Distributed electronic acceleration sensing for crash severity recognition

US6540255B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Siemens VDO Automotive AG · US

Inventors

• Thomas Blank · Regensburg, DE
• Emmanuel Garcia · Bloomfield, US
• Oskar Leirich · Neutraubling, DE
• Markus Heiser · Alzenau, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 20, 2000
• Grant date: Apr 1, 2003
• Expiry date: Oct 20, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B60R2021/01006
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

The crash detection system employs a plurality of electronic acceleration sensors distributed at different locations of a vehicle body. The plurality of electronic acceleration sensors measures changes in acceleration of the vehicle body at different locations and therefore the rate of deformation of the vehicle body. The signals from the plurality of electronic acceleration sensors are filtered, amplified, and passed to an evaluation unit, which reads and compares the signals. Based on the rate of deformation of the vehicle body, the evaluation unit then makes a determination of the severity of the vehicle crash and communicates this information to a passenger safety system.