Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

A vehicle safety system having a plurality of safety device controllers and a method of controlling same are disclosed. The vehicle safety system provides for the protection of vehicle occupants in the event of a vehicle crash. The system is capable of controlling safety devices such as airbag assemblies, seat belt tensioner assemblies, fuel cutoff switch assemblies, battery disconnect switch assemblies, assemblies for sending notification to emergency services, and assemblies for sending vehicle location data. The system accepts data from other vehicle systems such as speed data from the antilock brake system to distinguish between a low speed and a high speed crash, seat occupancy data to selectively activate airbags, and steering system and acceleration data to detect vehicle rollover conditions. The system provides for fault detection and notification to the vehicle operator, as well as immunity from electromagnetic interference through the use of distributed controllers that communicate with a central electronic control unit over digital communication bus using coded commands and data. Each controller has the capability of performing self-tests and communicating the results to the central electronic control unit.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim