Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To estimate a curvature of a road by a Kalman filter. SOLUTION: In this estimation system, a first Kalman filter 52 estimates measured values of a yaw rate and speed from measured values generated by respective sensors 16, 18 in a host vehicle, and a second Kalman filter 54 estimates therefrom parameters of a clothoid model of road curvature. Measured values of a range, a range rate and an azimuth angle from a radar system 14, are processed by an extended Kalman filter 56 to provide an unconstrained estimate of the state of a target vehicle 36. Associated road constrained target state estimates are generated for one or more roadway lanes and are compared -either individually or in combination- with the unconstrained estimate. If a constrained target state estimate corresponds to the unconstrained estimate, then the state of the target vehicle is generated by fusing the unconstrained and constrained estimates; and otherwise is given by the unconstrained estimate alone. COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To increase the tension of a seat belt when there is a risk of collision while no tension is given in the hazard-free condition. SOLUTION: Device 10 to control impression of a tension on the vehicle seat belt provides the initial tension of the seat belt using a control processor 20 and a motor 12. After impression of the initial tension, the processor 20 removes substantially all tension applied to the seat belt, while monitoring the payout of the seat belt continuously through an encoder 18. The device provides out-of-position warnings, and controls the tensioning of the seat belt in response to the vehicle acceleration information from a collision discrimination device 22 and/or an object sensing radar device 26. The device further performs an early actuation of seat belt tensioning by using a pyrotechnic pretensioner 32 having a replaceable pyrotechnic cartridge 38. COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a gas generation device, that is, an inflator 10, including a housing 12 preferably formed by welding a cap 14 and a base 16 in such a manner of being nested. SOLUTION: A first wall 15 of the cap 14 and a second wall 17 of the adjacent base 16 substantially extending to a same direction are welded in order to form a structure girth. Preferably, a ring 36 is formed in a center of the cap 14, and thereby a bearing surface for an ignitor mounting base 22 is provided. The ignitor mounting base 22 is installed in the ring 36, and an ignitor 18 is fixed and housed therein.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a compact and lightweight pretensioner having a simple structure. SOLUTION: This pretensioner includes a housing 16 having at least one passage. A clutch mechanism 30 is fixed in a first passage 18, and a reel shaft of webbing passes through the clutch mechanism and extends in the axial direction. A soft start piston actuator 50 having a first pressure surface 54 and a second pressure surface 56 is positioned in a second passage 20 and can be started by a gas generation component 60 after receiving a signal from a remote sensor. Pressurized gas presses the piston actuator through the second passage at a first speed to operate the smaller pressure surface of two pressure surfaces and at a second speed to operate the larger pressure surface of two pressure surfaces. The operation of the piston actuator tightens a strap 40 extending by crossing the second passage and winds up seat belt webbing.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a belt tension detecting device simple in structure and accurately actuated even for low tension. SOLUTION: This belt tension detecting device 1 has three parts that are a stamp part 3, a movable bar 5 and a gauge plate 7. When tension is applied to a belt, the belt exerts downward-outward force to both side faces 15 of the stamp part 3 and exerts upward force to the movable bar 5. This force is measured by a strain gauge 41 attached to the upper face of the gauge plate 7. When the tension applied to the belt B is increased exceeding a certain limit, the stamp part 3 is further deformed, and the belt B extends straight. At this time, the lower face of the movable bar 5 is pushed up by the tension of the belt B. However, after opening of both side faces 15 of the stamp part 3 is completed, even if the tension applied to the belt B is further increased, the force applied to the movable bar 5, that is, to the strain gauge 42, is saturated and therefore not increased.
Abstract:
PURPOSE: To prevent the occurrence of a serious obstacle by announcing an alarm to passengers when collision or remarkable deceleration of an automobile occurs and a position in an automobile to eminently decrease effectiveness of a constrainment device is occupied by passengers. CONSTITUTION: A control circuit 12 is provided with an inertia type collision sensor 22 to indicate necessity to use an air bag 16, and a pyro technique sensor 24 to sense the presence of passengers to be protected by a constraining device. The control circuit 12 includes an indication device for a signal lamp 38 mounted in a noticeable place of the part of the instrument panel 28 of an automobile 10. A control module 36 calculates reduction of possible effectiveness of an air bag 16, blocking harmful contact between the passengers and the fixed internal structure of the automobile, to a value lower than its threshold and performs certification of the signal lamp 38 when the air bag 16 is consecutively used. This constitution provides an opportunity to move the passengers to a less risky position in the automobile.
Abstract:
PURPOSE: To enable the simple use of a substantial inertial sensor on a colliding section of a vehicle by making a deceleration sensor movable to a mounting bracket by the collision of the body structure. CONSTITUTION: A cylindrical inertial sensor 10 is tightly pressed in a complementary bracket 12 in such a relational state as to slide relatively to the bracket 12. This sensor 10 is protruded forwards from the bracket 12 so as to encounter the crush of a body structure, i.e., the collision before the bracket 12. The bracket 12 is fixed on the panel 14 of a vehicle (not shown in Fig.) with screws 16. A pigtail 18 is provided with an electric connector 20, extended through an opening 22 formed on the body panel 14 and connected to a regular air-bag expansion device (not shown in Fig.).
Abstract:
PURPOSE: To improve the reliability of collision detection of a vehicle by a simple circuit element by providing two circuit sides interconnected with three diode bridges and providing three collision sensors in a firing circuit for driving a passenger restraint device such as an air bag. CONSTITUTION: A firing circuit 10 for developing a pair of air bags has two circuit sides 12, 14 connected with a direct current power supply 16 in parallel. Each circuit side 12, 14 has a normally open safety sensors 30, 38, explosive fuses 32, 40 which become a trigger for developing a first air bag when a current value thereof exceeds a threshold value, and normally open collision sensors 34, 42. A section between both circuit sides 12 and 14 is connected by a first to a third diode bridges 46, 54, 62 consisting of diodes 48, 56, 68 connected in reverse parallel. A third collision sensor 70 is connected between a branching point 72 between a third bridge 62 and the diode 68 and a branching point 74 between both circuit sides 12 and 14.
Abstract:
PURPOSE: To provide an airbag attachment system capable of easily and surely achieving the attachment by folding an edge of an airbag to form a circumferential channel, inserting a metal rod in the channel, arranging it at a shoulder part of an end part of a storing can, and folding a flange at a circumferential edge of the can around the channel part. CONSTITUTION: An edge of an airbag 20 is folded into two, and fixed in a condition where a receiving channel 29 of a rod 30 is formed. A shoulder part 18 is formed on an opening end part 14 of a storing can 12, and the rod 30 is assembled together with the airbag 20. A circumferential flange 16 of the storing can 12 is folded around the airbag 20 to store the rod 30. Any fixture such as a bolt can be dispensed with by storing the airbag 20 in the storing can, and the airbag can be easily and surely fitted to the storing can.