Delphi Technologies, Inc.

Lee Charles Boger

Christopher Michael Caruso

Shyam V Potti

Brian Scott Kvapil

James Hill Brogoitti

Hector Daniel Martinez

Gregory J Manlove

Sheri Lynn Patterson

An error detection circuit for an airbag deployment control system includes a delay circuit receiving an analog acceleration signal, a difference circuit producing a difference signal based on a time difference between the original and delayed acceleration signals, and a first comparator circuit comparing the difference signal to first and second threshold signals. If the difference signal falls within an error region defined between the first and second threshold values, a decision circuit inhibits an otherwise pending airbag deployment event. If, on the other hand, the difference signal falls outside of the error region, the decision circuit allows airbag deployment with minimal delay. The error detection circuit further includes a second comparator circuit comparing the acceleration signal to near-supply and near-ground threshold values, wherein the decision circuit also inhibits airbag deployment if the acceleration signal magnitude exceeds the near-supply threshold value or falls below the near-ground threshold value.

Error detection circuit for an airbag deployment control system

A satellite crash sensor for use in a noisy area such as a crush zone has a crash dependent clock that uses an accumulated velocity signal derived from the acceleration signal, rather than the acceleration signal itself, to determine initiation and counting of the clock count. Successive velocity values are accumulated in an accumulated velocity value that is limited between zero and a maximum limit value. The clock count is incremented away from an initial zero value when the accumulated velocity value is greater than zero and back toward the zero value when the accumulated velocity value is equal to zero. The clock count is used as a measure of time from initiation of a possible crash event in the generation of a restraint deploy indicating signal in the satellite crash sensor.

Crush space crash sensor for motor vehicle occupant restraint deployment control

A vehicle satellite crash sensor includes a microcomputer with a stored datum indicating intended use in a frontal application such as the front crush space or a side application such as a vehicle side door. The microcomputer also stores a program that processes a sensed acceleration signal, derives an oscillation value and derives an occupant restraint deployment signal at least in response to the oscillation value. The program includes stored code for two alternative oscillation derivation algorithms: one of which is used in frontal applications and derives an integral of the absolute value of the sensed acceleration signal; the other of which is used in side applications and derives an integral of the sensed acceleration. The stored datum determines which of the stored oscillation algorithms is used.

Vehicle satellite sensor for frontal or side occupant restraint deployment

A satellite crash sensor for a motor vehicle occupant restraint system that provides multi-stage deploy signaling in a manner that detects a second stage deploy crash event having an initial velocity rise followed by a loss of velocity that delays the continuation of the velocity rise. The sensor derives a velocity value from an accelerometer signal. The initiation of a possible crash event is detected and a clock count indicating a time progression into the event is initiated. A constant second stage threshold value and data defining a first stage threshold varying as function of the clock count are stored. Only for a time indicated by a first predetermined value of the clock count, a second stage datum is stored if the velocity exceeds the second stage threshold value. For a longer time determined by a second predetermined clock count, the velocity value is compared with a clock count determined value of the first stage threshold and alternatively (1) a second stage deploy signal is generated if the velocity value exceeds the value of the first stage threshold and the second stage datum is stored, (2) a first stage deploy signal is generated if the velocity value exceeds the value of the first stage threshold and the second stage datum is not stored, and (3) no deploy signal is generated if the velocity value does not exceed the first stage threshold. For at least a portion of the predetermined clock count, the clock determined value of the first threshold exceeds the second threshold value.

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Noblesville, IN, United States of America

Lee Charles Boger