A method and apparatus for controlling a deployable pedestrian protection leg stiffener 28 of a motor vehicle 10 is provided, said stiffener being retracted from its deployed position if a measured steering angle of the vehicle exceeds a limit angle. The stiffener may also be retracted if a vehicle brake is applied and a longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle simultaneously exceeds a limit acceleration. The stiffener may also be retracted if the speed of the vehicle drops below a lower limit for longer than a predetermined time, or if the speed exceeds an upper limit. When in the deployed position the stiffener is intended to prevent a pedestrians leg from tending to move under the bumper 18 of the vehicle in the event of a collision. Retraction of the stiffener, possibly to a position rearward of the front of the bumper and above a ground clearance plane (32, figure 2) of the vehicle, prevents damage to the stiffener, or from stopping it from interfering with the vehicles ground clearance when off road. An off road mode may be provided where the stiffener is prevented from deploying regardless of vehicle speed.
Vehicle steering and braking deployment logic for pedestrian protection leg stiffener
2015-09-02
Patent
Electronic Resource
English
IPC: | B60R Fahrzeuge, Fahrzeugausstattung oder Fahrzeugteile, soweit nicht anderweitig vorgesehen , VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR |
Vehicle Steering and Braking Deployment Logic for Pedestrian Protection Leg Stiffener
European Patent Office | 2015
|Vehicle steering and braking deployment logic for pedestrian protection leg stiffener
European Patent Office | 2015
|Vehicle steering and braking deployment logic for pedestrian protection leg stiffener
European Patent Office | 2015
|Vehicle braking deployment logic for pedestrian protection leg stiffener
European Patent Office | 2016
|Vehicle Braking Deployment Logic for Pedestrian Protection Leg Stiffener
European Patent Office | 2015
|