2D-COIL COLLISION SENSOR SYSTEM

• US 20080077328A1
• Filed: 09/21/2006
• Published: 03/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Rao, Manoharprasad K., Maranville, Clay, Simmons, Paul, Bauch, David, Soltis, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 8,538,672 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/301
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0006 Lateral collision
• 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: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes

Abstract

A collision sensing system for a vehicle (10) includes a two-dimensional coil sensor (14) that is attached to a vehicle structure (19) A controller (20) is in communication with the two-dimensional coil sensor (14) and detects a collision event in response to movement of the vehicle structure (19) relative to a conductive member (98) of the vehicle (10). A collision detection and safety countermeasure system (12) for a vehicle (10) includes a coil sensor (14) that is adhered to a vehicle structure (19). A controller (20) is in communication with the coil sensor (14) and generates a countermeasure signal in response to movement by the vehicle structure (19) relative to a conductive member (98) of the vehicle (10).

Claims

1. A collision sensing system for a vehicle comprising:

at least one two-dimensional coil sensor attached to a vehicle structure; and

a controller in communication with said at least one two-dimensional coil sensor and detecting a collision event in response to movement of said vehicle structure relative to a conductive member of the vehicle.

2. A system as in claim 1 wherein said at least one two-dimensional coil sensor is configured to generate a magnetic field, said controller detecting change in said magnetic field as a result of said movement.

3. A system as in claim 1 wherein said at least one two-dimensional coil sensor is adhered to said vehicle structure.

4. A system as in claim 1 wherein said at least one two-dimensional coil sensor comprises:

a base layer; and

a coil applied on said base layer.

5. A system as in claim 1 wherein said at least one two-dimensional coil sensor comprises:

a coil layer; and

at least one lamination layer attached to said coil layer.

6. A system as in claim 1 wherein said at least one two-dimensional coil sensor comprises at least one adhesive layer.

7. A system as in claim 1 wherein said at least one two-dimensional coil sensor comprises at least two terminals, said controller in communication with said at least two terminals.

8. A system as in claim 1 wherein said at least one two-dimensional coil sensor comprises a printed circuit.

9. A system as in claim 1 comprising a signal conditioner coupled between said at least one two-dimensional coil sensor and said controller.

10. A system as in claim 1 wherein said controller determines a velocity of said vehicle structure relative to said conductive member in response to said movement.

11. A system as in claim 1 wherein said at least one two-dimensional coil sensor comprises:

a first coil attached to a first vehicle structure; and

a second coil attached to a second vehicle structure;

said controller detecting said collision event in response to movement of said first coil relative to said second coil.

12. A collision detection and safety countermeasure system for a vehicle comprising:

at least one coil sensor adhered to a vehicle structure; and

a controller in communication with said at least one coil sensor and generating a countermeasure signal in response to movement by said vehicle structure relative to a conductive member of the vehicle.

13. A system as in claim 12 wherein said at least one coil sensor is configured to generate a magnetic field, said controller detecting change in said magnetic field as a result of said movement.

14. A system as in claim 12 wherein said at least one coil sensor comprises a two-dimensional coil.

15. A system as in claim 12 wherein said controller in generating said countermeasure signal generates a passive countermeasure signal.

16. A system as in claim 12 wherein said controller determines a change in distance between said vehicle structure and said conductive member in response to said movement.

17. A system as in claim 12 wherein said at least one coil sensor comprises:

a first coil attached to a first vehicle structure; and

a second coil attached to a second vehicle structure;

said controller detecting a collision event in response to movement of said first coil relative to said second coil.

18. A system as in claim 12 wherein said at least one coil sensor is laminated.

19. A method of detecting a collision to a vehicle structure comprising:

generating a magnetic field via a vehicle structure mounted coil having a plurality of flexible layers; and

generating a collision signal indicative of a change in said magnetic field due to an alteration in a conductive member of the vehicle.

20. A method as in claim 19 wherein generating a collision signal comprises generating a signal indicative of a deformation amount of said vehicle structure.