Vehicle sensing method for detecting a pedestrian impact
First Claim
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1. A method of detecting an impact of a vehicle with a pedestrian, comprising the steps of:
- detecting an initial impact between a bumper of the vehicle and an object that is potentially a pedestrian;
sensing for presence of the object in a detection zone above a hood of the vehicle; and
confirming that said object is a pedestrian when the presence of the object is sensed in the detection zone within a prescribed time after the detected initial impact.
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Abstract
The collision of a vehicle with a pedestrian is detected by the presence of a foreign object in a sensing zone above the hood of the vehicle within a prescribed time of an initial impact with the bumper of the vehicle. The initial impact is detected with an acceleration sensor disposed in or near the front bumper and the sensing zone is defined by object detection sensors disposed on the hood or behind the windshield of the vehicle. Vehicle speed is used to discriminate against events that occur while the vehicle is stationary or moving very slowly.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method of detecting an impact of a vehicle with a pedestrian, comprising the steps of:
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detecting an initial impact between a bumper of the vehicle and an object that is potentially a pedestrian;
sensing for presence of the object in a detection zone above a hood of the vehicle; and
confirming that said object is a pedestrian when the presence of the object is sensed in the detection zone within a prescribed time after the detected initial impact. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification