Apparatus and method for enhanced impact sensing
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An impact sensing apparatus for a motor vehicle comprising:
- a control module having an accelerometer; and
a first contact switch mounted in a bumper of the motor vehicle in an open position, said first contact switch in communication with said control module;
a second contact switch mounted in a bumper of the motor vehicle in an open position, said second contact switch in communication with said control module;
wherein upon one of said contact switches being urged by said bumper to a closed position, said control module lowers an airbag deployment threshold and deploys an airbag in response to said accelerometer detecting a change in velocity of the motor vehicle exceeding said threshold.
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Abstract
An impact sensing apparatus for a motor vehicle includes a control module having an accelerometer and a contact switch mounted in a bumper of the motor vehicle. The contact switch is in an open position and is in communication with the control module. The control module deploys an airbag when the accelerometer detects a change in velocity of the motor vehicle exceeding a threshold lowered when the contact switch is urged by the bumper to a closed position.
30 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An impact sensing apparatus for a motor vehicle comprising:
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a control module having an accelerometer; and a first contact switch mounted in a bumper of the motor vehicle in an open position, said first contact switch in communication with said control module; a second contact switch mounted in a bumper of the motor vehicle in an open position, said second contact switch in communication with said control module; wherein upon one of said contact switches being urged by said bumper to a closed position, said control module lowers an airbag deployment threshold and deploys an airbag in response to said accelerometer detecting a change in velocity of the motor vehicle exceeding said threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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3. An impact sensing apparatus for a motor vehicle comprising:
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a control module having an accelerometer; and a contact switch mounted in a bumper of the motor vehicle in an open position, said contact switch in communication with said control module; wherein upon said contact switch being urged by said bumper to a closed position, said control module lowers an airbag deployment threshold and deploys an airbag in response to said accelerometer detecting a change in velocity of the motor vehicle exceeding said threshold, wherein said contact switch is mounted within said bumper such that a low speed impact can close the contact switch, and wherein the low speed impact lies below a threshold that would require airbag deployment. - View Dependent Claims (4)
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9. An impact sensing apparatus for a motor vehicle comprising:
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a control module having an accelerometer; and two contact switches mounted in a bumper of the motor vehicle, each contact switch being in a first position and in communication with said control module; wherein said control module lowers an airbag deployment threshold to a first threshold line when one of said contact switches is urged by said bumper to a second position, and wherein said control module lowers an airbag deployment threshold to a second threshold line when both of said contact switches are urged by said bumper to a second position. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. In a motor vehicle having a safety system for deploying an airbag when motion of the motor vehicle exceeds a specified airbag deployment threshold, a method for impact sensing comprising the steps of:
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lowering the airbag deployment threshold to a first level when a first contact switch mounted in a bumper of said motor vehicle is urged by said bumper from a first position to a second position; and lowering the airbag deployment threshold to a second level when a second contact switch mounted in the bumper of said motor vehicle is urged by said bumper from a first position to a second position. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification