Triggering mechanism for a safety device in a vehicle, particularly for a side airbag
First Claim
1. A triggering mechanism for a safety device in a vehicle having a structural element, comprising:
- a deformation sensor formed of at least one pressure-sensitive sensor element arranged directly under an outer skin of the vehicle, said deformation sensor emitting electric deformation signals in an event of a deformation of the outer skin;
an evaluation circuit which receives the deformation signals and determines a rate of deformation in order to trigger the safety device if a threshold value is exceeded;
a carrier plate arranged substantially parallel to the outer skin, said at least one sensor element being secured on the carrier plate;
spacer elements for supporting the carrier plate on said structural element in the vehicle, said structural element extending parallel to the outer skin;
wherein, in the event of the deformation of the outer skin due to an outer force effect, a first sensor signal of the sensor element having its pressure-sensitive side facing the outer skin is generated; and
wherein said spacer elements are constructed so as to yield if said outer force effect increases above a predetermined threshold in a manner such that the carrier plate is brought toward the structural element, a second sensor signal is emitted when the carrier plate presses against the structural element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A triggering mechanism for a side airbag has a deformation sensor for determining a rate of deformation. The deformation sensor is made up of a total of two pressure-sensitive sensor elements, which are attached on a firm carrier plate parallel to the outer skin inside the vehicle. Spacer elements support the carrier plate against a structural element running parallel to the outer skin. The pressure-sensitive surface of a first sensor element in this case faces the outer skin and the pressure-sensitive surface of a second sensor element faces the structural element. The spacer elements are designed, for example, using predetermined buckling points, clip elements, etc., in such a manner that they withstand a pressure on the support plate only up to a threshold and, if the threshold is exceeded, yield abruptly. This is so that, in the event of a deformation-induced force effect, the sensor elements respond one after the other. An evaluation circuit checks the time interval between the two sensor signals and, below a critical time, sends a triggering signal to the side airbag.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A triggering mechanism for a safety device in a vehicle having a structural element, comprising:
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a deformation sensor formed of at least one pressure-sensitive sensor element arranged directly under an outer skin of the vehicle, said deformation sensor emitting electric deformation signals in an event of a deformation of the outer skin; an evaluation circuit which receives the deformation signals and determines a rate of deformation in order to trigger the safety device if a threshold value is exceeded; a carrier plate arranged substantially parallel to the outer skin, said at least one sensor element being secured on the carrier plate; spacer elements for supporting the carrier plate on said structural element in the vehicle, said structural element extending parallel to the outer skin; wherein, in the event of the deformation of the outer skin due to an outer force effect, a first sensor signal of the sensor element having its pressure-sensitive side facing the outer skin is generated; and wherein said spacer elements are constructed so as to yield if said outer force effect increases above a predetermined threshold in a manner such that the carrier plate is brought toward the structural element, a second sensor signal is emitted when the carrier plate presses against the structural element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification