US 7,422,086 B2 Sep. 9, 2008
(54) VEHICLE IMPACT SENSOR USING BOTH ACCELEROMETER AND PRESSURE SENSING FOR SIDE IMPACT DETECTION
(75) Inventor: Christopher Richard Bujak, New
Baltimore, MI (US)
(73) Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC,
Dearborn, MI (US)
( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 1048 days.
(21) Appl.No.: 10/249,132
(22) Filed: Mar. 18, 2003
(65) Prior Publication Data
US 2004/0182627 Al Sep. 23, 2004
(51) Int. CI.
B60R 21/01 (2006.01)
(52) U.S. CI 180/274; 180/282; 280/735;
280/730.2; 701/45
(58) Field of Classification Search 280/735,
280/730.2; 180/274,282; 340/436,438;
701/45
See application file for complete search history. (56) References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS 3,495,675 A 2/1970 Hassetal.
A restraint control system (40) for an automotive vehicle (10) is illustrated with a first sensor such as a door cavity pressure sensor (28) and a second sensor such as an accelerometer (3 0). A restraint device (54) is coupled to a controller (52) that controls the operation of the restraint device in response to the first sensor (28) and the second sensor (30). When either the signal from the first sensor or the signal from the second sensor is above a first or second threshold, respectively, the two signals are compared. In response to the comparison, the restraint device (54) is deployed.
19 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
