Accident sensor

• US 20020063008A1
• Filed: 11/06/2001
• Published: 05/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1997
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Conti Temic Microelectronic GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Conti Temic Microelectronic GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Spies, Hans
• Application Number:
  US09/985,950
• Publication Number:
  US 20020063008A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/274
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/04 External Ornamental or guard strips; Ornamental inscriptive devices thereon fastening strips or bars to sheets or plates by means of clips F16B5/12
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/445 Guard strips
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01302 monitoring vehicle body vibrations or noise
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0136 responsive to actual contact with an obstacle , e.g. to vehicle deformation, bumper displacement or bumper velocity relative to the vehicle monitoring crash strength in combination with passenger seat detection B60R21/01558
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 17/00 Measuring mechanical vibrations or ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves, not provided for in the preceding groups see provisionally also G01H1/00

Abstract

An accident sensor for triggering a motor-vehicle safety system. A deformable, first part and a second part that acoustically detects a deformation at the first part is provided. The deformable, first part includes a plastic part or is integrated with a plastic part disposed around the exterior of the motor vehicle and includes a continuous medium for transmitting a signal. The first part generates an acoustical structure-borne signal when it is deformed. The second part includes a structure-borne signal sensor that receives the acoustical signal and conducts said signal further to an evaluation unit.

Claims

1. An accident sensor for triggering a motor-vehicle safety system, comprising:

a deformable, first part and a second part that acoustically detects a deformation at the first part,

wherein the deformable, first part comprises a plastic part or is integrated with a plastic part disposed around the exterior of the motor vehicle and includes a continuous medium for transmitting a signal,

wherein the first part generates an acoustical structure-borne signal when it is deformed, and

wherein the second part comprises a structure-borne signal sensor that receives the acoustical signal and conducts said signal further to an evaluation unit.

4. The accident sensor for triggering a motor-vehicle safety system according to claim 1, wherein the first part serves simultaneously as a bumper and a scratch guard for the motor-vehicle.

5. The accident sensor for triggering a motor-vehicle safety system according to claim 1, further comprising an evaluation unit which determines an impact site on the motor vehicle based on a signal course between the impact site and a signal detector and a transit time elapsed between the signal being generated at the impact site and the signal being detected.

6. The accident sensor for triggering a motor-vehicle safety system according to claim 1, further comprising an evaluation unit which determines an impact site on the motor vehicle based on a spatial orientation of acoustical receivers.

17. The accident sensor for triggering a motor-vehicle safety system according to claim 1, further comprising an evaluation unit which determines an impact site on the motor vehicle based on a spatial orientation of optical receivers.

2. An accident sensor for triggering a motor-vehicle safety system, comprising:

a deformable, first part and a second part that optically detects the deformation at the first part;

wherein the first part comprises a radiation-transparent plastic part that is penetrated by a defined quantity of light, is disposed on the exterior of the motor vehicle, and includes a continuous medium for transmitting a signal;

wherein a light beam path in the first part and the defined quantity of light change when the first part is deformed, said light being a signal; and

wherein the second part comprises a radiation-sensitive detector that detects said signal.

7. The accident sensor for triggering a motor-vehicle safety system according to claim 2, wherein the first part serves simultaneously as a bumper and a scratch guard for the motor-vehicle.

9. The accident sensor for triggering a motor-vehicle safety system according to claim 2, further comprising an evaluation unit which determines an impact site on the motor vehicle based on a signal course and a transit time between the impact site and a signal detection.

11. The accident sensor for triggering a motor-vehicle safety system according to claim 2, further comprising an evaluation unit which determines an impact site on the motor vehicle based on a spatial orientation of acoustical receivers.

14. The accident sensor according to claim 13, wherein the continuous signal transmitting medium comprises a medium for transmitting an acoustical signal, the plastic part generates an acoustical structure-borne-sound when it is deformed that is transmitted over the medium, and the second part comprises a structure-borne-sound sensor that receives the acoustical signal and conducts it further to an evaluation unit.

15. The accident sensor according to claim 13, wherein the continuous signal transmitting medium comprises a radiation transparent medium defining a beam path that is penetrated by a defined quantity of light, wherein the beam path and thus the defined quantity of light change when the plastic part is deformed, and the second part comprises a radiation-sensitive detector that detects the quantity of light, which has changed due to the deformation.

16. The accident sensor according to claim 13, wherein the continuous signal transmitting medium comprises a medium for transmitting an electromagnetic signal, the plastic part includes means for generating an electromagnetic signal under pressure, and the second part includes a detector for detecting the electromagnetic signal transmitted over the medium by said generating means.

18. The accident sensor for triggering a motor-vehicle safety system according to claim 2, further comprising an evaluation unit which determines an impact site on the motor vehicle based on a spatial orientation of optical receivers.

3. The accident sensor for triggering a motor-vehicle safety system, comprising:

a deformable, first part and a second part that electromagnetically detects the deformation at the first part;

wherein the deformable, first part comprises a plastic part that is disposed on the exterior of the motor vehicle and includes a continuous medium for transmitting a signal, wherein said continuous medium generates pressure waves during the deformation; and

wherein the second part comprises a piezofilm that receives the pressure waves and converts said pressure waves into an electrical signal, and conducts said electrical signal further to an evaluation unit.

8. The accident sensor for triggering a motor-vehicle safety system according to claim 3, wherein the first part serves simultaneously as a bumper and a scratch guard for the motor-vehicle.

10. The accident sensor for triggering a motor-vehicle safety system according to claim 3, further comprising an evaluation unit which determines an impact site on the motor vehicle based on a signal course and a transit time between the impact site and a signal detection.

12. The accident sensor for triggering a motor-vehicle safety system according to claim 3, further comprising an evaluation unit which determines an impact site on the motor vehicle based on a spatial orientation of acoustical receivers.

19. The accident sensor for triggering a motor-vehicle safety system according to claim 3, further comprising an evaluation unit which determines an impact site on the motor vehicle based on a spatial orientation of optical receivers.

13. An accident sensor for triggering a motor-vehicle safety system, comprising:

a deformable, first part and a second part that detects a deformation at the first part,

wherein the first part comprises a plastic part or is integrated into a plastic part disposed around the exterior of the motor vehicle and includes a continuous medium for transmitting a signal representing a deformation of the first part for detection by the second part.