Vehicle impact detection sensor system

• US 6,337,653 B1
• Filed: 06/15/2000
• Issued: 01/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mind Fusion, LLC (Ascend Innovation Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Company LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Bullinger, Wilfried, Hartlieb, Markus, Büchler, Josef
• Primary Examiner(s): Sotomayor, John B.
• Application Number:
  US09/595,603
• Time in Patent Office: 572 Days
• Field of Search: 342/70, 342/71, 342/72, 342/104, 342/114, 342/115, 280/728.3, 280/735, 280/732, 280/753, 340/435, 340/436, 340/903, 340/438, 340/904, 701/45, 701/301, 701/49, 702/143, 180/169, 180/272, 180/273, 180/287, 297/216.12, 297/408
• US Class Current: 342/72
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0006 Lateral collision
• 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: G01S 13/50 Systems of measurement based on relative movement of target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/88 Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications electromagnetic prospecting or detecting of objects, e.g. near-field detection, G01V3/00

Abstract

A vehicle impact detection sensor for providing an input variable for an activation logic unit or for generating an activation signal for an active occupant protection system, has a radar transmitter and a radar receiver which are arranged on a sensor-carrying superstructure of the vehicle. The radar receiver receives radar waves which are emitted by the radar transmitter and reflected at an impact-relevant reflexion surface that moves relative to the sensor-carrying superstructure in the event of an impact. A Doppler frequency evaluation unit uses the frequency of the transmitted radar waves and the frequency of the radar waves reflected from the impact-relevant reflexion surface to determine the associated Doppler frequency and detects therefrom a relative movement of the impact-relevant reflexion surface with reference to the sensor-carrying vehicle superstructure. The impact-relevant reflexion surface is a surface permanently connected to the vehicle, preferably, an outer surface of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle impact detection sensor system for an active occupant protection system, the vehicle impact detection system having

a radar transmitter and a radar receiver which are arranged on a sensor-carrying superstructure of the vehicle, the radar receiver receiving radar waves which are emitted by the radar transmitter and reflected at an impact-relevant reflexion surface permanently connected to the vehicle which moves relative to the sensor-carrying superstructure in the event of an impact, and

a Doppler frequency evaluation unit responsive to the frequency of the transmitted radar waves and the frequency of the radar waves reflected from the impact-relevant reflexion surface to determine the associated Doppler frequency and detecting therefrom a relative movement of the impact-relevant reflexion surface with reference to the sensor-carrying superstructure and determining if an impact is occurring based on the relative movement of the impact-relevant reflexion surface with reference to the sensor-carrying superstructure.

2. The vehicle impact detection sensor system according to claim 1 further including means for detecting an oscillatory movement of the impact-relevant reflexion surface.

3. The vehicle impact detection sensor system according to claim 1 wherein the radar transmitter is arranged in such a way that it emits radar waves into a cavity of the vehicle which is bounded at least partly by the impact-relevant reflexion surface.

4. The vehicle impact detection sensor system according to claim 2 wherein the radar transmitter is arranged in such a way that it emits radar waves into a cavity of the vehicle which is bounded at least partly by the impact-relevant reflexion surface.

5. The vehicle impact detection sensor system according to claim 1 wherein the impact-relevant reflexion surface is an outer surface of the vehicle.

6. The vehicle impact detection sensor system according to claim 3, wherein the cavity is a hollow structure in the vehicle formed by a frame longitudinal member of the vehicle and a frame cross member of the vehicle.