IP Library › Granted Patent US 6,882,914
Granted Patent B2
US 6,882,914 · App. 10/266,168 · Granted Apr 19, 2005

Vehicle occupant safety system

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,882,914
App. No.
10/266,168
Granted
Apr 19, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle occupant safety system includes a crash severity determination system and one or more vehicle occupant safety devices. The crash severity determination system includes at least one crash sensor which generates a crash signal based upon the severity of the crash. A continuously variable crash severity output signal is generated based upon the crash signal from the crash sensor. Generally, for a given crash type, the crash severity signal is inversely proportional to the amount of time between the beginning of the crash and when the crash signal crosses a threshold. This continuously variable crash severity signal is sent to the vehicle occupant safety devices, which activate proportionally to the crash severity signal.

Claims (28)

1. A crash determination system comprising:

a crash sensor generating a crash signal based upon a severity of a crash, the crash determination system generating a continuously variable crash severity signal indicative of the severity of the crash based upon the crash signal, wherein the crash determination system determines a crash type, the crash severity signal being a graded uninterrupted signal inducing different intermediate values between two extremes as a function of the crash type determined by the crash determination system, wherein the crash determination system sends the crash severity signal to an occupant safety device.

2. The crash determination system of claim 1 wherein the crash signal crosses a threshold after a time period, wherein the crash severity signal is a function of the inverse of the time period.

3. The crash determination system of claim 1 wherein the crash sensor is an inertial sensor.

4. A method for determining a severity of a crash of a vehicle including the steps of:

a. generating a crash signal in response to a crash;

b. comparing the crash signal to a threshold;

c. determining a time period to when the crash signal reaches the threshold;

d. generating a crash severity signal indicative of a severity of the crash based upon the time period, the crash severity signal being a graded uninterupted signal including different intermediate values between an upper extreme and a lower extreme; and

e. sending the crash severity signal to an analog occupant safety device.

5. The method of claim 4 further including the step of calculating the crash severity signal as a function of an inverse of the time period.

6. The method of claim 5 further including the step of determining a crash type, wherein said crash severity signal is calculated in said step d) based upon the crash type.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the crash severity signal is continuously variable from a minimum to a maximum based upon the crash severity.

8. A method for determining a severity of a crash of a vehicle including the steps of:

a. generating a crash signal;

b. comparing the crash signal to a threshold;

c. determining a time period in which the crash signal reaches the threshold;

d. calculating a continuously variable crash severity signal representing a severity of the crash as inversely proportional to the time period, the crash severity signal being a continuously variable, graded signal including different between upper and lower values; and

e. sending the crash severity signal to a continuously variable occupant safety device.

9. The method of claim 8 further including the step of determining a crash type, wherein said crash severity signal is calculated in said step d) based upon the crash type.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the crash severity signal is continuously variable from a minimum to a maximum based upon the crash severity.

11. The method of claim 10 further including the step of determining a change in velocity as a function of the inverse of the time period and crash type.

12. The method of claim 11 further including the step of determining the crash severity signal in said step d) as a function of the change in velocity and crash type.

13. The method of claim 12 further including the steps of:

generating a plurality of crash signals from a plurality of sensors;

determining a time period for when each of the plurality of crash signals crosses a threshold; and

calculating the crash seventy signal as a function of the inverse of each of the plurality of time periods.

14. The crash determination system of claim 1 wherein the continuously variable crash severity signal indicates a level at which an active restraint should be deployed.

Assignments (14)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 12, 2021
From: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS SECURITY AGENT FOR THE SECURED PARTIES
To: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 057775/0771 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 12, 2021
From: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS SECURITY AGENT FOR THE SECURED PARTIES
Reel/Frame 057828/0461 →
RELEASE OF INTEREST IN PATENTS- RELEASE OF REEL/FRAME 033673/0524 Recorded Apr 12, 2018
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH
To: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.; KSS HOLDINGS, INC.; KSS ACQUISITION COMPANY; BREED AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; KEY ASIAN HOLDINGS, INC.; KEY AUTOMOTIVE ACCESSORIES, INC.; KEY AUTOMOTIVE OF FLORIDA, LLC; KEY CAYMAN GP LLC; KEY INTERNATIONAL MANUFACTURING DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; KEY SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEMS, INC.; KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS FOREIGN HOLDCO, LLC
Reel/Frame 045933/0563 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT Recorded Apr 11, 2018
From: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
Reel/Frame 045927/0330 →
RELEASE OF INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL Recorded Sep 2, 2014
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH
To: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.; KSS HOLDINGS, INC.; KSS ACQUISITION COMPANY; BREED AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; HAMLIN INCORPORATED; KEY ASIAN HOLDINGS, INC.; KEY AUTOMOTIVE ACCESSORIES, INC.; KEY AUTOMOTIVE WEST, INC.; KEY AUTOMOTIVE, LP; KEY CAYMAN GP LLC; KEY ELECTRONICS OF NEVADA, INC.; KEY INTERNATIONAL MANUFACTURING DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; KEY SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEMS, INC.; KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS FOREIGN HOLDCO, LLC; KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS OF TEXAS, INC.
Reel/Frame 033666/0605 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 2, 2014
From: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.
To: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH
Reel/Frame 033673/0524 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE NATURE OF CONVEYANCE TO RELEASE OF SECOND LIEN INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL AND THE RECEIVING PARTY NAMES PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 031327 FRAME 676. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE RELEASE OF SECOND LIEN INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL. SEE ALSO THE ATTACHED DECLARATION. Recorded Aug 12, 2014
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH
To: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.; KSS HOLDINGS, INC.; KSS ACQUISITION COMPANY; BREED AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; HAMLIN INCORPORATED; KEY ASIAN HOLDINGS, INC.; KEY AUTOMOTIVE ACCESSORIES, INC.; KEY AUTOMOTIVE, LP; KEY CAYMAN GP LLC; KEY ELECTRONICS OF NEVADA, INC.; KEY INTERNATIONAL MANUFACTURING DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; KEY SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEMS, INC.; KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS FOREIGN HOLDCO, LLC; KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS OF TEXAS, INC.
Reel/Frame 033521/0223 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 5, 2013
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH
To: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 031327/0676 →
RELEASE OF LIEN INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL Recorded Jul 9, 2013
From: CITICORP USA, INC.
To: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 030821/0063 →
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jan 4, 2013
From: CITICORP USA, INC.
To: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH
Reel/Frame 029565/0125 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 16, 2007
From: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC; KSS HOLDINGS, INC; KSS ACQUISITION COMPANY; AEGIS KEY CORP; BREED AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY, INC; HAMLIN INCORPORATED; KEY ASIAN HOLDINGS, INC; KEY AUTOMOTIVE ACCESSORIES, INC; KEY AUTOMOTIVE OF FLORIDA, INC; KEY AUTOMOTIVE WEST, INC; KEY AUTOMOTIVE, LP; KEY CAYMAN GP LLC; KEY ELECTRONICS OF NEVADA, INC; HAMLIN ELECTRONICS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; KEY INTERNATIONAL MANUFACTURING DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; KEY SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEMS, INC; KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS FOREIGN HOLDCO, LLC; KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS OF TEXAS, INC
To: CITICORP USA, INC.
Reel/Frame 019297/0249 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 11, 2004
From: BREED AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 015067/0514 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 27, 2003
From: BREED TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: CITICORP USA, INC. AS "ADMINISTRATOVE AGENT" AND CITICORP USA, INC. AS TERM C LOAN COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 014409/0767 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 11, 2003
From: GIOUTSOS, TONY; TABAR, DANIEL N.
To: BREED AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 013750/0494 →