Collision detector for a vehicle
US5261505A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 28, 1992 |
| Grant date | Nov 16, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 28, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG10K11/24
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A collision detector for a vehicle, comprises a waveguide which is locatable on and acoustically isolated from the vehicle. The waveguide allows stress waves to propagate therethrough, and the waveguide is arranged to produce stress wave activity when the waveguide is deformed due to collision. A pair of transducers are acoustically coupled to the waveguide and the transducers convert any stress waves into electrical signals. A processor analyses the electrical signals and gives an output signal to indicate the occurrence of a collision. The transducers detect different frequency bands and the processor compares the electrical signals and indicates the occurrence of a crash if the ratio or difference is greater than a predetermined value. The waveguide is a metallic member which has a glass coating and a protective coating. Alternatively the waveguide may be a fibre reinforced plastic, tin, or a metallic member which has an interface with a semi-rigid plastic member.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.