Vehicle impact detection apparatus and method
First Claim
1. A vehicle impact detection apparatus for protecting an object external of the vehicle comprisinga magnetostrictive sensor for sensing the actual occurrence of an impact of an object with a vehicle, a control unit for processing data collected from the magnetostrictive sensor about the impact with the object, the control unit determines the location on the vehicle that is impacted by the object and determines if the object is a vulnerable road user, wherein the vulnerable road user is selected from the group consisting of pedestrians, cyclists, animals, and motorcyclists, and a safety device actuatable on receipt of a firing signal from the control unit for protecting the vulnerable road user.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle impact detection apparatus has a sensor for sensing impact of an object against a vehicle. A safety device, such as an external airbag or a deployable hood is actuatable on receipt of a firing signal from the sensor. The vehicle impact detection apparatus has a magnetostrictive sensor and a stress-conducting member in the form of an elongate metal bar in the lower air dam area of the bumper of the vehicle. The signal from the sensor is analyzed to determine information about the impact.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A vehicle impact detection apparatus for protecting an object external of the vehicle comprising
a magnetostrictive sensor for sensing the actual occurrence of an impact of an object with a vehicle, a control unit for processing data collected from the magnetostrictive sensor about the impact with the object, the control unit determines the location on the vehicle that is impacted by the object and determines if the object is a vulnerable road user, wherein the vulnerable road user is selected from the group consisting of pedestrians, cyclists, animals, and motorcyclists, and a safety device actuatable on receipt of a firing signal from the control unit for protecting the vulnerable road user.
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11. A vehicle impact detection apparatus for protecting an object external of the vehicle comprising
a magnetostrictive sensor for sensing the actual occurrence of an impact of an object with a vehicle, a control unit for processing data collected from the magnetostrictive sensor about the impact with the object, and the control unit determines the location on the vehicle that is impacted by the object and determines if the object is a vulnerable road user, wherein the vulnerable road user is selected from the group consisting of pedestrians, cyclists, animals, and motorcyclists, and a stress conducting member arranged on or forming part of the body of the vehicle, the sensor being arranged to sense stress waves in the stress conducting member and provide a signal to the control unit.
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21. A method of analyzing an impact of a vehicle with an object external of the vehicle comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a magnetostrictive sensor on a vehicle;
(b) providing a stress conducting member arranged on or forming part of a vehicle;
(c) providing a control unit;
(d) arranging the sensor adjacent the stress conducting member;
(e) sensing stress waves in the stress conducting member caused from the actual occurrence of an impact of an object with a vehicle;
(f) providing a signal to the control unit; and
(g) analyzing the signal to determine the location on the vehicle that is impacted by the object and to determine if the object is a vulnerable road user, wherein the vulnerable road user is selected from the group consisting of pedestrians, cyclists, animals, and motorcyclists. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification