Collision-detecting device for automotive vehicle

• US 7,782,180 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2008
• Issued: 08/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Takafuji, Tetsuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Previl; Daniel
• Application Number:
  US12/082,805
• Publication Number:
  US 20080316008A1
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 340/436, 340/425.5, 340901-908, 340/925, 340/927, 340/935, 340438-441, 340/443, 340/435, 340/454, 340/459
• US Class Current: 340/436
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/483 with obstacle sensors of electric or electronic type
• 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

Abstract

A collision-detecting device according to the present invention is installed in a bumper of an automotive vehicle. The collision-detecting device includes a deformable member disposed behind a bumper cover, a pressure sensor disposed in an inside space of the deformable member and an electronic control unit for determining a collision with a pedestrian based on signals from the pressure sensor. A width of the deformable member is made 300 mm or wider so that the width sufficiently covers a portion that is usually deformed by a collision with a pedestrian. A height of the deformable member is so set that a reaction force of the deformable member generated by a collision with a pedestrian does not exceed a predetermined level such as 1 kN. According to the present invention, a collision with a pedestrian is surely detected and the colliding pedestrian is protected from a severe damage.

Claims

1. A collision-detecting device for an automotive vehicle comprising:

a deformable member forming an inside space therein, the deformable member being disposed in a bumper of the automotive vehicle;

a pressure sensor detecting a pressure change in the inside space of the deformable member; and

means for detecting that a pedestrian collides with the bumper based on the pressure change detected by the pressure sensor, wherein;

a width (W) of the deformable member is larger than a crush-width to be caused on the deformable member by a collision with the pedestrian; and

a height (h) of the deformable member is set, so that a reaction force (F) of the deformable member due to the pressure change in the inside space of the deformable member caused by the collision with the pedestrian does not exceed a predetermined level.

2. The collision-detecting device as in claim 1,

wherein the width (W) of the deformable member is equal to or wider than 300 mm, and the predetermined level of the reaction force (F) is 1 kN (one kilo Newton).

3. The collision-detecting device as in claim 1, wherein the deformable member is divided into two portions in its width direction, and each portion is made to meet the width (W) and the height (h).

4. A collision-detecting device for an automotive vehicle comprising:

a deformable member forming an inside space therein, the deformable member being disposed in a bumper of the automotive vehicle;

a pressure sensor detecting a pressure change in the inside space of the deformable member; and

means for detecting that a pedestrian collides with the bumper based on the pressure change detected by the pressure sensor, wherein;

a width (W) of the deformable member is larger than a crush-width to be caused on the deformable member by a collision with the pedestrian; and

a height (h) of the deformable member is set, so that a reaction force (F) of the deformable member due to the pressure change in the inside space of the deformable member caused by the collision with the pedestrian does not exceed a predetermined level;

wherein

the width (W) and the height (h) of the deformable member are made to satisfy the following formula;

F=[{W/(W−

0.2)}^1.4×

100−

100]×

0.1×

h≦

1,

where F is the reaction force in kN, and the width (W) and the height (h) are in meter.

5. A collision-detecting device for an automotive vehicle comprising:

a deformable member forming an inside space therein, the deformable member being disposed in a bumper of the automotive vehicle;

a pressure sensor for detecting a pressure change in the inside space of the deformable member; and

means for detecting that a pedestrian collides with the bumper based on the pressure change detected by the pressure sensor, and

an absorber that is disposed on a side of the deformable member in front of a bumper reinforcing member, the absorber absorbing a collision impact, wherein

a width (W) of the deformable member is larger than a crush-width to be caused on the deformable member by a collision with a pedestrian; and

a height (h) of the deformable member is set, so that a reaction force (F) of the deformable member due to the pressure change in the inside space of the deformable member caused by a collision with a pedestrian does not exceed a predetermined level.

6. The collision-detecting device as in claim 5,

wherein the width (W) of the deformable member is equal to or wider than 300 mm, and the predetermined level of the reaction force (F) is 1 kN (one kilo Newton).

7. The collision-detecting device as in claim 6, wherein

the width (W) and the height (h) of the deformable member are made to satisfy the following formula:

F=[{W/(W−

0.2)}^1.4×

100−

100]×

0.1×

h≦

1,

where F is the reaction force in kN, and the width (W) and the height (h) are in meter.

8. The collision-detecting device as in claim 5, wherein the deformable member is divided into two portions in its width direction, and each portion is made to meet the width (W) and the height (h).