Vehicle collision state detecting device
First Claim
1. A vehicle collision state detecting device of a vehicle, comprising:
- a front vehicle structural section having a predetermined collision collapsing characteristic;
a tension member with a prescribed initial tensile force extending in a width-wise direction of the front vehicle structural section;
left and right tensile force sensors arranged on the front vehicle structural section to measure left and right tensile forces of the tension member; and
a collision state identifying section configured to identify a collision state of the vehicle based on a comparison between the left and right tensile forces of the tension member measured by the left and right tensile force sensors.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle collision state detecting device is configured to provide an extremely effective collision protection by identifying a wide range of collision states. The vehicle collision state detecting device basically comprises a front vehicle structural section, a tension member, left and right tensile force sensors and a collision state identifying section. The front vehicle structural section has a predetermined collision collapsing characteristic. The tension member has a prescribed initial tensile force extending in a width-wise direction of the front vehicle structural section. The tensile force sensors measure left and right tensile forces of the tension member. The tension member and the tensile force sensors form a collision sensing device in one possible embodiment. The collision state identifying section identifies a collision state of the vehicle. At least one passenger restraining device is activated differently depending on the detected collision state identified by the collision state identifying section.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A vehicle collision state detecting device of a vehicle, comprising:
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a front vehicle structural section having a predetermined collision collapsing characteristic; a tension member with a prescribed initial tensile force extending in a width-wise direction of the front vehicle structural section; left and right tensile force sensors arranged on the front vehicle structural section to measure left and right tensile forces of the tension member; and a collision state identifying section configured to identify a collision state of the vehicle based on a comparison between the left and right tensile forces of the tension member measured by the left and right tensile force sensors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A vehicle collision state detecting device comprising:
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front vehicle structural supporting means for providing structural support to a front portion of a vehicle; tensioned means for providing a prescribed initial tensile force extending in a width-wise direction of the front vehicle structural section; tensile force measuring means for measuring left and right tensile forces of the tensioned means; and collision state identifying means for identifying a collision state of the vehicle based on a comparison between the left and right tensile forces of the tensioned means measured by the tensile force measuring means.
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20. A vehicle collision state detecting device comprising:
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a collision sensing device configured and arranged to be installed on a front portion of a vehicle to produce a collision state signal indicative of a detected collision state of the vehicle; a collision state identifying section operatively coupled to the collision sensing device and configured to identify the detected collision state of the vehicle; at least one passenger restraining device including a first air bag and a second air bag; and a control unit configured and arranged to selectively inflate the at least one passenger restraining device differently depending on the detected collision state identified by the collision state identifying section, the control unit being configured and arranged to set an activation timing of the first and second air bag differently depending on the detected collision state identified by the collision state identifying section.
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21. A method comprising:
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providing a front vehicle structural section having a predetermined collision collapsing characteristic; providing a tension member with a prescribed initial tensile force extending in a width-wise direction of the front vehicle structural section; measuring left and right tensile forces of the tension member; and identifying the collision state of the vehicle as at least one of two different preset collision conditions based on a comparison between the left and right tensile forces of the tension member; and selectively activating at least one passenger restraining device differently depending on the collision state identified.
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Specification