Post-impact control system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10207583-B2
Application number	US-201615242655-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 22, 2016
Priority date	Aug 22, 2016
Publication date	Feb 19, 2019
Grant date	Feb 19, 2019

Abstract

A control system in a vehicle includes a sensor and a control module. The sensor is programmed to detect an impact to the vehicle while the vehicle is in a key-off state and output an impact signal in response to detecting the impact. The control module is programmed to activate in response to the impact signal, receive a condition signal identifying a vehicle condition, and prevent at least one vehicle operation based at least in part on the condition signal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system in a vehicle comprising:
a sensor programmed to detect an impact to the vehicle while the vehicle is in a key-off state and output an impact signal in response to detecting the impact;
a transmitter; and
a control module in communication with the transmitter and programmed to activate in response to the impact signal, receive a condition signal representing an extent of damage to the vehicle from a remote server, prevent at least one vehicle operation based at least in part on the condition signal, query a database for an owner of the vehicle and a second remote server associated with the owner of the vehicle, and command the transmitter to transmit a message to the second remote server representing an extent of damage to the vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control module is programmed to command the transmitter to transmit a message to a remote server soliciting the condition signal.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein preventing the at least one vehicle operation includes deactivating a vehicle powertrain system.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the vehicle powertrain system is a fuel pump.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a user interface in communication with the control module, wherein the control module is programmed to command the user interface to display a message based at least in part on the extent of damage to the vehicle.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is at least one of an accelerometer, an angular-rate sensor, a vibration detector, and a level indicator for a fluid.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a wake-up circuit in communication with the sensor and the control module, wherein the sensor is programmed to output the impact signal to the wake-up circuit, and wherein the wake-up circuit determines if the impact to the vehicle satisfies at least one impact criterion and outputs a wake-up signal to the control module if the impact signal satisfies the at least one impact criterion.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the at least one impact criterion is based at least in part on a signal received from the control module.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the control module is programmed to receive an input indicating the at least one impact criterion and output the signal to the wake-up circuit setting the at least one impact criterion.

10. The system of claim 7 , wherein the wake-up circuit includes a high-pass filter in communication with the sensor and an operational amplifier in communication with the high-pass filter and the control module.

11. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a power supply active during a key-off vehicle state and electrically connected to the sensor.

12. A control module comprising a processor and a memory storing processor-executable instructions, wherein the processor is programmed to:
while in a powered-down state, receive a wake-up signal indicating an impact to a vehicle;
receive a condition signal representing an extent of damage to the vehicle from a remote server;
prevent at least one vehicle operation based at least in part on the condition signal;
query a database for an owner of the vehicle and a second remote server associated with the owner of the vehicle; and
command a transmitter to transmit a message to the second remote server representing an extent of damage to the vehicle.

13. The control module of claim 12 , wherein the processor is further programmed to command a transmitter to transmit a message to a remote server soliciting the condition signal.

14. The control module of claim 12 , wherein preventing the at least one vehicle operation includes deactivating a vehicle powertrain system.

15. The control module of claim 14 , wherein the vehicle powertrain system is a fuel pump.

16. The control module of claim 12 , wherein the processor is further programmed to command the user interface to display a message based at least in part on the extent of damage to the vehicle.

17. The control module of claim 12 , wherein the processor is further programmed to receive an input indicating at least one impact criterion and output a signal to a wake-up circuit in communication with the control module setting the at least one impact criterion.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Dudar Aed M
• Ghannam Mahmoud Yousef

Classifications

• F02D41/22

  Safety or indicating devices for abnormal conditions {(in air/fuel ratio feedback systems F02D41/1495, in electric control linkage F02D11/107, in purge control systems F02M25/0809)} · CPC title

• B60Y2200/92

  Hybrid vehicles · CPC title

• F02D33/006

  depending on engine operating conditions, e.g. start, stop or ambient conditions · CPC title

• F02D41/3005

  Details not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B60K28/14 Primary

  responsive to accident or emergency, e.g. deceleration, tilt of vehicle · CPC title