System for sensing whether an object struck in a collision is a pedestrian
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A collision protection system, comprising:
- a collision protection apparatus;
a sensor disposed at least in part on an exterior surface of a vehicle, the sensor being adapted to provide a width output signal that varies in relation to the width of an object contacting the vehicle; and
a controller for the collision protection apparatus that receives the width output signal from the sensor and compares the width output signal to a threshold value to determine if the width of the object is less than a predetermined width, the controller actuating the collision protection apparatus if the object is less than the predetermined width.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A collision protection system for protecting a pedestrian that uses a sensor that provides a width output signal that varies in relation to the width of an object contacting the vehicle. The sensor includes a resistive conductor that is shorted out by a conductive conductor of a portion of the length of the resistive conductor. A second sensor may be provided that provides an output only upon exceeding an impact threshold. Several sensors may be used to provide an indication of the location and width of the object contacted.
24 Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A collision protection system, comprising:
-
a collision protection apparatus;
a sensor disposed at least in part on an exterior surface of a vehicle, the sensor being adapted to provide a width output signal that varies in relation to the width of an object contacting the vehicle; and
a controller for the collision protection apparatus that receives the width output signal from the sensor and compares the width output signal to a threshold value to determine if the width of the object is less than a predetermined width, the controller actuating the collision protection apparatus if the object is less than the predetermined width. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 20)
-
-
11. An apparatus for determining if a pedestrian is struck by a vehicle, comprising:
-
an elongated sensor extending across an exterior region of the vehicle, the sensor having at least two spaced electrodes that are supported on a compressible member, the compressible member being locally compressible along a portion of the region of the vehicle across which the sensor extends, the two spaced electrodes providing an electrical signal that varies in proportion to the portion of the compressible member that is compressed;
a controller that receives the electrical signal and calculates the length of the portion of the compressible member that is compressed; and
an impact absorbing member that is deployed if the length of the portion of the, compressible member that is compressed is less than a threshold length corresponding to the width of a pedestrian at the height of the sensor on the vehicle, thereby indicating that the object struck by the vehicle is a pedestrian. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A sensing system for determining the width of an object in the event of an impact force being applied thereto, comprising:
-
a strip having first and second portions that are spaced apart, a conductive electrode being attached to the first portion and a resistive electrode being attached to the second portion;
a voltage source is connected to the resistive electrode that provides a constant current through the resistive electrode, wherein upon impact the conductive electrode contacts the resistive electrode and shorts out the portion of the resistive electrode that is contacted by the conductive electrode decreasing the resistance of the resistive electrode which decreases the voltage developed. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
-
-
18. A sensing system for determining the speed of an impact with an object, comprising:
-
an exterior sensor attached to a body, the exterior sensor being closed initially upon striking the object;
an interior sensor that is inset relative to the exterior sensor in a cavity in the body, the interior sensor being closed after the object causes the body to collapse the cavity. - View Dependent Claims (19)
-
-
21. A collision protection system comprising:
-
a collision protection apparatus;
a non-contact sensor having a field of detection, the sensor being capable of providing a width output signal that varies in relation to the width of an object detected by the sensor; and
a controller for the collision protection apparatus that receives the width output signal from the sensor and compares the width output signal to a threshold value to determine if the width of the object is less than a predetermined-width, wherein the controller actuates the collision protection apparatus if the object is less than the predetermined width. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
-
Specification