Device for detecting a deformation of a component

• US 7,025,163 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2002
• Issued: 04/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Fuertsch, Matthias, Lorenz, Gerd
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, David R.
• Application Number:
  US10/311,919
• Publication Number:
  US 20040099462A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,467 Days
• Field of Search: 180/274, 280/735, 280/784, 340/436, 200/61.53, 200/83.R
• US Class Current: 180/274
• 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: G01R 31/318508 Board Level Test, e.g. P1500 Standard features related to boundary scan G01R31/318533

Abstract

A device for detecting a deformation of a component, for example, in the automotive industry, having a deformable hollow body arrangement assigned as a deformation indicator to the component and having at least one orifice area, and at least one sensor device situated in the particular orifice area for measuring an air flow corresponding to the deformation of the hollow body arrangement. In addition, a method of detecting such a deformation of a component and activating an appropriate safety application is described. The measured data is analyzed by an analyzer unit after measurement of the deformation, and a suitable safety application optionally being activated if the measured data of the at least one sensor device indicates a deformation of hollow body arrangement and thus of the component.

Claims

1. A device for detecting a deformation of a component, comprising:

a deformable hollow body arrangement having at least one orifice area, the deformable hollow body being assigned to the component as a deformation indicator; and

at least one sensor device disposed in the at least one orifice area and configured to measure an air flow corresponding to the deformation of the deformable hollow body arrangement,

wherein the component is an automotive component and the at least one sensor device is configured as one of an air flow sensor and an air velocity sensor.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the deformable hollow body arrangement is a plastically or elastically deformable container.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the deformable hollow body arrangement is a plastic container.

4. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one fastening device disposed on the component, wherein the deformable hollow body is configured to be mounted using the at least one fastening device and wherein the at least one fastening device is configured to accommodate the deformation of the deformable hollow body.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the fastening device is a fastening eye.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the orifice area of the deformable hollow body arrangement is mounted so as to be protected from external air flows.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the deformable hollow body arrangement is provided in an interior panel of a vehicle.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the deformable hollow body arrangement is provided in a door of the vehicle.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the component is the deformable hollow body arrangement.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor includes a plurality of sensors of a same type.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor includes a plurality of sensors of different types.

12. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a safety application configured to be activated if a measured data of the at least one sensor device yields an air flow value in the orifice area of the deformable hollow body arrangement having a magnitude exceeding a predetermined threshold value.

13. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a safety application configured to be activated if a measured data of the at least one sensor device yields an air flow value in the orifice area of the deformable hollow body arrangement having a variation over time resembling a predetermined signal pattern.

14. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a safety application configured to be activated if a measured data of the at least one sensor device yields an air flow value in the orifice area of the deformable hollow body arrangement having a variation over time one of equal to or exceeding a predetermined signal pattern.

15. A method of detecting a deformation of a component and activating a safety application, comprising:

measuring a deformation of a hollow body arrangement assigned to the component as a deformation indicator using at least one sensor device, the hollow body arrangement including at least one orifice area, wherein the at least one sensor device is configured as one of an air flow sensor and an air velocity sensor;

analyzing measured data of the at least one sensor device using an analyzer unit; and

activating the safety application if the measured data of the at least one sensor device indicates a deformation of the hollow body arrangement has occurred.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the component is an automotive component.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the safety application is a vehicle occupant safety application, the vehicle occupant safety application being activated if the measured data of the at least one sensor device yields an air flow values in the orifice area of the hollow body arrangement having a magnitude exceeding a predetermined threshold value.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein the safety application is a vehicle occupant safety application, the vehicle occupant safety application being activated if the measured data of the at least one sensor device yields air flow values in the orifice area of the hollow body arrangement having a variation over time resembling a predetermined signal pattern.

19. The method according to claim 15, wherein the safety application is a vehicle occupant safety application, the vehicle occupant safety application being activated if the measured data of the at least one sensor device yields air flow values in the orifice area of the hollow body arrangement having a variation over time one of equal to or exceeding a predetermined signal pattern.

20. The method according to claim 15, wherein the hollow body arrangement is a plastically or elastically deformable container.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the hollow body arrangement is a plastic container.

22. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:

mounting the hollow body arrangement on the component using at least one fastening device, wherein the at least one fastening device is configured to allow a deformation of the hollow body arrangement.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the at least one fastening device is a fastening eye.

24. The method according to claim 15, wherein the orifice area of the hollow body arrangement is arranged so as to be protected from external air flows.

25. The method according to claim 15, wherein the hollow body arrangement is provided in an interior panel of a vehicle.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the hollow body arrangement is provided in a door of the vehicle.

27. The method according to claim 15, wherein the component is the hollow body arrangement.

28. The method according to claim 15, wherein the at least one sensor includes a plurality of sensors, the method further comprising:

combining several of the plurality of sensors of a same type or of a different type.