Electronic impact sensor mounted on supporting member

• US 6,676,156 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2002
• Issued: 01/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Ozaki, Tadashi, Kiribayashi, Shinichi, Suzuki, Akira
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHARMA, RASHMI K
• Application Number:
  US10/201,157
• Publication Number:
  US 20030062207A1
• Time in Patent Office: 538 Days
• Field of Search: 280/735, 280/734
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01006 Mounting of electrical components in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01 Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents electrical circuits for transmission of signals between steering wheel and the vehicle itself B60R16/027; for electrically actuating belt retractor locking means B60R22/343
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/023 for acceleration measuring devices

Abstract

A circuit board having an impact sensor element thereon is mounted on a depressed portion formed between a pair of thick portions of a supporting member. The supporting member includes a pair of protecting walls between which a connector leading out electrical signals from the circuit board is disposed. The supporting member is fixed to a support frame of a vehicle by screws or bolts inserted through the thick portions. The supporting member is formed with a resin material as a unitary body. Since the circuit board and the connector are mounted on the supporting member at positions protected by solid structures of the supporting member, they are prevented from being hit by vehicle parts falling apart when a collision occurs.

Claims

1. An electronic impact sensor comprising a supporting member and an impact sensor circuit board mounted on the supporting member, the supporting member comprising:

a mounting base having a depressed portion on which the impact sensor circuit board is mounted, a pair of thick portions formed at both sides of the depressed portions for fixing the supporting member on a support frame by inserting fixing members through the thick portions, and tapered front walls formed at a front side of the depressed portion and the pair of thick portions, the tapered front walls descending forward from the front side; and

a substantially U-shaped protecting member formed at a rear side of the mounting base for protecting an electrical connector disposed therein, the protecting member having a pair of protecting walls extending from the mounting base toward the rear side thereof.

2. The electronic impact sensor as in claim 1, wherein:

a width of the mounting base is wider than an outside width of the pair of protecting walls.

3. The electronic impact sensor as in claim 2, wherein:

the pair of thick portions are connected to the pair of protecting walls by tapered sidewalls formed at both sides thereof.

4. The electronic impact sensor as in claim 1, wherein:

each fixing member is composed of a screw surrounded by a collar tube.

5. The electronic impact sensor as in claim 1, wherein:

the mounting base and the protecting member are integrally formed with a resin material, forming the supporting member as a single unit.