DEVICE FOR DETECTING THE CHARACTERISTICS OF AN IMPACT INTO A MOTOR VEHICLE

• US 20110071733A1
• Filed: 03/20/2009
• Published: 03/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG), Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG), Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Spannaus, Paul, Jacob, Susanne, Brandmeier, Thomas, Feser, Michael, Paggel, Jens, Saulich, Sigrid
• Granted Patent: US 8,532,883 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/47
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/483 with obstacle sensors of electric or electronic type
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01302 monitoring vehicle body vibrations or noise
• 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: G01M 17/007 Wheeled or endless-tracked vehicles G01M17/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/0078 Shock-testing of vehicles

Abstract

A device for the detection of the characteristics of an impact into a motor vehicle includes at least one signal generating unit for generating a defined acoustic impulse sequence depending on the speed of the impact, particularly a structure-borne acoustic impulse sequence due to a deformation of a chassis component of the motor vehicle. The acoustic impulse sequence is generated by way of a mechanical activation of the signal generating device caused by the deformation. A sensor system is disposed to detect the defined acoustic impulse sequence. An analysis unit analyses the signals supplied by the sensor system such that information can be supplied on the characteristics of the impact.

Claims

1-15. -15. (canceled)

16. A device for detecting the characteristics of an impact into a motor vehicle, comprising

at least one signal generation unit for generating a defined acoustic impulse sequence depending on a speed of the impact, the acoustic impulse sequence being due to a deformation of a bodywork component of the motor vehicle and being generated by a mechanical actuation of said signal generation unit caused by the deformation;

a sensor system configured to detect the defined acoustic impulse sequence and to generate sensor signals; and

an analysis unit configured to receive and analyze the sensor signals delivered by said sensor system and to output information about the characteristics of the impact.

17. The device according to claim 16, wherein the impulse sequence is a structure-borne acoustic impulse sequence.

18. The device according to claim 16, wherein the acoustic impulses generated by said at least one signal generation unit and defined by a structure of said signal generation unit are generated independently of structure-borne acoustic signals that arise from the deformation of the bodywork component.

19. The device according to claim 18, wherein the acoustic impulses generated by said at least one signal generation unit are such that the impulses are identifiable by said sensor system from a mixed signal composed of the structure-borne acoustic signals generated by the bodywork structure and the acoustic impulses.

20. The device according to claim 16, wherein said signal generation unit includes a signal generation unit disposed on a left-hand side of the motor vehicle and a signal generation unit disposed on a right-hand side of the motor vehicle.

21. The device according to claim 16, wherein said a least one signal generation unit is integrated into, or disposed on, a conventional accident damage element, with the conventional accident damage element connecting a flexible cross member of a fender to a longitudinal vehicle member of the motor vehicle.

22. The device according to claim 16, wherein said at least one signal generation unit comprises a plurality of elements for generating structure-borne sound, capable of being activated in turn depending on a speed of the deformation by a plunger that is movably disposed relative to said plurality of elements for generating the structure-borne sound, with an acoustic impulse being generated in each case on an activation thereof.

23. The device according to claim 22, wherein a breakage or deformation of said structure-borne sound generating element is initiated to cause the activation of a respective said structure-borne sound generating element.

24. The device according to claim 22, wherein said elements for generating structure-borne sound are arranged at defined distances from each other to implement an encoded acoustic impulse sequence.

25. The device according to claim 22, wherein said elements for generating structure-borne sound include bolts, screws, pins or remodeled material sections made from a hard, brittle material that are broken by deformation by said plunger that is moved relative to said elements.

26. The device according to claim 22, wherein said elements for generating structure-borne sound are projections arranged in a comb-shape, and movable by deformation relative to said plunger or a barb and capable to be deflected and/or excited into a vibration by engaging with the plunger or barb.

27. The device according to claim 22, wherein said plunger is movably supported on the conventional accident damage element and rests with a first end on the flexible cross member or is connected to the flexible cross member so that through a deformation of the flexible cross member in a direction of the conventional accident damage element a movement of said plunger relative to the conventional accident damage element with activation of said elements generating the structure-borne sound results.

28. The device according to claim 16, wherein said signal generation unit is embodied by a conventional accident damage element and/or by a flexible cross member of a fender connected to the conventional accident damage element.

29. The device according to claim 28, wherein one or both of the conventional accident damage element or the flexible cross member comprise a honeycomb structure formed with sections of different-sized honeycombs, with said honeycombs being activatable through a deformation or breakage and on activation of which an acoustic impulse sequence is generated which depends on a sectional size of said honeycombs.

30. The device according to claim 28, wherein one or both of the conventional accident damage element or the flexible cross member comprises a laminated structure activatable by delamination as a result of an action of an external force, wherein an acoustic impulse or a structure-borne impulse dependent on the speed is generated by the deformation during activation.

31. The device according to claim 16, wherein said signal generation unit is integrated in, or disposed on, a conventional accident damage element, or said signal generation unit is formed of elements generating a structure-borne sound, and wherein an embodiment of said signal-generation unit is different on a left-hand side of the motor vehicle from a right-hand side of the motor vehicle.