METHOD FOR DISCRIMINATING LONG-PERIOD, LOW-VELOCITY CRASHES

摘要

A vehicle crash discrimination method and system for controlling the actuation of a vehicle passenger restraint device (e.g., an air bag or a seat belt harness) comprises determining a vehicle velocity value (108) and comparing it to a predetermined velocity threshold value (112). If the predetermined velocity threshold value is exceeded, the slope of vehicle acceleration with respect to time (i.e. jerk value) is determined (114) and compared to a predetermined slope threshold value (118). The passenger restraint device is actuated if the predetermined slope threshold value is exceeded (120). The present method accurately discriminates between low-velocity crashes in which actuation of the passenger restraint device is not desired and low-velocity, long-time-period crashes in which actuation is desired by setting the velocity threshold equal to approximately half the velocity of a maximum allowable crash in which actuation of the passenger restraint device is not desired.