Collision sensing apparatus

• US 5,934,703 A
• Filed: 04/22/1997
• Issued: 08/10/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Mimura, Etsuhisa, Ishimoto, Shuichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Rice, Kenneth R.
• Application Number:
  US08/844,789
• Time in Patent Office: 840 Days
• Field of Search: 180/274, 280/734, 280/735, 280/730.2
• US Class Current: 280/734
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0006 Lateral collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01006 Mounting of electrical components in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0132 responsive to vehicle motion parameters , e.g. to vehicle longitudinal or transversal deceleration or speed value
• 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: G01P 15/00 Measuring acceleration; Measuring deceleration; Measuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration

Abstract

A collision sensing apparatus for detecting a side collision of a vehicle includes an acceleration sensor disposed on a frame member of the vehicle. The sensor is capable of detecting an acceleration occurring due to a side collision against a center pillar from an outer direction of the vehicle. The sensor is also capable of detecting an acceleration occurring as a result of a transmission of a displacement load based on a deformation of a door and oriented toward an interior of a vehicle compartment that occurs due to a side collision against the door from an outer direction of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A collision sensing apparatus for detecting a side collision of a vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle frame member, and

an acceleration sensor disposed on said frame member for detecting an acceleration occurring due to a side collision against a center pillar from an outer direction of the vehicle, and for detecting an acceleration occurring as a result of a transmission of a displacement load based on a deformation of a door and oriented toward an interior of a vehicle compartment that occurs due to a side collision against the door from an outer direction of the vehicle.

2. A collision sensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said acceleration sensor is mounted so as to be relatively displaceable with respect to the frame member in conjunction with the deformation of the door toward the interior of the vehicle compartment.

3. A collision sensing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said acceleration sensor is mounted at a position on the frame member which is located between a longitudinally central portion of the door and a pillar provided in the rear of the door.

4. A collision sensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said acceleration sensor is mounted at a position on the frame member which is located between a longitudinally central portion of the door and a pillar provided in the rear of the door.

5. A collision sensing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a mounting member for mounting said acceleration sensor on the frame member.

6. A collision sensing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said mounting member is a bracket joined to a side sill constituting the frame member.

7. A collision sensing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said mounting member is a projecting portion joined to a floor cross member and a side sill which constitute the frame member.

8. A collision sensing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said mounting member includes a threadedly engaging member which can be passed through a slit formed in a floor cross member constituting the frame member and a flange which is provided on said acceleration sensor and through which said threadedly engaging member can pass.

9. A collision sensing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said mounting member is disposed so as to be spaced apart a predetermined distance from the door.

10. A collision sensing apparatus for detecting a side collision of a vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle frame member, and

an acceleration sensor disposed on said frame member for detecting an acceleration occurring due to a side collision against a center pillar from an outer direction of the vehicle, and for detecting an acceleration occurring as a result of a transmission of a displacement load based on a deformation of a door and oriented toward an interior of a vehicle compartment that occurs due to a side collision against the door from an outer direction of the vehicle,

wherein said acceleration sensor is mounted at a position on the frame member which is located between a longitudinally central portion of the door and a pillar provided in the rear of the door.

11. A collision sensing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said acceleration sensor is mounted so as to be relatively displaceable with respect to the frame member in conjunction with the deformation of the door toward the interior of the vehicle compartment.

12. A collision sensing apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising:

a mounting member for mounting said acceleration sensor on the frame member.

13. A collision sensing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said mounting member is a bracket joined to a side sill constituting the frame member.

14. A collision sensing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said mounting member is a projecting portion joined to a floor cross member and a side sill which constitute the frame member.

15. A collision sensing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said mounting member includes a threadedly engaging member which can be passed through a slit formed in a floor cross member constituting the frame member and a flange which is provided on said acceleration sensor and through which said threadedly engaging member can pass.

16. A collision sensing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said mounting member is disposed so as to be spaced apart a predetermined distance from the door.