US 7,321,817 B2
Automobile frontal collision location detection for coordinated activation of safety systems
Kwaku O. Prakah-Asante, Commerce Township, Mich. (US); Manoharprasad K. Rao, Novi, Mich. (US); Gary S. Strumolo, Beverly Hills, Mich. (US); and Jeanette J. Epps, Southfield, Mich. (US)
Assigned to Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, Mich. (US)
Filed on Dec. 05, 2003, as Appl. No. 10/729,104.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/432973, filed on Dec. 13, 2002.
Prior Publication US 2004/0117091 A1, Jun. 17, 2004
Int. Cl. B60R 21/32 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 701—45  [280/735; 180/271] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A safety system for a vehicle, said safety system comprising:
a plurality of collision detection sensors coupled to the periphery of said vehicle and operable to generate at least one collision detection signal; and
a controller coupled to said plurality of collision detection sensors and comprising (i) a collision contact location estimator for determining a collision type, which includes determining a collision severity and a collision contact location on said vehicle, in response to said at least one collision detection signal, and (ii) a coordinated device activation system for performing at least one countermeasure in response to said collision type;
wherein said collision contact location estimator, in determining said collision severity, is operable to generate at least one collision severity signal corresponding to approximately KiVi(1−e−τt), in which Vi is voltage output from the ith collision detection sensor, Ki is an adaptive gain, and τ is an adjustable filter time-constant.