Side impact sensor systems
First Claim
1. A vehicle having a longitudinal axis between a front and rear of the vehicle such that a lateral direction is defined perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, comprising:
- a side impact crash sensor for detecting a lateral force or acceleration applied to a side of the vehicle;
transfer means interposed between the side of the vehicle and said sensor for transferring the lateral force applied to the side of the vehicle to said sensor; and
an occupant restraint device connected to said sensor and arranged to deploy an occupant restraint based on the force or acceleration detected by said sensor.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle including a side impact crash sensor, a transfer structure interposed between the side of the vehicle and the sensor and an occupant restraint system such as a side impact airbag system. When an object strikes the side of the vehicle or vice versa, the transfer structure serves to transfer the lateral force from the side of the vehicle to the sensor and is designed so that it does not distort upon the application of the lateral force. The side impact crash sensor detects the force or acceleration applied to the side of the vehicle, and the airbag system connected to the sensor deploys an airbag based on the detected force or acceleration. The transfer structure may be constructed to account for mismatch between the point of impact of an object on the side of the vehicle and the location of the sensor.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A vehicle having a longitudinal axis between a front and rear of the vehicle such that a lateral direction is defined perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, comprising:
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a side impact crash sensor for detecting a lateral force or acceleration applied to a side of the vehicle;
transfer means interposed between the side of the vehicle and said sensor for transferring the lateral force applied to the side of the vehicle to said sensor; and
an occupant restraint device connected to said sensor and arranged to deploy an occupant restraint based on the force or acceleration detected by said sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A vehicle having a longitudinal axis between a front and rear of the vehicle such that a lateral direction is defined perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, comprising:
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a side impact crash sensor for detecting a lateral force or acceleration applied to a side of the vehicle;
mismatch adjustment means interposed between the side of the vehicle and said side for adjusting for mismatch between a point of impact of an object on the side of the vehicle and said sensor; and
an occupant restraint device connected to said sensor and arranged to deploy an occupant restraint based on the force or acceleration detected by said sensor. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A vehicle having a longitudinal axis between a front and rear of the vehicle such that a lateral direction is defined perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, comprising:
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a side impact crash sensor for detecting a lateral force or acceleration applied to a side of the vehicle;
a transfer device interposed between the side of the vehicle and said sensor suitable for transferring a lateral force applied to the side of the vehicle by an object to said sensor; and
an occupant restraint device connected to said sensor and arranged to deploy an occupant restraint based on the force or acceleration detected by said sensor. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification