Child restraint systems efficacy
Among other things, germane to various embodiments of this invention, the memory 22 stores software that when executed by the processor 20 causes the processor 20 to issue commands to the controller(s) 26 to control the actuator(s) 28 in accordance with a danger-mitigating reaction when the accident sensor system 10 detects an impending crash or accident involving the vehicle 14 that is communicated to the CRS 12. The memory 22 stores software that is executed by the processor 20 (which may be internal and/or external to the processor 20). The controller(s) 26 may be a control circuit(s) (e.g., motor controller integrated circuits, etc.) that controls one or more of the actuators 28, based on commands from the processor 20. The CRS 12 preferably also is “smart” in the sense that it includes a processor-based control circuit 18 that comprises one or more processors 20, associated memory 22, and one or more controllers 26. The actuator(s) 28 may also include safety reaction system(s) for taking a danger-mitigating reaction in response to detection of an imminent vehicle crash. 49 and as described below, the CRS 12 includes one more actuators 28, which may be implemented as motors or drive systems for adjusting the CRS 12 in the vehicle 14 for normal use. More details about the CRS 12, the accident sensor system 10, and possible reactions by the CRS 12 in response to the detected dangerous conditions are described below. Also, the system may include multiple accident sensor systems 10, all in communication with the CRS 12, and the CRS 12 can perform a reaction (or reactions) in response to inputs from one or all of the multiple accident sensor systems 10. In other embodiments, the accident sensor system 10 is included as part of the CRS 12. 49, in which case the accident sensor system 10 is in wired or wireless communication with the CRS 12, such that they are linked and in communication prior to the accident, and preferably prior to the vehicle 14 starting to drive (e.g., they are linked after the vehicle is turned on but before it starts to move at the start of a drive, or very shortly thereafter). The accident sensor system 10 may be separate from the CRS 12, as shown in FIG. As described in more detail below, the accident sensor system 10 includes one or more sensors that monitor, in an ongoing manner while the vehicle 14 is moving, conditions indicative of an impending crash or accident involving the vehicle 14. By way of example, the motor vehicle 14 can be an automobile, a bus, a truck, a boat, or train.
49 is a block diagram of a motor vehicle 14 according to various embodiments of the present invention, showing that the vehicle 14 comprises an accident sensor system 10 in communication with a CRS 12. The CRS's reactions can include danger-mitigating reactions or data collection/reporting reactions, for example, as described further below. In one general aspect, the present invention is directed to a child car seat, often referred to as a child restraint system (CRS), that executes one or a number of automatic reactions in response to the detection of a potentially imminent accident, crash or other type of dangerous condition involving the vehicle in which the CRS is located.