1. A vehicle crash safety system for an automotive vehicle comprising:
a pre-crash sensing system generating a pre-crash signal;
a vehicle dynamics detector generating a vehicle dynamics signal;
a pre-crash countermeasure system;
a pre-crash controller controlling the pre-crash countermeasure system in response to the said pre-crash signal and said vehicle dynamics signal, said pre-crash controller generating a pre-crash controller signal and a threat assessment signal;
an occupant position and classification sensor generating an occupant position and classification signal;
an early crash sensing system generating an early crash signal;
an early crash countermeasure system having a plurality of early crash countermeasures; and
a coordinated safety system controller coupled to the pre-crash controller, the early crash sensing system, the occupant position and classification sensor and the early crash countermeasure system, said coordinated safety system controller generating a threat confirmation signal in response to the threat assessment signal and the early crash signal, said coordinated safety system controller selecting and deselecting an appropriate early crash countermeasure from the plurality of early crash countermeasures in response to the early crash signal the occupant position and classification signal, said threat confirmation signal and said pre-crash controller signal.
2. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the pre-crash sensing system comprises a vision system.
3. A system as recited in claim 2 wherein the vision system comprises a stereo pair of cameras.
4. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the pre-crash sensing system comprises a receiver.
5. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the pre-crash sensing system comprises a radar or lidar.
6. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the pre-crash sensing system comprises a transponder.
7. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the vehicle dynamics detector comprises a speed sensor.
8. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the vehicle dynamics detector comprises a yaw sensor.
9. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the vehicle dynamics detector comprises a steering wheel angle sensor.
10. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said pre-crash controller activates said pre-crash countermeasure in response to target object distance, relative velocity and target object size signals.
11. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the pre-crash countermeasure system comprises at least one of an active safety system, a motorized seatbelt pretensioner, a bumper airbag system, a suspension height adjustment system, a structural stiffness modifier system, and a collision warning system.
12. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said early crash countermeasure system comprises at least one of a driver airbag system, a passenger airbag system, a seatbelt system, a deployable steering system, a deployable lower extremity protection system, a deployable knee bolster system, and an anti-submarining system.
13. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said early crash sensing system comprises at least one crash sensor.
14. A system as sited in claim 1 wherein said early crash sensor system comprises a crash sensor, a seat position and seat inclination sensor, a seat weight sensor, a seat belt usage sensor, an occupant position and classification sensor and an airbag control switch.
15. A method for operating a vehicle crash safety system for an automotive vehicle comprising:
generating a pre-crash signal from a pre-crash sensing system;
generating a vehicle dynamics signal from a vehicle dynamics detector;
generating a global position signal for the vehicle;
controlling a pre-crash countermeasure system in response to the pre-crash signal and the vehicle dynamics signal;
generating a threat assessment signal in response to the pre-crash signal, the vehicle dynamics signal and the GPS signal;
generating an early crash signal from an early crash sensing input system;
generating an occupant position and classification signal from an occupant position and classification sensor;
generating a threat confirmation signal in response to the threat assessment signal and the early crash signal; and
selecting an appropriate early crash countermeasure from a plurality of early crash countermeasures in response to the early crash signal, the occupant position and classification signals, the threat confirmation signal, and the pre-crash signal.
16. A method as recited in claim 15 further comprising coordinating a deployment of the pre-crash countermeasure system and the early crash countermeasure system.
17. A method as recited in claim 15 wherein said early crash countermeasure system comprises at least one of a driver airbag system, a passenger airbag system, a seatbelt system, a deployable steering system, a deployable lower extremity protection system, a deployable knee bolster system, and an anti-submarining system.
18. A method as recited in claim 15 wherein said early crash sensing system comprises at least one crash sensor.
19. A method as recited in claim 15 wherein the early crash sensor system comprises a crash sensor, a seat position and seat inclination sensor, a seat weight sensor, a seat belt usage sensor, an occupant position and classification sensor, and an airbag control switch.
20. A vehicle crash safety system for an automotive vehicle comprising:
a pre-crash sensing system generating a pre-crash signal;
a pre-crash countermeasure system;
a pre-crash controller controlling the pre-crash countermeasure system in response to the said pre-crash signal, said pre-crash controller generating a pre-crash controller signal and a threat assessment signal;
an occupant position and classification sensor generating an occupant position and classification signal;
an early crash sensing system generating an early crash signal;
an early crash countermeasure system having a plurality of early crash countermeasures; and
a coordinated safety system controller coupled to the pre-crash controller, the early crash sensing system, the occupant position and classification sensor and the early crash countermeasure system, said coordinated safety system controller generating a threat confirmation signal in response to the threat assessment signal and the early crash signal, said coordinated safety system controller selecting and deselecting an appropriate early crash countermeasure from the plurality of early crash countermeasures in response to the early crash signal the occupant position and classification signal, said threat confirmation signal and said pre-crash controller signal.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a first switch;
a first transformer comprising first primary windings and first secondary windings, the first primary windings coupled in series to the first switch;
a second switch;
a second transformer comprising second primary windings and second secondary windings, the second primary windings coupled in series to the second switch;
a control unit coupled to the first switch and to the second switch, the control unit to control the first switch and the second switch to enter a first state in which the first switch is closed and the second switch is open, and to enter a second state in which the first switch is open and the second switch is closed;
a first load coupled to an input node via the first switch in the first state and coupled to ground via the second switch in the second state, the first load to receive a first current;
a circuit coupled to the first secondary windings and to the second secondary windings; and
a second load coupled to the circuit, the second load to receive a second current substantially proportional to the first current.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a turns ratio of the first transformer is N, wherein a turns ratio of the second transformer is N, and wherein the second current is to be substantially equal to the first current divided by N.
3. An apparatus according to claim 1, the circuit comprising:
a first diode, an anode of the first diode coupled to a first terminal of the first secondary windings; and
a second diode, an anode of the second diode coupled to a first terminal of the second secondary windings,
wherein a cathode of the first diode and a cathode of the second diode are coupled to the second load.
4. An apparatus according to claim 3, the circuit further comprising:
a first resistive element coupled to the first terminal of the first secondary windings and to a second terminal of the first secondary windings; and
a second resistive element coupled to the first terminal of the second secondary windings and to a second terminal of the second secondary windings.
5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is coupled to the second load, and wherein the control unit controls the first switch and the second switch based at least in part on the second current.
6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first load is coupled to a voltage input of an integrated circuit.
7. An apparatus comprising:
a voltage regulator converter to generate a supply voltage, the voltage regulator converter comprising a high side power transistor to generate a high side alternating current and a low side power transistor to generate a low side alternating current;
a current sensing circuit to generate a first alternating current based on the high side alternating current and to generate a second alternating current based on the low side alternating current;
a rectifier circuit to generate a substantially direct current based on the first alternating current and on the second alternating current; and
a resistive element to receive the substantially direct current, wherein a voltage drop across the resistive element is to be proportional to the supply voltage.
8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the current sensing circuit comprises:
a first transformer to receive the high side alternating current and to generate the first alternating current based on the high side alternating current; and
a second transformer to receive the low side alternating current and to generate the second alternating current based on the low side alternating current.
9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the first transformer comprises:
first primary windings to receive the high side alternating current and first secondary windings to carry the first alternating current,
wherein the second transformer comprises:
second primary windings to receive the low side alternating current and second secondary windings to carry the second alternating current,
wherein a turns ratio of the first secondary windings to the first primary windings and a turns ratio of the second secondary windings to the second primary windings are equal to N, and
wherein the voltage drop is to be substantially equal to the supply voltage divided by N.
10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the rectifier circuit comprises:
a first diode to receive the first alternating current from the first secondary windings; and
a second diode to receive the second alternating current from the second secondary windings,
wherein a cathode of the first diode and a cathode of the second diode are coupled to the resistive element.
11. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the current sensing circuit further comprises:
a first resistive element coupled to a first terminal of the first secondary windings and to a second terminal of the first secondary windings; and
a second resistive element coupled to a first terminal of the second secondary windings and to a second terminal of the second secondary windings.
12. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the rectifier circuit comprises:
a first diode to receive the first alternating current; and
a second diode to receive the second alternating current,
wherein a cathode of the first diode and a cathode of the second diode are coupled to the resistive element.
13. An apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising:
a voltage regulator controller coupled to the resistive element, the voltage regulator controller to control the high side power transistor to generate the high side alternating current and to control the low side power transistor to generate the low side alternating current based at least in part on the voltage drop.
14. A method comprising:
generating a high side alternating current with a high side power transistor;
generating a low side alternating current with a low side power transistor;
generating a first alternating current based on the high side alternating current using a first transformer having a turns ratio of N;
generating a second alternating current based on the low side alternating current using a second transformer having a turns ratio of N;
generating a power supply current based on the high side alternating current and on the low side alternating current; and
generating a substantially direct current based on the first alternating current and on the second alternating current,
wherein the substantially direct current is substantially equal to the power supply current divided by N.
15. A method according to claim 14, further comprising:
controlling the high side power transistor to generate the high side alternating current and controlling the low side power transistor to generate the low side alternating current based at least in part on the substantially direct current.
16. A system comprising:
a microprocessor;
a double data rate memory coupled to the microprocessor; and
a voltage regulator to provide a supply voltage to the microprocessor, the voltage regulator comprising:
a voltage regulator converter to generate the supply voltage, the voltage regulator converter comprising a high side power transistor to generate a high side alternating current and a low side power transistor to generate a low side alternating current;
a current sensing circuit to generate a first alternating current based on the high side alternating current and to generate a second alternating current based on the low side alternating current;
a rectifier circuit to generate a substantially direct current based on the first alternating current and on the second alternating current; and
a resistive element to receive the substantially direct current, wherein a voltage drop across the resistive element is to be proportional to the supply voltage.
17. A system according to claim 16, wherein the current sensing circuit comprises:
a first transformer to receive the high side alternating current and to generate the first alternating current based on the high side alternating current; and
a second transformer to receive the low side alternating current and to generate the second alternating current based on the low side alternating current.
18. A system according to claim 17, wherein the first transformer comprises:
first primary windings to receive the high side alternating current and first secondary windings to carry the first alternating current,
wherein the second transformer comprises:
second primary windings to receive the low side alternating current and second secondary windings to carry the second alternating current,
wherein a turns ratio of the first secondary windings to the first primary windings and a turns ratio of the second secondary windings to the second primary windings are equal to N, and
wherein the voltage drop is to be substantially equal to the supply voltage divided by N.
19. A system according to claim 18, wherein the rectifier circuit comprises:
a first diode to receive the first alternating current from the first secondary windings; and
a second diode to receive the second alternating current from the second secondary windings,
wherein a cathode of the first diode and a cathode of the second diode are coupled to the resistive element.
20. A system according to claim 16, the voltage regulator further comprising:
a voltage regulator controller coupled to the resistive element, the voltage regulator controller to control the high side power transistor to generate the high side alternating current and to control the low side power transistor to generate the low side alternating current based at least in part on the voltage drop.