US-20260125022-A1 - INTEGRATED RESTRAINTS CONTROL MODULE

Abstract

The present disclosure provides for technological solutions that address technological challenges arising in the field of vehicle components. Some examples include system architectures that integrate one or more restraint control modules (RCMs) with one or more vehicle control units and system architectures that use an RCM as a stand-alone device. For example, a vehicle can include a vehicle control unit connected to various sensors throughout the vehicle. An RCM can be integrated into the vehicle control unit and connected to various airbag systems throughout the vehicle. The RCM can deploy the airbag systems based on sensor data available through the vehicle control unit.

Inventors

• Frank Anthony Franco
• Daniel Myles Wood
• Zachary Spike Levenberg
• Vipul Chawla
• Diptesh Deepak Malatpure
• Barry Feng

Assignees

• TESLA, INC.

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20241104

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A system comprising: a first vehicle control unit comprising: a first vehicle controller configured to control one or more first vehicle functions not including control of airbag deployment; a first restraint control module (RCM) configured to control airbag deployment and to communicate with the first vehicle controller over a first direct connection; and first connectors configured to communicate first sensor data to the first vehicle controller and the first RCM, the first connectors further configured to communicate first airbag deployment signals from the first RCM; an inertia sensing module (ISM) configured to send the first sensor data to the first vehicle controller and the first RCM via the first connectors; first sensors configured to communicate the first sensor data to the first vehicle controller and the first RCM via the first connectors; and first pyrotechnic initiators configured to receive the first airbag deployment signals from the first RCM via the first connectors.
2. 2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first RCM comprises: a first RCM application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) configured to process the first sensor data; and a first RCM controller configured to communicate with the first vehicle controller, wherein the first airbag deployment signals are generated based on the first RCM ASIC and the first RCM controller.
3. 3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the ISM is housed separately from the first RCM, and wherein the ISM comprises: inertia measuring unit (IMU) sensors configured to measure acceleration; and an IMU controller configured to communicate with the first RCM, wherein the first airbag deployment signals are generated based on a communication between the first RCM and the IMU controller.
4. 4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first airbag deployment signals are generated based on a communication between the first RCM and the first vehicle controller.
5. 5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first direct connection is a trace on a printed circuit board (PCB).
6. 6 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising: a second vehicle control unit comprising: a second vehicle controller to control one or more second vehicle functions not including control of airbag deployment; and second connectors to communicate second sensor data to the second vehicle controller; and second sensors to communicate the second sensor data to the second vehicle controller.
7. 7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the first RCM is further configured to communicate with the second vehicle controller, and wherein the first airbag deployment signals are generated based on a communication between the first RCM and the second vehicle controller.
8. 8 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the first RCM is further configured to receive the second sensor data via the second vehicle controller.
9. 9 . The system of claim 6 , further comprising: second pyrotechnic initiators configured to receive second airbag deployment signals from the first RCM through the second vehicle controller.
10. 10 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the first vehicle functions are associated with a first side of a vehicle, and wherein the second vehicle functions are associated with a second side of the vehicle.
11. 11 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the second vehicle control unit further comprises: a second RCM configured to control airbag deployment and to communicate with the second vehicle controller over a second direct connection.
12. 12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the first RCM is further configured to control airbag deployment for first airbag systems of a first side of a vehicle, and wherein the second RCM is further configured to control airbag deployment for second airbag systems of a second side of the vehicle.
13. 13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the first RCM is further configured to receive the second sensor data via the second RCM, and wherein the second RCM is further configured to receive the first sensor data via the first RCM.
14. 14 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the first airbag deployment signals are generated based on a communication between the first RCM and the second RCM.
15. 15 . The system of claim 11 , further comprising: second pyrotechnic initiators configured to receive second airbag deployment signals from the second RCM through the second vehicle controller, wherein the second airbag deployment signals are generated based on a communication between the first RCM and the second RCM.
16. 16 . A system comprising: a first vehicle control unit comprising: a first vehicle controller configured to control one or more first vehicle functions; and first connectors configured to communicate first sensor data to the first vehicle controller; a restraint control module (RCM) configured to communicate with the first vehicle controller; an inertia sensing module (ISM) configured to send the first sensor data to the first vehicle controller via the first connectors; first sensors configured to communicate the first sensor data to the first vehicle controller via the first connectors; and first pyrotechnic initiators configured to receive first airbag deployment signals via the first connectors.
17. 17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the RCM is further configured to receive the first sensor data via the first vehicle controller, and wherein the RCM is further configured to send the first airbag deployment signals via the first vehicle controller.
18. 18 . The system of claim 16 , further comprising: a second vehicle control unit comprising: a second vehicle controller configured to control one or more second vehicle functions; and second connectors configured to communicate second sensor data to the second vehicle controller; second sensors configured to communicate the second sensor data to the second vehicle controller via the second connectors; and second pyrotechnic initiators configured to receive second airbag deployment signals via the second connectors.
19. 19 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the RCM is further configured to receive the second sensor data via the second vehicle controller, and wherein the RCM is further configured to send the second airbag deployment signals via the second vehicle controller.
20. 20 . A method of manufacturing a vehicle, the method comprising: providing a first vehicle control unit comprising a first vehicle controller to control one or more first vehicle functions; integrating a first restraint control module (RCM) onto a printed circuit board (PCB) of the first vehicle controller, the first RCM to communicate with the first vehicle controller over a first direct connection; communicatively coupling first connectors to communicate first sensor data to the first vehicle controller and the first RCM, the first connectors further communicatively coupled to communicate first airbag deployment signals from the first RCM; providing an inertia sensing module (ISM) to send the first sensor data to the first vehicle controller and the first RCM via the first connectors; installing first sensors to communicate the first sensor data to the first vehicle controller and the first RCM via the first connectors; and installing first pyrotechnic initiators to receive the first airbag deployment signals from the first RCM via the first connectors.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure generally relates to vehicle components. In particular, the present disclosure relates to restraints control modules integrated with vehicle controllers or as stand-alone devices. BACKGROUND In vehicles, a restraint control module (RCM) serves an important role in sensing a collision, controlling airbag deployment, and storing data related to the collision. Given the importance of controlling airbag deployment, the RCM plays an important role in maintaining passenger safety in a vehicle because of its part in controlling airbag deployment. Indeed, milliseconds of delay in the deployment of an airbag may have a dramatic effect on passenger safety in the event of a collision. Thus, vehicle controller architectures must be carefully designed to optimally incorporate RCMs while maintaining an efficient design. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The figures, which may use like numerals to reference the same or similar elements, depict various examples of the present disclosure for purposes of illustration and are not to be considered as limiting in scope. One skilled in the art will readily recognize that additional example embodiments are possible without departing from the principles of the present disclosure. FIG. 1 is a system diagram illustrating an architecture of a vehicle controller with an integrated restraints control module, according to some examples. FIG. 2 is a system diagram illustrating an architecture of vehicle controllers with an integrated restraints control module, according to some examples. FIG. 3 is a system diagram illustrating an architecture of vehicle controllers with integrated restraints control module, according to some examples. FIG. 4 is a system diagram illustrating an architecture of vehicle controllers with a stand-alone restraints control module, according to some examples. FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a method of manufacturing a vehicle, according to some examples. FIG. 6 is a system diagram illustrating an architecture of an electric vehicle (EV), according to some examples. DETAILED DESCRIPTION A typical restraint control module (RCM) uses an acceleration sensor to measure deceleration and deploy airbags when the measured deceleration indicates a collision has occurred. Typically, the RCM is packaged with the acceleration sensor to reduce costs, and the combination of the RCM and the acceleration sensor is placed in a central location in the vehicle. However, as vehicle technologies continue to advance and techniques for detecting collisions and predicting collisions are developed, an RCM that merely relies on an acceleration sensor to detect collisions is suboptimal. Therefore, a typical RCM that is packaged with an acceleration sensor as one unit is problematic because the RCM is separated from the various systems that can be used to detect and predict collisions. Furthermore, the location of the RCM when it is packaged with the acceleration sensor is suboptimal because it is inefficient to wire all the various systems to the RCM. Thus, the typical RCM that is packaged with an acceleration sensor as one unit has been rendered suboptimal and problematic by advances in vehicle technologies. The present disclosure addresses the aforementioned technical problems by providing for system architectures that integrate one or more RCMs with one or more vehicle control units, system architectures that use RCMs in a distributed fashion, and system architectures that use an RCM as a stand-alone device not packaged with other sensors. For example, a vehicle can include a vehicle control unit that is connected to various sensors throughout the vehicle including, for example, inertial measurement units (IMUs), accelerometers, impact sensors, pressure sensors, proximity sensors, cameras, wheel speed sensors, seat occupancy sensors, steering wheel torque sensors, brake pedal position sensors, and accelerator pedal position sensors. The vehicle control unit can be positioned in locations throughout the vehicle, such as behind the dashboard, behind the center console, behind a footwell area, behind the steering wheel, or underneath a seat. In examples, an RCM can be integrated in the vehicle control unit. Sensor data available to the vehicle control unit can likewise available to the RCM via direct connections (e.g., printed circuit board (PCB) connections, traces on a PCB) with connectors within the vehicle control unit. The RCM integrated in the vehicle control unit is connected to various airbag systems throughout the vehicle including, for example, driver side airbags, passenger side airbags, curtain airbags, seat airbags, and knee airbags. The RCM can deploy the airbag systems based on sensor data available to the vehicle control unit. In some examples, the vehicle control unit includes pre-crash detection functions that, in communication with the RCM, allows for priming of the airbag systems to facilitate fast and efficient deployment. As