Vehicular deformation sensor system
US6169479A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 23, 1998 |
| Grant date | Jan 2, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 23, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S367/909
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A sensor system for detecting impacts to a vehicle, allowing for actuation decisions of passive restraint devices. The sensor system includes one or more piezoelectric sensor assemblies (42), each including a coaxial piezoelectric cable (44) contained within a tube housing (54), which is mounted to a structural member of the vehicle. The sensor system may also include accelerometers (36, 38) that are also in communication with the restraints control module (40) and employed in combination with one or more piezoelectric sensor assemblies (42). Further, the sensor system may include diagnostics for monitoring one or more of the sensor assemblies (42) in order to detect a sensor failure, while not interfering with the impact signals from the sensor assemblies (42).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.