Crash notification system for an automotive vehicle

Abstract

A crash notification system ( 12 ) for an automotive vehicle ( 10 ) is used to communicate with a communication network ( 22 ) and ultimately to a response center ( 24 ). The system ( 12 ) within vehicle ( 10 ) includes an occupant sensor ( 30 ) that generates an occupant sensor status signal. A crash sensor ( 34 ) generates a crash signal in response to a crash. A controller ( 14 ) is coupled to the occupant sensor ( 30 ) and the crash sensor ( 34 ). The controller ( 14 ) generates a communication signal that corresponds to the occupant sensor status signal and the crash status signal.

1 . A crash notification system interfacing coupled to a communication network comprising: 
 an occupant sensor generating a occupant sensor status signal;    a crash sensor generating a crash signal; and    a controller coupled to the occupant sensor and the crash sensor, said controller generating a communication signal corresponding to said occupant sensor status signal and said crash status signal.    
     
     
         2 . A crash notification system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said occupant sensor comprises a front seat occupant sensor.  
     
     
         3 . A crash notification system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said occupant sensor comprises a rear seat occupant sensor.  
     
     
         4 . A crash notification system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said occupant sensor comprises a front seat occupant sensor and a rear seat occupant sensor.  
     
     
         5 . A crash notification system as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a seat belt switch generating a seat belt status signal, said controller generating a communication signal corresponding to said occupant sensor status signal, said crash status signal and said seat belt status signal.  
     
     
         6 . A crash notification system as recited in  claim 5  wherein said seat belt switch comprises a front seat belt switch generating a front seat belt status signal.  
     
     
         7 . A crash notification system as recited in  claim 5  wherein said seat belt switch comprises a rear seat belt switch generating a rear seat belt status signal.  
     
     
         8 . A crash notification system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said seat belt switch comprises a front seat belt switch generating a front seat belt status signal and a rear seat belt switch generating a rear seat belt status signal, said controller generating a communication signal corresponding to said occupant sensor status signal, said rear seat belt status signal, said front seat belt status signal and said crash status signal.  
     
     
         9 . A crash notification system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said crash sensor comprises a front crash sensor generating a front crash signal.  
     
     
         10 . A crash notification system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said crash sensor comprises a side crash sensor generating a side crash signal.  
     
     
         11 . A crash notification system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said crash sensor comprises a front crash sensor generating a front crash signal and a side crash sensor generating a side crash signal, said controller generating a communication signal corresponding to said occupant sensor status signal and said front crash status signal and said side crash status signal.  
     
     
         12 . A crash notification system for an automotive vehicle coupled to a communication network comprising: 
 a front occupant sensor generating a front occupant sensor status signal;    a rear occupant sensor generating a rear occupant sensor status signal;    a seat belt switch sensor generating a seat belt status signal;    a crash sensor generating a crash signal; and    a controller coupled to the front occupant sensor, the rear occupant sensor, the seat belt switch and the crash sensor, said controller generating a communication signal corresponding to said front occupant sensor status signal, said rear occupant sensor status signal and said crash status signal.    
     
     
         13 . A crash notification system as recited in  claim 12  wherein said seat belt switch comprises a front seat belt switch generating a front seat belt status signal and a rear seat belt switch generating a rear seat belt status signal, said controller generating a communication signal corresponding to said front occupant sensor status signal, said rear occupant sensor status signal, said rear seat belt status signal, said front seat belt status signal and said crash status signal.  
     
     
         14 . A crash notification system as recited in  claim 12  wherein said crash sensor comprises a front crash sensor generating a front crash signal.  
     
     
         15 . A crash notification system as recited in  claim 12  wherein said crash sensor comprises a side crash sensor generating a side crash signal.  
     
     
         16 . A crash notification system as recited in  claim 12  wherein said crash sensor comprises a front crash sensor generating a front crash signal and a side crash sensor generating a side crash signal, said controller generating a communication signal corresponding to said front occupant sensor status signal, said rear occupant sensor status signal, said front crash status signal and said side crash status signal.  
     
     
         17 . A method of operating a crash notification system comprising: 
 generating a occupant sensor status signal;    generating a crash signal; and    generating a communication signal as a function of said occupant sensor status signal and said crash status signal; and    coupling the communication signal to a communication network.    
     
     
         18 . A method as recited in  claim 17  further comprising determining a severity signal from the communication signals wherein when a severity signal is below a first threshold, deploying no response.  
     
     
         19 . A method as recited in  claim 18  wherein when a severity signal is above a second threshold, deploying a high level response.  
     
     
         20 . A method as recited in  claim 19  wherein when a severity signal is between said first and second thresholds, deploying a low level response.