Patent Application
20070124048
The present invention relates generally to crash reconstruction, and more particularly, to crash reconstruction using lateral acceleration sensors.
The United States Federal Government is considering requiring storing of certain sensor data so that accident reconstruction may be performed. The Government has proposed utilizing the data from a central lateral acceleration sensor for use in reconstruction. Side restraint controls typically use satellite lateral acceleration sensors for use in the deployment of side airbags. However, central lateral acceleration signals do not necessarily exist on each vehicle. In some vehicle, central lateral acceleration signal may be available, but too small for accident reconstruction purposes.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a method and apparatus for reliably and inexpensively reconstructing an accident scene.
The present invention utilizes the side satellite lateral acceleration sensors in the reconstruction of the accident.
In one aspect of the invention, a method of reconstructing an accident comprises determining a longitudinal struck side of the vehicle corresponding to an impact from a plurality of crash sensors and utilizing the lateral acceleration data from the lateral acceleration sensor on the opposite side of the vehicle in the reconstruction.
In a further aspect of the invention, a system for reconstructing an accident comprises a first side satellite acceleration sensor generating a first data set, a second side satellite lateral acceleration sensor generating a second data set, a memory storing the first data set and the second data set, and a computing device downloading the first data set and the second data set and determining a struck side of the vehicle corresponding to an impact from the first side satellite data and the second side satellite data and utilizing the data from the non-struck side in a reconstruction.
One advantage of the invention is that vehicles not equipped with a central lateral acceleration sensor can avoid the expense of having to design a central lateral acceleration sensor therein.
Other advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent when viewed in light of the detailed description of the preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the attached drawings and appended claims.
In the following figures the same reference numerals will be used to illustrate the same components. The present invention is set forth with respect to reconstructing an accident using lateral acceleration sensors. Those skilled in the art will recognize that various sensors and combinations of sensors may be used in the reconstruction.
Referring now to
The restraint control module 12 may be coupled to various other sensors and systems including a camera output 40. As those skilled in the art will recognize, various cameras are presently on vehicles and proposed to be on vehicles. This information may also help the restraint control module deploy airbags or other restraints. A longitudinal acceleration sensor 42 may also be coupled to the restraint control module 12. A vehicle speed sensor 44 may also be coupled to the restraint control module 12. The vehicle speed sensor 44 may include various types of sensors including four wheel anti-lock brake-type toothed wheel sensors or a transmission sensor. Thus, the vehicle speed sensor 44 does not need to be a separate sensor. Various system outputs 46 may also be coupled to the restraint control module 12. The system output 46 may correspond to various systems in the vehicle including the braking system, roll stability control system, yaw control system, active cruise control system, lane departure system, and the like.
Other sensors 48 that may be discretely added to the vehicle or may be part of other systems may also have outputs coupled to the restraint control module.
The restraint control module 12 is coupled to a memory 50. It should be noted that memory 50 is shown as a discrete memory. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that the restraint control module may include the memory therein. The memory 50 is preferably memory that maintains its contents after power has been removed. EEPROM is one example of a suitable memory. This allows the data from the memory 50 to be removed.
Memory 50 and/or restraint control module 12 may include a connector 54. Connector 54 allows connection of a computing device 56 thereto for downloading the memory 54 into a memory 58. Although the memory 58 is illustrated a separate component, memory 58 may be included within the computing device 56. The computing device 56 may be various types of computing devices including a handheld computer, a laptop computer, or the like. It should be noted that memory 54 may be downloaded directly to memory 58 or may be downloaded using the computing device 56. The computing device 56 may perform various tasks including a determination of the side of the vehicle in which an impact occurred and performing a reconstruction using the data from the memory 54 that has been downloaded into memory 58.
Referring now to
Referring now to
After a crash, a computing device is connected to the memory or to the restraint control module for downloading the contents of the memory. In step 116, the memory is downloaded to the computing device or a memory on the computing device. In step 120, the crash direction is determined from the data. As illustrated in
While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, numerous variations and alternate embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention be limited only in terms of the appended claims.
