Collision detection sensor for vehicle and collision detection device for vehicle

• US 20050104721A1
• Filed: 11/12/2004
• Published: 05/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Mae, Hiroyuki, Tobaru, Shigeo, Kamei, Takahiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,304,566 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/436
• 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: B60R 21/34 Protecting non-occupants of a vehicle, e.g. pedestrians B60R19/02 takes precedence

Abstract

A collision detection sensor for a vehicle of the present invention includes a single piezoelectric film which is flat, plural pairs of electrodes which sandwich the piezoelectric film and measure voltages between the electrodes, and spaces provided between the plural pairs of electrodes.

Claims

1. A collision detection sensor for a vehicle, comprising:

a single piezoelectric film which is flat;

plural pairs of electrodes which sandwich the piezoelectric film and measure voltages between the electrodes; and

spaces provided between the plural pairs of electrodes.

2. The collision detection sensor for a vehicle, according to claim 1, wherein three or more pairs of the electrodes are provided on the same straight line.

3. The collision detection sensor for a vehicle, according to claim 1, wherein the collision detection sensor is provided in the front bumper face of the vehicle and serves both as a collision detection sensor for detecting a collision with a pedestrian and a collision detection sensor for controlling operation of an air bag.

4. The collision detection sensor for a vehicle, according to claim 2, wherein the collision detection sensor is provided in the front bumper face of the vehicle and serves both as a collision detection sensor for detecting a collision with a pedestrian and a collision detection sensor for controlling operation of an air bag.

5. A collision detection device for a vehicle, comprising:

a collision detection sensor for the vehicle, which comprises a single piezoelectric film which is flat, a plurality of pairs of electrodes which sandwich the piezoelectric film and measure voltages between the electrodes, and spaces provided between the plural pairs of electrodes; and

a control means which detects collision of the vehicle based on detected results by the collision detection sensor for the vehicle;

wherein in a state in which a predetermined voltage is applied to one of the pairs of electrodes on the piezoelectric film, the control means performs at least one of temperature compensation and failure judgment based on detected results by another pair of electrodes which is different from said one of the pairs of electrodes.