Impact sensor for motor vehicles or the like

US4836024A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Messerschmitt Bolkow Blohm GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Alfons Woehrl · Schrobenhausen, DE
• Peter Hora · Schrobenhausen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: May 20, 1988
• Grant date: Jun 6, 1989
• Expiry date: May 20, 2008

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61K2123/00
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

An impact sensor for detecting a collision of a motor vehicle or the like has at least two acceleration detectors, and a signal evaluating circuit for each detector for evaluating the output signals of the respective acceleration detectors. The evaluated signals are passed through a logic signal interpreting circuit to provide a control signal for triggering passive safety devices such as an inflatable air bag. In order to trigger the passive safety devices as quickly as possible in response to an impact or collision, and in order to determine the angular direction of the impact, several acceleration detectors having oriented sensitivity axes are provided, whereby the sensitivity axes of separate detectors are oriented in different directions. The signal evaluation and interpretation to provide the triggering signal make sure that only determined output signals of the acceleration detectors cause the intended triggering preferably only for frontal impact collisions.