PEDESTRIAN PROTECTION SYSTEM FOR FEET

• US 20170182961A1
• Filed: 12/29/2015
• Published: 06/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Thunder Power New Energy Vehicle Development Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Thunder Power Hong Kong Limited (Thunder Power Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Wu, Tai-Te
• Application Number:
  US14/981,963
• Publication Number:
  US 20170182961A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/003 characterised by occupant or pedestian
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01013 Means for detecting collision, impending collision or roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01034 Controlling a plurality of restraint devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01286 Electronic control units
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/36 using airbags

Abstract

A pedestrian protection system that includes a first sensor that generates a first signal indicating a traffic condition in front of a vehicle. The pedestrian protection system may also include an external airbag system that deploys an external airbag outside of a vehicle. In operation, a processor receives the first signal from the first sensor, processes the first signal to detect a hazard condition, and activates the external airbag system in response to the detected hazard condition to protect at least one of a pedestrian and the vehicle.

Claims

1. A pedestrian protection system, comprising:

a radiant energy sensor configured to generate a first signal indicating a hazard condition on a side of a vehicle;

an optical sensor configured to generate a second signal indicating the hazard condition on the side of the vehicle;

a transmitter configured to transmit the first and second signal;

an external airbag system configured to deploy an external airbag outside of the vehicle;

a first processor remotely located from the vehicle that receives the first signal from the radiant energy sensor and the second signal from the optical sensor, processes and cross-references the first and second signals to detect and verify the hazard condition, and wherein the first processor activates the external airbag system in response to the detected hazard condition to protect at least one of a pedestrian and the vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the external airbag system includes a first airbag coupled to the side of the vehicle.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the external airbag system includes a first retraction system that retracts a deployed first airbag for reuse.

8. The system of claim 3, wherein the external airbag system includes a second airbag coupled to the side of the vehicle.

17. The system of claim 4, wherein the first retraction system is a mechanical actuator configured to pull the deployed first airbag back into the vehicle for reuse.

18. The system of claim 1, comprising a second processor, wherein the second processor is co-located with the vehicle and configured to receive the first signal from the radiant energy sensor and the second signal from the optical sensor, process and cross-reference the first and second signals to detect and verify the hazard condition, and activate the external airbag system in response to the detected hazard condition.

2. (canceled)

5-7. -7. (canceled)

9. A method for deploying a pedestrian protection system, comprising:

receiving a first signal from a radiant energy sensor, the first signal indicating a hazard condition;

receiving a second signal from an optical sensor, the second signal indicating the hazard condition;

transmitting the first and second signals to a processor remotely located from the vehicle;

cross-referencing the first and second signals with the processor;

detecting and verifying the hazard condition in response to the first and second signals with the processor;

receiving a signal indicating the hazard condition from the processor remotely located from the vehicle;

receiving a signal from the processor that activates an external airbag system;

activating the external airbag system in response to the detected hazard condition; and

deploying a first airbag to protect at least one of a pedestrian and a vehicle.

10-16. -16. (canceled)