Side impact sensor systems

• US 7,052,038 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2004
• Issued: 05/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: American Vehicular Sciences LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Automotive Technologies International Incorporated
• Inventors: Castelli, Vittorio, Breed, David S., Pruszenski, Anthony S. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): CULBRETH, ERIC D
• Application Number:
  US10/768,791
• Publication Number:
  US 20040183287A1
• Time in Patent Office: 851 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/734, 280/735, 180/274
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0006 Lateral collision
• 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 21/20 Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/21 in vehicle side panels, e.g. doors pillar mounted arrangements B60R21/213
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/33 Arrangements for non-electric triggering of inflation electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements B60R21/01

Abstract

A vehicle including a side impact crash sensor, a transfer structure interposed between the side of the vehicle and the sensor and an occupant restraint system such as a side impact airbag system. When an object strikes the side of the vehicle or vice versa, the transfer structure serves to transfer the lateral force from the side of the vehicle to the sensor and is designed so that it does not distort upon the application of the lateral force. The side impact crash sensor detects the force or acceleration applied to the side of the vehicle, and the airbag system connected to the sensor deploys an airbag based on the detected force or acceleration. The transfer structure may be constructed to account for mismatch between the point of impact of an object on the side of the vehicle and the location of the sensor.

Claims

1. A vehicle having a longitudinal axis between a front and rear of the vehicle such that a lateral direction is defined perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and an outer skin along sides of the vehicle, comprising:

a side impact crash sensor arranged inward from the outer skin and to react to lateral acceleration of the outer skin of the vehicle resulting from an impact of an object with the outer skin along a side of the vehicle;

means interposed between the outer skin along the side of the vehicle and said sensor for transferring the lateral acceleration to said sensor; and

an occupant restraint device connected to said sensor and arranged to deploy an occupant restraint based on the lateral acceleration,

said sensor including a housing defining an interior and a mass arranged in said interior of said housing and movable in said interior of said housing relative to said housing in response to lateral acceleration of said sensor housing resulting from the transference of the lateral acceleration of the outer skin of the vehicle through said means to said sensor, movement of said mass being monitored such that said sensor initiates deployment of said occupant restraint based on movement of said mass.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said means are arranged to account for mismatch between a point of impact of the object on the side of the vehicle and said sensor.

3. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein said means comprise a plate which remains substantially undistorted in form upon impact of the object with the outer skin along the side of the vehicle.

4. The vehicle of claim 3, further comprising a main structural beam, said plate being mounted to said main structural beam.

5. The vehicle of claim 4, further comprising a door, said main structural beam being arranged in said door.

6. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein said plate is circular.

7. The vehicle of claim 3, further comprising a door having an inner panel and an outer panel defining the outer skin along the side of the vehicle, said plate being located between said inner panel and said outer panel.

8. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a main structural beam, said means being mounted to said main structural beam.

9. The vehicle of claim 8, further comprising a door, said main structural beam being arranged in said door.

10. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a door having an inner panel and an outer panel defining the outer skin along the side of the vehicle, said means being arranged between said inner panel and said outer panel.

11. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said sensor initiates deployment of said occupant restraint based on movement of said mass in excess of a threshold value.

12. A vehicle having a longitudinal axis between a front and rear of the vehicle such that a lateral direction is defined perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and an outer skin along sides of the vehicle, comprising:

a side impact crash sensor arranged inward from the outer skin and to react to lateral acceleration of the vehicle resulting from an impact of an object with the outer skin along a side of the vehicle;

mismatch accounting means interposed between the outer skin along the side of the vehicle and said sensor for accounting for mismatch between a point of impact of the object on the outer skin along the side of the vehicle and said sensor; and

an occupant restraint device connected to said sensor and arranged to deploy an occupant restraint based on the lateral acceleration,

said sensor including a housing defining an interior and a mass arranged in said interior of said housing and movable in said interior of said housing relative to said housing in response to lateral acceleration of said sensor housing, movement of said mass being monitored such that said sensor initiates deployment of said occupant restraint based on movement of said mass.

13. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein said mismatch accounting means are arranged to transfer the lateral acceleration to said sensor.

14. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein said mismatch accounting means is a plate which remains substantially undistorted in form upon impact of the object with the outer skin along the side of the vehicle.

15. The vehicle of claim 14, further comprising a main structural beam, said plate being mounted to said main structural beam.

16. The vehicle of claim 15, further comprising a door, said main structural beam being arranged in said door.

17. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein said plate is circular.

18. The vehicle of claim 14, further comprising a door having an inner panel and an outer panel defining the outer skin along the side of the vehicle, said plate being located between said inner panel and said outer panel.

19. The vehicle of claim 12, further comprising a main structural beam, said mismatch accounting means being mounted to said main structural beam.

20. The vehicle of claim 19, further comprising a door, said main structural beam being arranged in said door.

21. The vehicle of claim 12, further comprising a door having an inner panel and an outer panel defining the outer skin along the side of the vehicle, said mismatch accounting means being arranged between said inner panel and said outer panel.

22. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein said sensor initiates deployment of said occupant restraint based on movement of said mass in excess of a threshold value.

23. A vehicle having a longitudinal axis between a front and rear of the vehicle such that a lateral direction is defined perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and an outer skin along sides of the vehicle, comprising:

a side impact crash sensor arranged inward from the outer skin and to react to lateral acceleration of the vehicle resulting from an impact of an object with the outer skin along a side of the vehicle;

a transfer structure interposed between the outer skin along the side of the vehicle and said sensor suitable and arranged to transfer the lateral acceleration to said sensor; and

an occupant restraint device connected to said sensor and arranged to deploy an occupant restraint based on the lateral acceleration,

said sensor including a housing defining an interior and a mass arranged in said interior of said housing and movable in said interior of said housing relative to said housing in response to lateral acceleration of said sensor housing resulting from the transference of the lateral acceleration of the outer skin of the vehicle through said transfer structure to said sensor, movement of said mass being monitored such that said sensor initiates deployment of said occupant restraint based on movement of said mass.

24. The vehicle of claim 23, wherein said transfer structure is arranged to account for mismatch between a point of impact of the object on the side of the vehicle and said sensor.

25. The vehicle of claim 24, wherein said transfer structure comprises a plate which remains substantially undistorted in form upon impact of the object with the outer skin along the side of the vehicle.

26. The vehicle of claim 25, further comprising a main structural beam, said plate being mounted to said main structural door beam.

27. The vehicle of claim 26, further comprising a door, said main structural beam being arranged in said door.

28. The vehicle of claim 25, wherein said plate is circular.

29. The vehicle of claim 25, further comprising a door having an inner panel and an outer panel defining the outer skin along the side of the vehicle, said plate being located between said inner panel and said outer panel.

30. The vehicle of claim 23, further comprising a main structural beam, said transfer structure being mounted to said main structural beam.

31. The vehicle of claim 30, further comprising a door, said main structural beam being arranged in said door.

32. The vehicle of claim 23, further comprising a door having an inner panel and an outer panel defining the outer skin along the side of the vehicle, said transfer structure being arranged between said inner panel and said outer panel.

33. The vehicle of claim 23, wherein said sensor initiates deployment of said occupant restraint based on movement of said mass in excess of a threshold value.