SYSTEM FOR SENSING COLLISION OF MOTOR VEHICLES

• US 3,750,100 A
• Filed: 03/09/1972
• Issued: 07/31/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Atsushi Ueda
• Original Assignee: Atsushi Ueda
• Inventors: Ueda, Atsushi
• Primary Examiner(s): Waring, Alvin H.
• Application Number:
  US05/233,188
• Time in Patent Office: 509 Days
• Field of Search: 340/52H,53,61,71,262,263 200/61.45
• US Class Current: 340/436
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/0891 with indication of predetermined acceleration values G01P15/135 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 35/14 Switches operated by change of acceleration, e.g. by shock or vibration, inertia switch wherein the liquid constitutes a contact of the switch H01H29/002

Abstract

A collision speed sensor senses a collision speed in excess of its predetermined value to produce an output for application to a pulse generator connected to an AND gate. Then the generator generates a pulse having a predetermined fixed duration. A deceleration sensor also connected to the AND gate responds to a deceleration signal in excess of its predetermined value to produce a deceleration pulse. Only in the simultaneous presence of both pulses the gate produces a signal indicating a dangerous collision having occurred.

Claims

1. A system for sensing a collision of motor vehicles, comprising, in combination, first means for sensing a collision speed at which a motor vehicle collides with an obstacle to provide a first output when the collision speed exceeds a predetermined minimum magnitude, second means for sensing a deceleration speed developed on the motor vehicle upon its collision to produce a second output when the deceleration speed exceeds a predetermined minimum magnitude, third means connected to said first means to storing a signal representative of said first output to produce a third output for a predetermined fixed time interval, and fourth means connected to both said second means and said third means to produce an output signal in accordance with the AND logic operation performed thereby.

2. A system for sensing a collision of motor vehicles as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first means includes a movable member movably disposed on one portion of the motor vehicle to respond to the collision to be immediately moved a predetermined fixed distance, and means for measuring a time interval for which the movement of said movable member is effected.

3. A system for sensing a collision of motor vehicles as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first means includes a stationary electromagnetic coil, and a permanent magnet responsive to the collision to pass through said electromagnet coil to induce across said coil a voltage proportional to the collision speed.

4. A system for sensing a collision of motor vehicles as claimed in claim 1, wherein said third means includes a time memory driven with said first output from said first means to produce a pulse having a predetermined fixed duration.

5. A system for sensing a collision of motor vehicles as claimed in claim 4, wherein said duration is of about 20 milliseconds.

6. A system for sensing a collision of motor vehicles as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second means includes a movable member of electrically conDuctive material disposed normally at its predetermined position to be movable in response to the collision, and electrical contact means disposed at its position spaced away from the normal position of said movable member by a predetermined fixed distance, said electrical contact means being electrically interconnected through said movable member after having moved at least said fixed distance.