Safety system and method for operating a safety system of a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9802565-B2
Application number	US-201414559468-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 3, 2014
Priority date	Dec 12, 2013
Publication date	Oct 31, 2017
Grant date	Oct 31, 2017

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a method for operating a safety system of a vehicle, which safety system comprises a remote sensor, an impact sensor and a protection system adapted to be activated by the impact sensor. The method includes scanning a selectable region in front of the vehicle by means of the remote sensor, determining that the selectable region provides a free path for the vehicle based on information from the remote sensor, and lowering a sensitivity of the impact sensor. The disclosure further relates to the safety system and a vehicle comprising the safety system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for operating a safety system of a vehicle, wherein the safety system includes a remote sensor, an impact sensor and a protection system, the protection system adapted to be activated by the impact sensor, the method comprising:
scanning a selectable region of a road in front of the vehicle by the remote sensor;
detecting an object distinct from the road in the selectable region in front of the vehicle;
providing at least three objects categories, namely, a “Fire Object”, a “No-Fire Object”, and an “Other Object”, and classifying each object detected distinct from the road into one of the at least three object categories;
determining that the selectable region provides a free path for the vehicle based on information from the remote sensor, when there is no “Fire Object” present in the selectable region and 0-n “No-Fire Object(s)” present in the selectable region, n being a positive integer;
lowering a sensitivity of the impact sensor in response to determining that the selectable region provides a free path for the vehicle; and
controlling activation of the protection system based on the lowered sensitivity of the impact sensor.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:
utilizing a default sensitivity of the impact sensor, such that the lowering of the sensitivity is made in relation to the default sensitivity.

3. The method according to claim 2 further comprising:
using the default sensitivity if one or more “Other Object(s)” is determined in the selectable region.

4. The method according to claim 3 further comprising determining a height or a depth of the object based on information from the remote sensor, wherein classifying the object is based on the determined height or depth.

5. The method according to claim 2 further comprising:
determining a height or a depth of the object based on information from the remote sensor, wherein classifying the object is based on the determined height or depth.

6. The method according to claim 2 further comprising determining speed of the object relative to the vehicle as input for classifying the object.

7. The method according to claim 6 further comprising determining a height or a depth of the object based on information from the remote sensor, wherein classifying the object is also based on the determined height or depth.

8. The method according to claim 1 further comprising determining speed of the object relative to the vehicle as input for classifying the object.

9. The method according to claim 1 further comprising determining a height or a depth of the object based on information from the remote sensor, wherein classifying the object is based on the determined height or depth.

10. The method according to claim 1 wherein the protection system comprises an irreversible protection means.

11. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:
determining a window being defined by a time and/or a distance from a present location of the vehicle; and
utilizing the lowered sensitivity of the impact sensor for controlling activation of the protection system when the vehicle is within the window.

12. The method according to claim 1 wherein lowering the sensitivity of the impact sensor includes lowering the sensitivity by adjusting a selectable fire interval of an evaluation algorithm, and wherein the method further comprises:
the impact sensor sending information about an impact or an imminent impact as a signal to the evaluation algorithm, and
evaluating, by the evaluation algorithm, if the signal is within the selectable fire interval, and in that case activating the protection system.

13. A safety system of a vehicle, the safety system comprising:
a remote sensor for scanning a selectable region of a road in front of the vehicle;
an impact sensor for detecting an impact or an imminent impact with the vehicle and for activating a protection system;
a determination unit for determining whether the selectable region provides a free path for the vehicle based on information from the remote sensor; and
an adjustment unit adapted to lower a sensitivity of the impact sensor if determined that the selectable region provides a free path for the vehicle;
a classifier adapted for providing at least three objects categories, namely, a “Fire Object”, a “No-Fire Object”, and an “Other Object”, and classifying each object detected distinct from the road in the selectable region into one of the at least three object categories;
wherein the determination unit is adapted to determine that the selectable region provides the free path for the vehicle based on information from the remote sensor, when there is no “Fire Object” present in the selectable region and 0-n “No-Fire Object(s)” present in the selectable region, n being a positive integer.

14. The safety system according to claim 13 wherein the impact sensor has a default sensitivity, such that the lowering of the sensitivity is made in relation to the default sensitivity.

15. The safety system according to claim 14 wherein the default sensitivity is used if one or more “Other Object(s)” is determined in the selectable region.

16. The safety system according to claim 13 wherein the remote sensor comprises a radar system, a lidar system, an ultrasonic system, a camera system, a stereo camera system and/or an IR camera.

17. The safety system according to claim 13 wherein the impact sensor comprises an accelerometer, a pressure sensor, a light sensor, a fiber-optic sensor, a contact foil and/or a piezoelectric sensor.

18. The safety system according to claim 13 further comprising means for determining speed of the object and/or of the vehicle.

19. A vehicle comprising the safety system according to claim 13 .

Assignees

• Volvo Car Corp

Inventors

• Nilsson Par
• Jarvholm Stefan
• Harda Peter
• Johansson Bjorn
• Dahlen Anders

Classifications

• B60R21/0136

  responsive to actual contact with an obstacle {, e.g. to vehicle deformation, bumper displacement or bumper velocity relative to the vehicle (monitoring crash strength in combination with passenger seat detection B60R21/01558)} · CPC title

• B60R21/02

  Occupant safety arrangements or fittings {, e.g. crash pads (seat belts with crash pads B60R22/14; removable children's seats having a front guard or barrier B60N2/2839)} · CPC title

• B60R21/0134 Primary

  responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle {, e.g. using radar systems} · CPC title

• B60R2021/346

  means outside vehicle body · CPC title

• B60R2021/01322

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