Method for Actuating a Reversible Vehicle Occupant Protection Means in a Motor Vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for actuating a reversible vehicle occupant protection means in a motor vehicle having a driving state sensor system and a reversible vehicle occupant protection means. The reversible vehicle occupant protection means can be triggered before the collision time and as a result moved into an effective position. For this purpose, the driving state data are monitored with respect to a state of emergency braking, and when the state of emergency braking is detected the vehicle occupant protection system is actuated. In addition, a state of oversteering and a state of understeering are determined by the data processing device. The reversible vehicle occupant protection system is actuated when the data processing device detects the state of emergency braking and/or the state of oversteering and/or the state of understeering.

1 . A method for actuating a reversible vehicle occupant protection means, in a motor vehicle having a sensor system which senses driving state data, before a collision time and, as a result, moving the vehicle occupant protection system into an effective position, comprising: 
 monitoring the driving state data with respect to understeering, which is critical for driving dynamics, and    triggering the vehicle occupant protection system when the understeering, which is critical for driving dynamics, is detected.    
   
   
       2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the state of understeering is determined by means of an evaluation of the difference formed between an angle which describes a change in the actual direction of travel, and the steering angle.  
   
   
       3 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the angle which describes a change in the actual direction of travel is determined from the wheel speeds, the lateral acceleration and the wheel base.  
   
   
       4 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the angle which describes a change in the actual direction of travel is determined from the wheel speeds, the yaw rate and the wheel base.  
   
   
       5 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the angle which describes a change in the actual direction of travel is the Ackermann angle.  
   
   
       6 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the driving state data are additionally monitored with respect to a state of oversteering, and the vehicle occupant protection system is also triggered when the state of oversteering is detected.  
   
   
       7 . The method as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the state of oversteering is determined by means of an evaluation of the altitude angle, which is determined in particular from the wheel speeds, the yaw rate and the lateral acceleration.  
   
   
       8 . The method as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the steering angle is additionally sensed, and the state of oversteering is determined by means of an evaluation of the difference formed between a yaw rate and a setpoint yaw rate.  
   
   
       9 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the evaluation is a threshold value interrogation.  
   
   
       10 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the evaluation is carried out using previous values.  
   
   
       11 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the driving state data is additionally monitored with respect to a state of emergency braking, and the vehicle occupant protection system is also triggered when the state of emergency braking is detected.  
   
   
       12 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein by means of the states of emergency braking, of understeering and of oversteering the direction from which a maximum hazard is expected is determined, and the vehicle occupant protection system is actuated in such a way that the protective effect is provided in accordance with the direction of maximum hazard.  
   
   
       13 . The method as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the speed of the motor vehicle is determined and the reversible vehicle occupant protection device is triggered only if the vehicle is additionally at a minimum speed.  
   
   
       14 . The method as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the vehicle has a brake boosting system which brings about an intervention into the brake system in predefined critical situations by means of a control signal, and in that the control signal of the brake boosting system is used to determine the state of emergency braking.  
   
   
       15 . The method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the control signal of a brake light switch is used to determine the state of emergency braking.