Activation of vehicle protection devices controlled by remote sensing and impact sensors

摘要

A method of activating protection devices (such as seatbelt pretensioners 20 and airbags 22, 26, 30) in a motor vehicle 10 that involves monitoring for objects in the environment of the vehicle (using a remote sensing device 50) and for impact events involving the vehicle (using impact sensors such as accelerometers 32, 34 and/or deformation sensors 38). After evaluating data based on the monitoring activities (possibly by a control module 36), an activation plan is formulated based on the data evaluation and the protection devices are activated in accordance with the activation plan. Therefore, activation decisions are based on evaluation of data relating to both impact events (such as location, angle or severity of impact) and the surrounding environment (such as range and azimuth of an object relative to the vehicle 10).