Abstract
Several metrics have been used in crash discrimination algorithms in order to have timely air bag deployment during all frontal crash modes. However, it is still challengine to have timely air bag deployment especially during the oblique, the pole and the underride crash mode. Therefore, in this paper a new crash discrimination algorithm was proposed, using the absolute value of the deceleration change multiplied by the velocity change as a metric, and processing the metric as a function of the velocity change. The new algorithm was applied for all frontal crash modes of a minivan and a sports utility vehicle, and it resulted in timely air bag deployment for all frontal crash modes including the oblique, the pole and the underride crash mode. Moreover, it was proposed that an accelerometer be installed at each side of the rails, rockers or pillars to assess the crash severity of each side and to deploy the frontal air bags at different time especially during an asymmetric crash such as an oblique and an offset crash. As an example, the deceleration pulses measured at the left and right B-pillar·rocker locations were processed through the new algorithm, and faster time-to-fires were obtained for the air bag at the struck side for the air bag at the other side.