Object restraint systems and methods of operation thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016137151-A1
Application number	US-201414541772-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 14, 2014
Priority date	Nov 14, 2014
Publication date	May 19, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Embodiments include object restraint systems and methods of their operation. The system is contained in a vehicle with a passenger compartment, and includes sensor and processing subsystems, a vessel, a restraint mechanism, and an actuator. The sensor subsystem produces a sensor signal indicating a magnitude of a sensed condition, and the processing subsystem asserts an actuator signal when the sensor signal indicates that a triggering condition has occurred. The vessel is configured to hold one or more inanimate objects. For example, the vessel may include a cupholder, a lidded or open compartment, a cargo area, or another storage space that is distinct from the passenger compartment. The actuator receives the actuator signal and activates the restraint mechanism in response to assertion of the actuator signal. The restraint mechanism, when activated, is configured to retain the object(s) within the vessel and to restrict the object(s) from entering the passenger compartment.

First claim

1 . An object restraint system contained in a vehicle for transporting people, the system comprising:
a vessel coupled to the vehicle and configured to hold one or more objects, wherein the vessel is distinct from a passenger compartment of the vehicle; a sensor subsystem coupled to the vehicle and configured to produce a sensor signal indicating a magnitude of a sensed condition; a processing subsystem configured to receive the sensor signal, and to assert an actuator signal when the sensor signal indicates that a triggering event has occurred; a restraint mechanism coupled to the vessel and configured, when activated, to retain the one or more objects within the vessel and to restrict the one or more objects from entering the passenger compartment; and an actuator coupled to the restraint mechanism and to the processing subsystem, and configured to receive the actuator signal and to activate the restraint mechanism in response to assertion of the actuator signal.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein
the sensed condition is selected from linear velocity, angular velocity, linear acceleration, angular acceleration, linear deceleration, angular deceleration, force, impact, and pressure, and the triggering event is selected from a change of momentum exceeding a first predetermined threshold, a wheel speed deceleration exceeding a second predetermined threshold, an applied braking force exceeding a third predetermined threshold, detection of an impact, and detection of a pressure exceeding a fourth predetermined threshold.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor subsystem includes at least one accelerometer, the sensor signal indicates a magnitude of acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle, and the predetermined threshold corresponds to an acceleration or deceleration magnitude that is consistent with a collision of the vehicle.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the vessel comprises a cupholder, and the restraint mechanism comprises a structure configured to restrict an object within the cupholder from being jettisoned from the cupholder when the restraint mechanism is actuated.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the restraint mechanism is a hinge that may be restrained from rotating when actuated.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the vessel comprises a compartment, and the restraint mechanism comprises a lid that covers the compartment, and a hinge that rotatably couples the lid to the compartment, and wherein the actuator is configured to restrain the hinge from rotating in response to assertion of the actuator signal.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the vessel comprises a compartment, and the restraint mechanism comprises a lid that covers the compartment, and a latch which, when engaged with a strike surface, holds the lid closed over the compartment, and wherein the actuator is configured to restrain the latch from disengaging from the strike surface in response to assertion of the actuator signal.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the vessel comprises a compartment, and the restraint mechanism comprises a curtain airbag configured, when deployed, to cover an opening into the compartment, and wherein the actuator is configured to deploy the airbag in response to assertion of the actuator signal.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the vessel comprises a cargo area of the vehicle, and the restraint mechanism comprises a curtain airbag configured, when deployed, to cover an opening between the cargo area and the passenger compartment, and wherein the actuator is configured to deploy the airbag in response to assertion of the actuator signal.

10 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
an object presence sensor coupled to the vessel and to the processing subsystem, wherein the object presence sensor is configured to detect whether or not an object is present within the vessel, and to provide an object presence signal that indicates whether or not the object is present within the vessel, and wherein the processing subsystem is further configured to receive the object presence signal, and to refrain from asserting the actuator signal when the object presence signal indicates that the object is not present within the vessel.

11 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
an airbag deployment system configured to detect a collision of the vehicle, and to deploy one or more airbags in the event of the collision for the purpose of cushioning passengers within the passenger compartment from impact with vehicle components that are exposed within the passenger compartment, wherein the sensor subsystem and the processing subsystem form portions of the airbag deployment system, and wherein the processing subsystem is configured to assert the actuator signal concurrently with asserting an airbag deployment signal that causes deployment of the one or more airbags.

12 . A method for restraining objects in a vehicle for transporting people, the method comprising the steps of:
receiving, by a processing subsystem, a sensor signal indicating a magnitude of a sensed condition being experienced by the vehicle; asserting, by the processing subsystem, an actuator signal when the sensor signal indicates that a triggering condition has occurred; receiving, by an actuator, the actuator signal; and activating, by the actuator, a restraint mechanism in response to assertion of the actuator signal, wherein the restraint mechanism is coupled to a vessel that is configured to hold one or more objects, the vessel is distinct from a passenger compartment of the vehicle, and the restraint mechanism is configured, when activated, to retain the one or more objects within the vessel and to restrict the one or more objects from entering the passenger compartment.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein
the sensed condition is selected from linear velocity, angular velocity, linear acceleration, angular acceleration, linear deceleration, angular deceleration, force, impact, and pressure, and the triggering event is selected from a change of momentum exceeding a first predetermined threshold, a wheel speed deceleration exceeding a second predetermined threshold, an applied braking force exceeding a third predetermined threshold, detection of an impact, and detection of a pressure exceeding a fourth predetermined threshold.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the vessel comprises a cupholder, the restraint mechanism comprises a structure configured to restrict an object within the cupholder from being jettisoned from the cupholder, and wherein the actuator causes the structure to restrict the object in response to assertion of the actuator signal.

15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the vessel comprises a compartment, the restraint mechanism comprises a lid that covers the compartment, and a hinge that rotatably couples the lid to the compartment, and wherein the actuator restrains the hinge from rotating in response to assertion of the actuator signal.

16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the vessel comprises a compartment, the restraint mechanism comprises a lid that covers the compartment, and a latch which, when engaged with a strike surface, holds the lid closed over the compartment, and wherein the actuator restrains the latch from disengaging from the strike surface in response to assertion of the actuator signal.

17 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the vessel comprises a compartment, the restraint mechanism comprises a curtain airbag configured, when deployed, to cover an opening into the compartment, and wherein the actuator deploys the airbag in

Assignees

• Freescale Semiconductor Inc

Inventors

• Bull Kammie L

Classifications

• B60R2021/0273

  automatically movable to an operative position, e.g. in case of collision or impending collision · CPC title

• B60R2011/0071

  using latches, clips, clamps, straps or the like · CPC title

• B60R2021/01322

  comprising variable thresholds, e.g. depending from other collision parameters · CPC title

• B60N3/108

  with resilient holding elements · CPC title

• B60R21/026

  Rigid partitions inside vehicles, e.g. between passengers and load compartments (B60R21/12 takes precedence) · CPC title