Collision detection system

• US 20080098821A1
• Filed: 10/16/2007
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Tanabe, Takatoshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,631,565 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/775
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/483 with obstacle sensors of electric or electronic type
• 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

Abstract

A collision detection system for a vehicle includes a bumper reinforcement fixed to a side member of the vehicle, a pressure sensor placed in front of the bumper reinforcement and having at least one pressure-sensitive member, and a load plate placed in front of the pressure sensor. The load plate has a base member and at least one leg member extending from the base member toward the bumper reinforcement. The base member has a first portion facing the pressure sensitive member of the pressure sensor and a second portion fixed to the leg member. The pressure sensor can have a small pressure-sensitive range, because the leg member reduces pressure applied through the load plate to the pressure sensor.

Claims

1. A collision detection system for a vehicle comprising:

a bumper reinforcement that is fixed to a side member of the vehicle;

a pressure sensor that is placed in front of the bumper reinforcement and has at least one pressure-sensitive member responsive to pressure; and

a load plate that is placed in front of the pressure sensor,

wherein the load plate has a base member and at least one leg member extending from the base member toward the bumper reinforcement, and

wherein the base member has a first portion facing the pressure sensitive member of the pressure sensor and a second portion fixed to the leg member.

2. The collision detection system according to claim 1,

wherein the at least one pressure-sensitive member comprises a plurality of pressure-sensitive members arranged in a side-to-side direction of the vehicle, and

wherein the at least one leg member comprises a plurality of leg members arranged in the side-to-side direction of the vehicle.

3. The collision detection system according to claim 2,

wherein the pressure-sensitive members are unevenly arranged in the side-to-side direction of the vehicle.

4. The collision detection system according to claim 2,

wherein the leg members are unevenly arranged in the side-to-side direction of the vehicle.

5. The collision detection system according to claim 1,

wherein the pressure sensor is a mat-type pressure-sensitive sensor.