The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 26, 2002
Filed:
Oct. 16, 2000
Christopher Michael Caruso, Kokomo, IN (US);
Brian Scott Kvapil, Janesville, WI (US);
Shyam V. Potti, Carmel, IN (US);
Lee Charles Boger, Noblesville, IN (US);
James Hill Brogoitti, Oro, MX;
Hector Daniel Martinez, Oro, MX;
Sheri Lynn Patterson, Greentown, IN (US);
Delphi Technologies, Inc., Troy, MI (US);
Abstract
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.