Device for triggering passive passenger safety measures
First Claim
1. A system for triggering passive occupant safety measures in a motor vehicle, comprising:
- a control unit;
a plurality of acceleration sensors for detecting an acceleration caused by an impact of the motor vehicle at different locations of the motor vehicle;
feed lines assigned to the plurality of acceleration sensors, adapted to transmit output signals of the acceleration sensors to the control unit;
wherein the control unit analyzes value-continuous output signals at least of some of the plurality of acceleration sensors, determines a type and severity of the impact therefrom, and triggers appropriate safety measures;
and wherein at least one of the plurality of acceleration sensors is mounted on a vehicle part of a low structural stiffness on an outer vehicle circumference, all vehicle parts of high structural stiffness being of a shape, arrangement and material to define a deformation space inward from the acceleration sensor, the deformation space having dimensions selected, based on a stiffness of the vehicle part of a low structural stiffness, to prevent contact of the at least one acceleration sensor with the vehicle parts of high structural stiffness after an impact of a low or medium severity, defined by the vehicle having a relative maximum velocity of about 40 km/h against a soft object and about 30 km/h against a hard object, within a minimum reaction time period of about 40 milliseconds.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for triggering passive occupant safety measures in a motor vehicle is described. The system includes a control unit, a plurality of acceleration sensors for detecting the acceleration caused by an impact of the motor vehicle as well as feed lines assigned to the acceleration sensors, by which feed lines the output signals of the acceleration sensors are transmitted to the control unit which analyzes the signals to determine the type and/or severity of the impact, and triggers appropriate safety measures. The sensors are mounted on a vehicle part of a low structural stiffness on the outer vehicle circumferences, and all surrounding vehicle parts of high stiffness are designed to prevent contact with the sensors after an impact of the motor vehicle of a low or medium severity within a minimum reaction time period.
24 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for triggering passive occupant safety measures in a motor vehicle, comprising:
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a control unit; a plurality of acceleration sensors for detecting an acceleration caused by an impact of the motor vehicle at different locations of the motor vehicle; feed lines assigned to the plurality of acceleration sensors, adapted to transmit output signals of the acceleration sensors to the control unit; wherein the control unit analyzes value-continuous output signals at least of some of the plurality of acceleration sensors, determines a type and severity of the impact therefrom, and triggers appropriate safety measures; and wherein at least one of the plurality of acceleration sensors is mounted on a vehicle part of a low structural stiffness on an outer vehicle circumference, all vehicle parts of high structural stiffness being of a shape, arrangement and material to define a deformation space inward from the acceleration sensor, the deformation space having dimensions selected, based on a stiffness of the vehicle part of a low structural stiffness, to prevent contact of the at least one acceleration sensor with the vehicle parts of high structural stiffness after an impact of a low or medium severity, defined by the vehicle having a relative maximum velocity of about 40 km/h against a soft object and about 30 km/h against a hard object, within a minimum reaction time period of about 40 milliseconds. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A safety system for a motor vehicle, comprising:
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an outer circumference structure of the motor vehicle having low structural stiffness; vehicle body parts adjacent to the outer circumference structure having a high structural stiffness; an acceleration sensor for detecting an acceleration caused by an impact, disposed on the outer circumference structure of the motor vehicle; and a control unit for analyzing output signals of the acceleration sensor to determine a type of impact therefrom, and trigger safety measures, wherein the outer circumference structure and the vehicle body parts are adapted to define a deformation space inward from the acceleration sensor, the deformation space having dimensions selected, based on a stiffness of the outer circumference structure, to prevent contact of the acceleration sensor with the vehicle body parts after a low or medium severity impact, defined by the vehicle having a relative maximum velocity of about 40 km/h against a soft object and about 30 km/h against a hard object, for a minimum reaction time period of about 40 milliseconds. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification