APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR VEHICLE OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN LARGE ANIMAL COLLISIONS

摘要

An apparatus and method are disclosed for vehicle occupant protection in large animal collisions. Objects forward of the host vehicle are monitored using at least one forward looking remote sensor and object signals output. A velocity of the host vehicle is determined and velocity signals output. The object signals and the velocity signals are processed to determine whether the host vehicle unavoidably will suffer a collision with a large animal while traveling at or above a threshold velocity and a collision signal is output. Operation of a motor operated height adjustment device, an inclination adjustment device and/or a longitudinal position adjustment device of a vehicle seat is triggered to move a seat cushion and a backrest thereof away from a leading edge of a roof of the host vehicle in response to the collision signal.

主权项

1. An apparatus for vehicle occupant protection in large animal collisions, comprising:
at least one forward looking remote sensor arranged to monitor a road ahead of a vehicle hosting the apparatus for potential collision threats, detect objects forward of the host vehicle and output object signals representative thereof; at least one velocity sensor arranged to determine a velocity of the host vehicle and output velocity signals representative thereof; a processing device arranged to process at least the object signals and the velocity signals to determine whether the host vehicle unavoidably will suffer a collision with a large animal while traveling at or above a threshold velocity at which such a collision could cause partial intrusion into a passenger compartment of a leading edge of a roof of the vehicle and to output a collision signal in response thereto; a vehicle seat with a seat cushion mounted on a seat frame, the height of which is adjustable through a motor operated height adjustment device, and a backrest, the inclination of which is adjustable through a motor operated inclination adjustment device, wherein a longitudinal position of the vehicle seat is adjustable through a motor operated longitudinal position adjustment device; and a triggering device arranged to trigger operation of at least one of the motor operated height adjustment device, the motor operated inclination adjustment device and the motor operated longitudinal position adjustment device to move at least one of the seat cushion and the backrest away from the leading edge of the roof of the host vehicle in response to the collision signal indicating that the host vehicle is about to suffer a large animal collision.