Velocity based pedestrian sensing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016207495-A1
Application number	US-201514600412-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 20, 2015
Priority date	Jan 20, 2015
Publication date	Jul 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A vehicle system includes a sensor configured to output an impact signal and a processing device programmed to calculate an acceleration envelope from the impact signal, calculate a velocity envelope from the acceleration envelope, determine a threshold value based at least in part on a vehicle speed, and compare the acceleration envelope to the threshold value. The processing device is further programmed to output a control signal to deploy a pedestrian protection countermeasure if the acceleration envelope exceeds the threshold value.

First claim

1 . A vehicle system comprising:
a sensor configured to output an impact signal; and a processing device programmed to calculate an acceleration envelope from the impact signal, calculate a velocity envelope from the acceleration envelope, determine a threshold value based at least in part on a vehicle speed, compare the acceleration envelope to the threshold value, and output a control signal to deploy a pedestrian protection countermeasure if the acceleration envelope exceeds the threshold value.

2 . The vehicle system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is configured to detect an impact of a host vehicle with an object.

3 . The vehicle system of claim 1 , wherein the threshold value is based at least in part on an impact profile of a pedestrian-related impact.

4 . The vehicle system of claim 1 , wherein the threshold value is based at least in part on an impact profile of a non-pedestrian related impact.

5 . The vehicle system of claim 1 , wherein the processing device is programmed to output a control signal to deploy a non-pedestrian impact countermeasure if the acceleration envelope is below the threshold value.

6 . The vehicle system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is mounted to a bumper of a host vehicle.

7 . The vehicle system of claim 6 , wherein the bumper is formed from steel.

8 . The vehicle system of claim 6 , wherein the bumper is formed from a metal material.

9 . A vehicle comprising:
a metal bumper; a first sensor disposed on the metal bumper and configured to output a first impact signal; a second sensor disposed on the metal bumper and configured to output a second impact signal; a pedestrian protection system; and a processing device configured to receive the first impact signal and the second impact signal, wherein the processing device is programmed to calculate an acceleration envelope from the first and second impact signals, calculate a velocity envelope from the acceleration envelope, determine a threshold value based at least in part on a vehicle speed, compare the acceleration envelope to the threshold value, and output a control signal to deploy the pedestrian protection system if the acceleration envelope exceeds the threshold value.

10 . The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the first sensor and second sensor are configured to detect an impact with an object and output the first impact signal and the second impact signal, respectively, in response to detecting the impact.

11 . The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the threshold value is based at least in part on an impact profile of a pedestrian-related impact.

12 . The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the threshold value is based at least in part on an impact profile of a non-pedestrian related impact.

13 . The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the processing device is programmed to output a control signal to deploy a non-pedestrian impact countermeasure if the acceleration envelope is below the threshold value.

14 . The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the metal bumper is formed from steel.

15 . A method comprising:
receiving, at a processing device, an impact signal representing an impact of a host vehicle with an object; calculating an acceleration envelope from the impact signal; calculating a velocity envelope from the acceleration envelope; determining a threshold value based at least in part on a vehicle speed; comparing, via the processing device, the acceleration envelope to the threshold value; and outputting a control signal to deploy a pedestrian protection countermeasure if the acceleration envelope exceeds the threshold value.

16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
detecting the impact; generating an impact signal; and transmitting the impact signal to the processing device.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the threshold value is based at least in part on an impact profile of a pedestrian-related impact.

18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the threshold value is based at least in part on an impact profile of a non-pedestrian related impact.

19 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising outputting a control signal to deploy a non-pedestrian impact countermeasure if the acceleration envelope is below the threshold value.

20 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the host vehicle includes a metal bumper, and wherein the impact signal represents an impact of the object with the metal bumper.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Le Jialiang
• Rao Manoharprasad K
• Szawarski Hubert

Classifications

• G06F18/00 Primary

  Pattern recognition · CPC title

• B60R19/483 Primary

  with obstacle sensors of electric or electronic type · CPC title

• B60R21/36 Primary

  using airbags · CPC title

• B60R16/023

  for transmission of signals between vehicle parts or subsystems · CPC title

• B60R25/002

  Locking of control actuating or transmitting means (of steering mechanism B60R25/02) · CPC title