Crash sensor system and method for a vehicle
First Claim
1. A crash sensor system for a vehicle, the system comprising:
- a vehicle frame member having an inner and outer wallat least one sealed cavity formed within the inner and outer walls of the vehicle frame member;
at least one pressure sensor positioned within the at least one cavity, the at least one pressure sensor being configured to generate a pressure signal indicative of a pressure change within the cavity; and
a controller configured to;
receive the pressure signal;
compare the pressure signal to a predetermined pressure threshold; and
determine an occurrence of a frontal impact crash in response to the pressure signal exceeding the predetermined pressure threshold.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A crash sensor system and method used for determining when a vehicle is involved in a frontal impact crash. The crash sensor system including at least one pressure sensor coupled to a vehicle frame member. The vehicle frame member having a cavity and the at least one pressure sensor being configured to generate a pressure signal indicative of a pressure change within the cavity. The crash sensor system further including a controller configured to compare the received pressure signal against a predetermined pressure threshold. The controller also being configured to determine that a frontal impact crash has occurred when the pressure signal exceeds the predetermined pressure threshold.
24 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A crash sensor system for a vehicle, the system comprising:
-
a vehicle frame member having an inner and outer wall at least one sealed cavity formed within the inner and outer walls of the vehicle frame member; at least one pressure sensor positioned within the at least one cavity, the at least one pressure sensor being configured to generate a pressure signal indicative of a pressure change within the cavity; and a controller configured to; receive the pressure signal; compare the pressure signal to a predetermined pressure threshold; and determine an occurrence of a frontal impact crash in response to the pressure signal exceeding the predetermined pressure threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A crash sensor system for a vehicle, the system comprising:
-
a frontal vehicle frame member having an inner and outer wall; a side vehicle frame member having an inner and outer wall; a first sealed cavity formed within the inner and outer walls of the frontal vehicle frame member and a second sealed cavity formed within the inner and outer walls of the side vehicle frame member; and a first pressure sensor positioned within the first sealed cavity and a second pressure senor positioned within the second sealed cavity, the first and second pressure sensors being configured to a generate a first and pressure signal indicative of a pressure change within the first cavity and a second pressure signal indicative of a pressure change within the second cavity; and a controller configure to; receive the first and second pressure signal; compare the first and second pressure signals to a first and second predetermined pressure threshold; determine an occurrence of a frontal impact crash in response to the first pressure signals exceeding the first predetermined pressure threshold; and determine an occurrence of a side impact crash in response to the second pressure signal exceeding the second predetermined pressure threshold. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A method for determining the occurrence of a frontal impact crash of a vehicle, the method comprising:
-
generating a pressure signal with a pressure sensor that is positioned within a seal cavity, the sealed cavity being formed within an inner and outer wall of a vehicle frame member, the pressure signal being indicative of a pressure change within the cavity of the vehicle frame member; comparing the pressure signal to a predetermined pressure threshold; and determining an occurrence of a frontal impact crash in response to the pressure signal exceeding the predetermined pressure threshold. - View Dependent Claims (20)
-
Specification