Automotive bumper active energy absorption system
First Claim
1. A method for active control of a vehicle bumper damper comprising:
- sensing collision data in real time; and
configuring the vehicle bumper damper based on the sensed data, wherein a bumper damper default configuration is optimized for damping a high-speed collision and wherein the method configures the bumper damper only when the sensed data indicate a low-speed collision.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Active control of a vehicle bumper damper is provided. A damper controller receives data from a collision data acquisition device and sends a control signal to configure an active damper based on the received data. During a collision or immediately preceding a collision the vehicle bumper damper is adjusted using the damper controller mechanism that responds to real-time collision information. A vehicle including an active control system for a vehicle bumper is provided. The vehicle includes a collision data acquisition device, a damper controller coupled to the collision data acquisition device, and an active damper coupled to the damper controller. The damper controller receives data from the collision data acquisition device and sends a control signal to configure the active damper based on the received data.
17 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for active control of a vehicle bumper damper comprising:
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sensing collision data in real time; and
configuring the vehicle bumper damper based on the sensed data, wherein a bumper damper default configuration is optimized for damping a high-speed collision and wherein the method configures the bumper damper only when the sensed data indicate a low-speed collision. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An active control system for a vehicle bumper damper comprising:
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a collision data acquisition device;
a damper controller operably coupled to the collision data acquisition device, and;
an active damper operably coupled to the damper controller, wherein the damper controller receives data from the collision data acquisition device and sends a control signal to configure the active damper based on the received data, wherein a bumper damper default configuration is optimized for damping a high-speed collision and wherein the system configures the bumper damper only when the sensed data indicate a low-speed collision. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A vehicle including:
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an active control system for a vehicle bumper comprising;
a collision data acquisition device;
a damper controller operably coupled to the collision data acquisition device, and;
an active damper operably coupled to the damper controller, wherein the damper controller receives data from the collision data acquisition device and sends a control signal to configure the active damper based on the received data, wherein a bumper damper default configuration is optimized for damping a high-speed collision and wherein the system configures the bumper damper only when the sensed data indicate a low-speed collision. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. An apparatus for active control of a vehicle bumper damper comprising:
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means for sensing collision data in real time; and
means for configuring the vehicle bumper damper based on the sensed data, wherein a bumper damper default configuration is optimized for damping a high-speed collision and wherein the system configures the bumper damper only when the sensed data indicate a low-speed collision.
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Specification