Trw Limited

Trw Automotive U.S. LLC

Keith R Miciuda

Jon Kelly Wallace

Russell Joseph Lynch

Farid Khairallah

Scott E Kolassa

Roger A McCurdy

Russell J Lynch

A communication system ( ) includes a communication bus ( ) through which a power/voltage transmitter ( ) conveys electrical energy and messages to a plurality of units ( ). The power/voltage transmitter ( ) includes components for adjusting voltage of the electrical energy past a first predetermined threshold to provide a first type message frame and modulating the voltage of the electrical energy during the first type message frame to convey a first type message. The power/voltage transmitter ( ) also includes components for adjusting the voltage past a second predetermined threshold to provide a second type message frame and modulating the voltage of the electrical energy during the second type message frame to convey a second type message.

Communication system and method utilizing message frames having multiple thresholds for a multi-device vehicle occupant protection system

A vehicle occupant protection system (,) includes an actuatable device (e.g.,,) for protecting a vehicle occupant (,). An accelerometer (e.g.,,) and a crash determination portion (,) of a controller (,) derive a first metric indicative of a vehicle crash condition. A Z-axis accelerometer (,) and a safing portion (,) of the controller (,) derive a second metric indicative of a vehicle vertical acceleration characteristic. The controller (,) actuates the device (e.g.,,) to protect the occupant (,) in response to the first metric indicating a vehicle crash condition and the second metric exceeding a predetermined threshold. Preferably, the system (,) includes a second device (e.g.,,) and another accelerometer (e.g.,,) and another crash determination portion (,) of the controller (,) to derive a third metric indicative of a vehicle crash condition. The controller (,) actuates the device (e.g.,,) to protect the occupant (,) in response to the third metric indicating a vehicle crash condition and the second metric exceeding a predetermined threshold. Thus, the second metric is utilized twice.

Vehicle occupant protection system and method utilizing Z-axis central safing

A distributed vehicle safety system (,) and an associated method provide for connection of a plurality of devices (,). Each of the devices (,) performs a function associated with protection of a vehicle occupant. A communication bus (,) conveys communication for the devices (,). The bus includes first and second conductors (,A and,B). A first portion (subset K) of the devices (,) are daisy-chain connected, with respect to each other, along one (e.g.,,A) of the conductors of the bus (,). A second portion (subset L) of the devices (,) are connected in parallel across the first and second conductors (,A and,B) of the bus (,). The second portion (subset L) contains at least one and preferably several devices (,).

Mixed parallel and daisy chain bus architecture in a vehicle safety system

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Grosse Pointe Park, MI, United States of America

Keith R Miciuda