airbag deployment includes a first low pass filter receiving a conditioned analog accelerometer signal and providing an analog acceleration signal therefrom. A first comparator/latch circuit receives the analog acceleration signal and provides a first signal to a logic circuit. The analog acceleration signal is further provided to a first integrator which converts the signal to a first velocity signal and provides the first velocity signal to a second comparator/latch circuit which provides a second logic level signal to the logic circuit. A second low pass filter receives the analog acceleration signal and provides a low frequency analog acceleration signal to a third comparator/latch circuit which provides a third signal to the logic circuit. The low frequency analog acceleration signal is further received by a second integrator circuit which converts the signal to a second velocity signal and provides the second velocity signal to a fourth comparator/latch circuit which provides a fourth signal to the logic circuit. The logic circuit performs a logic operation on the various logic level signals to provide an airbag deployment signal therefrom. Each comparator/latch circuit has a comparator threshold value associated therewith provided by a threshold circuit. The system is enabled for a preset time period after detecting a predefined acceleration level to provide a time-independent analog algorithm for evaluating the analog acceleration signal for possible airbag deployment.

Analog signal processing system for determining airbag deployment

An airbag with two or more inflators can be inflated in successive stages separated by a time interval, inflated simultaneously or some not inflated at all, depending on crash severity. The first stage inflation is controlled in accordance with a conventional algorithm for single stage deployment. Deployment time and velocity parameters used for the first stage are employed to determine the crash severity and the time interval of the next stage. There is no time delay in the case of a very severe crash, but for a moderately severe crash the time interval is proportional to the difference of the time or velocity and a selected minimum time or velocity value.

Control method for variable level airbag inflation

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.

Analog signal processing system and decision logic for controlling

A system having an accelerometer and a micro-controller responsive to acceleration signals for deploying an air bag as well as activating a pretensioner upon frontal impact includes an algorithm for activating the pretensioner upon rear impact. A frontal crash algorithm is executed when the acceleration exceeds a negative threshold and a rear impact algorithm is enabled when the acceleration exceeds a positive threshold. Rear impact severity is tested by integrating positive acceleration samples and issuing an activation command when the integrated value attains a severity threshold value. Noise immunity results from the positive threshold and from resetting the integrated value to zero whenever a negative acceleration sample intervenes in the severity test.

Supplemental inflatable restraint system having a rear impact algorithm

An apparatus and method for deployment of an air bag installed in an automotive vehicle. The control includes a senor for sensing vehicle deceleration due to a collision and a processor operatively connected to the sensor. The sensor generates a deceleration signal which is analyzed by the processor. The processor calculates velocity and signal energy from the deceleration signal, and compares the velocity and signal energy to predefined velocity and energy thresholds, respectively. The processor also generates a deployment signal when both the velocity and energy signals exceed the respective thresholds. In the method for controlling the deployment of an air bag, vehicle deceleration due to a collision is sensed and a deceleration signal is generated therefrom. The velocity signal and energy signals are then calculated and compared to the respective predefined velocity and energy thresholds. If the velocity signal exceeds the velocity threshold and the signal energy exceeds the energy threshold, a deployment signal is generated.

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Kokomo, IN, United States of America

Jiyao Liu