Collision detection system for vehicle

• US 7,607,510 B1
• Filed: 12/29/2008
• Issued: 10/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Inventors: Mun, Sung Ho
• Primary Examiner(s): To; Toan C
• Application Number:
  US12/345,115
• Time in Patent Office: 302 Days
• Field of Search: 280/735, 180/271, 180/274, 180/282, 701/45
• US Class Current: 180/274
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/20 the prime-movers consisting of electric motors and internal combustion engines, e.g. HEVs
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0132 responsive to vehicle motion parameters , e.g. to vehicle longitudinal or transversal deceleration or speed value
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01338 using vector analysis
• 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: B60T 7/22 initiated by contact of vehicle, e.g. bumper, with an external object, e.g. another vehicle , or by means of contactless obstacle detectors mounted on the vehicle

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a collision detection system for a vehicle. The collision detection system for a vehicle according to the present invention includes a sensor unit and a control unit. The sensor unit measures impacts A and B along two axes that intersect each other in diagonal directions. The control unit calculates a longitudinal impact X and a transverse impact Y using the measured impacts A and B, and determines the direction of collision and whether to operate at least one device for protection against collision-related injury using the impacts.

Claims

1. A collision detection system for a vehicle, comprising:

a sensor unit for measuring impacts A and B caused by a collision which are applied, respectively, along two axes that intersect each other in diagonal directions of a vehicle; and

a control unit for calculating a longitudinal impact X and a transverse impact Y using the measured impacts A and B, and determining the direction of the collision and whether to operate at least one device for protection against collision-related injury using the impacts A, B, X and Y.

2. The collision detection system for a vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein the sensor unit is installed on a central portion of the vehicle.

3. The collision detection system for a vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein the control unit distinguishes a front collision and a side collision from each other by comparing magnitude of the impact X with magnitude of the impact Y.

4. The collision detection system for a vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein the control unit operates the device or devices for protection against collision-related injury if the impact X or Y or the impacts X and Y are greater than an operational reference value or values.

5. The collision detection system for a vehicle as set forth in claim 4, wherein the control unit operates the device or devices for protection against collision-related injury if the impact A is greater than a first reference value and the impact B is greater than a second reference value.

6. The collision detection system for a vehicle as set forth in claim 4, wherein the control unit operates the device or devices for protection against collision-related injury if the impact X is greater than a third reference value and the impact B is greater than a fourth reference value.