Collision detection device for vehicle

• US 20070013496A1
• Filed: 06/14/2006
• Published: 01/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Miura, Hisanori
• Application Number:
  US11/453,310
• Publication Number:
  US 20070013496A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/435
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01054 Bus
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01122 Prevention of malfunction
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0132 responsive to vehicle motion parameters , e.g. to vehicle longitudinal or transversal deceleration or speed value

Abstract

A collision detection device for a vehicle has a control unit which determines a collision with the vehicle, a left main sensor arranged at the vehicle left portion, a right main sensor arranged at the vehicle right portion, a middle sub sensor arranged at the substantial middle portion of the vehicle, a left sub bus for connecting the middle sub sensor with the left main sensor, a left main bus for connecting the left main sensor with the control unit, a right sub bus for connecting the middle sub sensor with the right main sensor, and a right main bus for connecting the right main sensor with the control unit. Thus, the single middle sub sensor is provided for the collision detection of the vehicle right portion and that of the vehicle left portion, respectively with the right main sensor and the left main senor.

Claims

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

a control unit for determining a collision with the vehicle;

a left collision detection main unit which is arranged at a left portion of the vehicle;

a right collision detection main unit which is arranged at a right portion of the vehicle;

a middle collision detection sub unit which is arranged at a substantial middle portion of the vehicle;

a left connection sub unit which connects the middle collision detection sub unit with the left collision detection main unit;

a left connection main unit for connecting the left collision detection main unit with the control unit;

a right connection sub unit for connecting the middle collision detection sub unit with the right collision detection main unit; and

a right connection main unit for connecting the right collision detection main unit with the control unit.

2. The collision detection device according to claim 1, wherein:

the control unit is an ECU, which has a collision determination member for determining the collision with the vehicle;

the left collision detection main unit, the right collision detection main unit and the middle collision detection sub unit are respectively a left collision detection main sensor, a right collision detection main sensor and a middle collision detection sub sensor; and

the left connection main unit, the left connection sub unit, the right connection main unit and the right connection sub unit are respectively a left main bus, a left sub bus, a right main bus and a right sub bus.

3. The collision detection device according to claim 2, wherein:

the collision determination member of the ECU determines the collision with the left portion of the vehicle, based on signals which are detected by the left collision detection main sensor and sent to the ECU through the left main bus and signals which are detected by the middle collision detection sub sensor and sent to the ECU through the right sub bus and the right main bus; and

the collision determination member of the ECU determines the collision with the right portion of the vehicle, based on signals which are detected by the right collision detection main sensor and sent to the ECU through the right main bus and signals which are detected by the middle collision detection sub sensor and sent to the ECU through the left sub bus and the left main bus.

4. The collision detection device according to claim 3, wherein:

the middle collision detection sub sensor has an acceleration sensor member, a first communication member which is connected with the right sub bus, and a second communication member which is connected with the left sub bus; and

each of the first communication member and the second communication member has a receiving member and a sending member.

5. The collision detection device according to claim 3, wherein

the middle collision detection sub sensor has an acceleration sensor member, and a communication member which is connected with the right sub bus and the left sub bus.

6. The collision detection device according to claim 4, wherein

the acceleration sensor member of the middle collision detection sub sensor is disposed to distinguish between the collision with the right portion of the vehicle and the collision with the left portion of the vehicle.

7. The collision detection device according to claim 5, wherein

the acceleration sensor member of the middle collision detection sub sensor is disposed to distinguish between the collision with the right portion of the vehicle and the collision with the left portion of the vehicle.

12. The collision detection device according to claim 5, wherein

the communication member has a first receiving member and a first sending member for signal-swapping with the ECU through the left sub bus and the left main bus, and a second receiving member and a second sending member for signal-swapping with the ECU through the right sub bus and the right main bus.

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

a control unit for determining a collision with the vehicle;

a left collision detection main unit which is arranged at a left portion of the vehicle;

a left connection main unit which connects the left collision detection main unit with the control unit;

a right collision detection main unit which is arranged at a right portion of the vehicle;

a right connection main unit which connects the right collision detection main unit with the control unit;

a middle collision detection sub unit which is arranged at a substantial middle portion of the vehicle; and

a middle connection sub unit which connects the middle collision detection sub unit with the control unit.

9. The collision detection device according to claim 8, wherein:

the control unit is an ECU, which has a collision determination member for determining the collision with the vehicle;

the left collision detection main unit, the right collision detection main unit and the middle collision detection sub unit are respectively a left collision detection main sensor, a right collision detection main sensor and a middle collision detection sub sensor; and

the left connection main unit, the right connection main unit and the middle connection sub unit are respectively a left main bus, a right main bus and a middle sub bus.

10. The collision detection device according to claim 9, wherein:

the collision determination member of the ECU determines the collision with the left portion of the vehicle, based on signals which are detected by the left collision detection main sensor and sent to the ECU through the left main bus and signals which are detected by the middle collision detection sub sensor and sent to the ECU through the middle sub bus; and

the collision determination member of the ECU determines the collision with the right portion of the vehicle, based on signals which are detected by the right collision detection main sensor and sent to the ECU through the right main bus and signals which are detected by the middle collision detection sub sensor and sent to the ECU through the middle sub bus.

11. The collision detection device according to claim 10, wherein

the middle collision detection sub sensor has an acceleration sensor member, which is disposed to distinguish between the collision with the right portion of the vehicle and the collision with the left portion of the vehicle.