Impact sensor post collision notification system

• US 6,828,904 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2002
• Issued: 12/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Kula, Paul Kevin, Schondorf, Steven Yellin
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Previl, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US09/683,604
• Publication Number:
  US 20030137410A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,048 Days
• Field of Search: 340/436, 340/438, 340/439, 340/458, 340/903, 340/435, 340/437, 340/454, 340/467, 340/468, 340/469, 340/472
• US Class Current: 340/436
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0816 Indicating performance data, e.g. occurrence of a malfunction
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers

Abstract

An impact sensor is provided including a counter electrically coupled to the sensor and storing an impact sensor collision number. The impact collision number represents whether the impact sensor has been on a vehicle that has been involved in a collision. A method for indicating that the impact sensor has been on a vehicle that has been involved in a collision is also provided. The method includes sensing a collision and generating a collision signal in response to the collision. An impact sensor collision number is incremented and indicated in response to the collision signal.

Claims

1. An impact sensor comprising a counter electrically coupled to and contained within the impact sensor and storing an impact sensor collision number.

2. An impact sensor as in claim 1 further comprising a first indicator electrically coupled to said impact sensor and indicating when said impact sensor collision number is greater than a predetermined value.

3. A system as in claim 2 wherein said first indicator comprises at least one of:

a pulsating indicator, a light bulb, an LED, a fluorescent light, an audible signal, a visual signal, a 7-segment display, an analog gage, a digital meter, a video system, and a hazard light.

4. A system as in claim 2 further comprising a second indicator for indicating whether the impact sensor has been serviced since the impact sensor'"'"'s last activation.

5. A system as in claim 1 wherein said impact sensor collision number is incrementable and irresettable.

6. An impact sensor post collision notification system for a first impact sensor comprising:

a counter electrically coupled to the first impact sensor, said counter storing a first impact sensor collision number that is irresettable;

an first indicator; and

a controller electrically coupled to said counter and said first indicator, said controller generating a notification signal and transferring said notification signal to said first indicator when said first impact sensor collision number is greater than a predetermined value.

7. A system as in claim 6 further comprising:

a second impact sensor electrically coupled to said controller and generating a second collision signal, wherein said controller increments said first impact sensor collision number in response to said second collision signal.

8. A system as in claim 6 wherein said first impact sensor comprises said counter.

9. A system as in claim 6 wherein said controller comprises said counter.

10. A system as in claim 6 wherein said first impact sensor collision number is nondecrementable.

11. A system as in claim 6 wherein said first impact sensor collision number is attached to said first impact sensor, and is incrementable and nondecrementable.

12. A system as in claim 6 wherein said first indicator indicates when said first impact sensor collision number is less than or equal to said predetermined value.

13. A system as in claim 6 further comprising a second indicator for indicating whether the impact sensor has been serviced since the impact sensor'"'"'s last activation in a collision.

14. A system as in claim 13 wherein said second indicator is resettable using special specific impact sensor equipment or reset codes.

15. A system as in claim 6 wherein said controller signals a fault indicator when said first impact sensor collision number is greater than said predetermined value.

16. A system as in claim 6 wherein said controller increments an impact sensor counter in response to a collision signal.

17. A method for indicating that an impact sensor has been on a vehicle that has been in a collision, said method comprising:

sensing a collision;

generating a collision signal in response to said collision;

incrementing an impact sensor collision number in response to said collision signal comprising incrementing an impact sensor internal counter; and

indicating said impact sensor collision number.

18. A method as in claim 17 wherein sensing a collision comprises sensing at least one of:

a side impact, a front impact, a rear impact, an oblique impact, and a rollover.

19. A method as in claim 17 further comprising storing of said impact sensor collision number.

20. A method as in claim 17 wherein incrementing an impact sensor internal counter comprises incrementing an irresettable impact sensor internal counter.

21. A method as in claim 17 wherein incrementing an impact sensor collision number comprises incrementing a stored value within a controller.