Child Seat Airbag Triggering Using Multi-Axis Acceleration Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing child restraint devices with active protective means, such as airbags, face challenges in safe and reliable triggering, ease of use, and integration with vehicle systems, leading to limited market adoption.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing multiple acceleration sensors to determine specific acceleration patterns and thresholds, combined with a control unit, ensures accurate and safe triggering of protective means by evaluating acceleration values along predefined directions and corridors, reducing false triggers and energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple acceleration sensors and complex evaluation algorithms are used to improve triggering accuracy, then false triggers are reduced, but device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The acceleration detection is segmented into multiple independent sensors measuring different spatial directions. Each sensor evaluates specific acceleration patterns independently, allowing the system to achieve high reliability through distributed measurement rather than a single complex sensor, thus managing device complexity while improving triggering accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces directional dimensionality by deploying sensors along different spatial axes and evaluating acceleration patterns in specific measurement directions. This multi-dimensional approach enables more accurate accident detection by analyzing the vector characteristics of acceleration, improving reliability without requiring excessively complex single-dimension sensors.
2Reliability
If multiple acceleration sensors and continuous monitoring are implemented to ensure safe triggering, then reliability improves, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs periodic evaluation of acceleration patterns at defined intervals rather than continuous monitoring. This periodic sampling approach maintains reliable accident detection capability while significantly reducing power consumption compared to continuous real-time analysis, enabling the system to operate within the energy constraints of child restraint devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the vehicle's existing electrical system and sensor infrastructure to power and inform the triggering mechanism, rather than requiring a completely independent power supply. This self-service approach leverages available resources to reduce the energy burden on the child restraint device's own power supply.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the child seat requires its own power supply and control system, then triggering independence is achieved, but ease of operation and reliability are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit is designed to serve multiple functions: it can operate independently using the child seat's own sensor and power resources, while also being capable of interfacing with the vehicle's electrical system and sensor networks when available. This multi-functionality provides triggering independence as a baseline while automatically leveraging vehicle resources when present, reducing user setup effort and improving ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit acts as an intermediary layer that can interface between the child seat's independent systems and the vehicle's electrical/ sensor systems. This intermediary capability allows the system to adapt to different installation scenarios without requiring complex user configuration, bridging the gap between independence and integration seamlessly.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a safe, reliable, and energy-efficient mechanism for triggering protective means in child restraint devices, minimizing false alarms and ensuring appropriate deployment in various accident scenarios.
Implementation Method 1
receiving acceleration sensor signals from at least two acceleration sensors, which are preferably orientated differently
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for triggering protective means, in particular an airbag and/or a belt tensioner, in a child restraint device, in particular according to one of claims 18 to 20, comprising the steps of: a) determining at least one measurement direction and/or a measurement direction corridor; b) receiving acceleration sensor signals from at least two acceleration sensors (74x, 74y, 74z), which are preferably orientated differently; c) calculating at least one first acceleration value (aX) along the measurement direction and/or within the measurement direction corridor; d) determining a triggering signal based at least on the at least one first acceleration value (aX); e) triggering at least one protective means based on the triggering signal.