Vehicle impact detection system and control method

摘要

A strategy for determining the type of impact condition experienced by a vehicle (24) and for deciding whether to deploy a supplemental restraint device such as an airbag (22) includes using a difference between a front sensor (32) velocity and a tunnel sensor (34) velocity. Determining whether the difference between the front sensor velocity and the tunnel sensor velocity exceeds a difference threshold provides information regarding an impact condition that allows a controller to operate at a lower bandwidth and in a more reliable fashion. By combining the determination whether the difference threshold has been exceeded with at least one other parameter, at least three discreet types of impact conditions can be discriminated and a decision can be made whether to deploy a supplemental restraint device.