Accident sensor

• US 20040144587A1
• Filed: 01/20/2004
• Published: 07/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Conti Temic Microelectronic GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Conti Temic Microelectronic GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Spies, Hans
• Granted Patent: US 6,902,025 B2
• 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 a motor vehicle for triggering a safety system is provided. A deformable and radiation transparent synthetic material part is penetrated by a defined quantity of light traveling in a beam path. A radiation sensitive detector optically detects the deformation of the material part by detecting a change in the beam path to determine a position of impact on the motor vehicle based a signal waveform and a determination of the transit time between the impact and the detection of the signal. The material part is arranged externally on the motor vehicle.

Claims

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

a deformable and radiation transparent synthetic material part, wherein the material part is penetrated by a defined quantity of light traveling in a beam path; and

a radiation sensitive detector that optically detects a deformation of the material part by detecting a change in the beam path to determine a position of impact on the motor vehicle based a signal waveform and a determination of the transit time between impact and the detection of the signal,

wherein the material part is arranged externally on the motor vehicle.

2. The accident sensor of claim 1, wherein the material part forms a collision and scratch protector for the motor vehicle.

3. The accident sensor of claim 2, wherein the position of the impact on the motor vehicle is determined according to a spatial orientation of the radiation sensitive detector.