Object restraint systems and methods of operation thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9637078-B2
Application number	US-201414541772-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 14, 2014
Priority date	Nov 14, 2014
Publication date	May 2, 2017
Grant date	May 2, 2017

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

What is claimed is:

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;
an object presence sensor coupled to the vessel, 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;
a processing subsystem configured to receive the sensor signal and the object presence signal, and to assert an actuator signal when the magnitude of the sensed condition indicates that deceleration of the vehicle has exceeded a first predetermined threshold, and wherein the processing subsystem is further configured to refrain from asserting the actuator signal when the object presence signal indicates that the object is not present within the vessel;
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
wherein the processing subsystem also is configured to assert the actuator signal when the sensor signal indicates that a triggering event has occurred, wherein the triggering event is selected from a wheel speed deceleration exceeding a second predetermined threshold, an applied braking force exceeding a third predetermined threshold, detection of an impact, detection of a pressure exceeding a fourth predetermined threshold, acceleration of the vehicle exceeding a fifth predetermined threshold, and a change of momentum exceeding a sixth predetermined threshold.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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, wherein the sensor subsystem includes at least one accelerometer, and wherein the sensor signal indicates a magnitude of acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle;
an object presence sensor coupled to the vessel, 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;
a processing subsystem configured to receive the sensor signal and the object presence signal, and to assert an actuator signal when the sensor signal indicates that the magnitude of acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle exceeds a predetermined threshold that corresponds to an acceleration or deceleration magnitude that is consistent with a collision of the vehicle, and wherein the processing subsystem is further configured to refrain from asserting the actuator signal when the object presence signal indicates that the object is not present within the vessel;
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.

8. 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, and wherein the vessel comprises a cupholder;
a sensor subsystem coupled to the vehicle and configured to produce a sensor signal indicating a magnitude of a sensed condition, including a magnitude of deceleration of the vehicle;
a processing subsystem configured to receive the sensor signal, and to assert an actuator signal when the sensor signal indicates that deceleration of the vehicle has exceeded a first predetermined threshold;
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, wherein 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; 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.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the restraint mechanism is a hinge that may be restrained from rotating when actuated.

10. 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;
an object presence sensor coupled to the vessel, 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;
a processing subsystem configured to receive the sensor signal and the object presence signal, and

Assignees

• Freescale Semiconductor Inc
• Nxp Usa Inc

Inventors

• Bull Kammie L

Classifications

• B60R21/0132 Primary

  responsive to vehicle motion parameters {, e.g. to vehicle longitudinal or transversal deceleration or speed value} · CPC title

• B60N3/10

  of receptacles for food or beverages, e.g. refrigerated · CPC title

• B60R2021/01322

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

• B60R2021/0273

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

• B60R2021/0266

  comprising energy absorbing means · CPC title