METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING AN ACTUATABLE RESTRAINT DEVICE USING A SIDE PRESSURE SENSOR

摘要

An apparatus for controlling an actuatable occupant restraint device of a vehicle comprises a central crash accelerometer that senses crash acceleration at a vehicle location and that provides a first crash acceleration signal indicative thereof. A side pressure sensor senses pressure in a chamber disposed at a side of the vehicle and provides a side pressure signal indicative thereof. A controller actuates the actuatable occupant restraint device in response to the first crash acceleration signal and the side pressure signal. The controller determines a first moving average of acceleration value comprising a moving average of acceleration in a direction generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle determined from the first crash acceleration signal. The controller determines a change in pressure value comprising a change in pressure in the chamber determined from the side pressure signal. The controller actuates the actuatable occupant restraint device when both the first moving average of acceleration value exceeds a first threshold and the change in pressure value exceeds a second threshold.