Airflow sensing method and apparatus for impact detection
First Claim
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1. A method of impact detection for a vehicle, comprising the steps of:
- measuring an airflow inboard of a vehicle body panel due to an impact to said body panel wherein the step of measuring said airflow includes the steps of establishing a first air passage having an inlet that is aligned with a direction of said airflow, establishing a second air passage having an inlet that is perpendicular to said direction of airflow, measuring a differential pressure between said first air passage and said second air passage, and determining the measured airflow based upon the differential pressure; and
processing the measured airflow to detect said impact and determine its severity.
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Abstract
Impacts with a vehicle body panel are detected by sensing airflow inboard of the vehicle body panel. The airflow can be measured by heated element sensor, a Pitot tube sensor, a venturi sensor or other airflow-responsive sensor. For side impact detection, the sensor is located in a door or pillar on the side of the vehicle; for frontal impact detection, the sensor may be located behind the front bumper. Multiple sensors mounted in distributed locations can be used to determine the location and extent of an impact.
15 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method of impact detection for a vehicle, comprising the steps of:
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measuring an airflow inboard of a vehicle body panel due to an impact to said body panel wherein the step of measuring said airflow includes the steps of establishing a first air passage having an inlet that is aligned with a direction of said airflow, establishing a second air passage having an inlet that is perpendicular to said direction of airflow, measuring a differential pressure between said first air passage and said second air passage, and determining the measured airflow based upon the differential pressure; and processing the measured airflow to detect said impact and determine its severity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. Impact detection apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:
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a first sensor disposed inboard of a vehicle body panel for determining airflow due to an impact to said body panel, wherein said first sensor is a Pitot tube including a first air passage having an inlet that is aligned with a direction of said airflow, a second air passage having an inlet that is perpendicular to said direction of airflow, and a differential pressure sensor coupled between said first and second air passages; and processing means for processing the determined airflow to detect said impact and determine its severity, wherein the processing means is configured to determine the determined airflow based upon a differential pressure measured by the differential pressure sensor. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification