Apparatus and method for detecting deformations on a vehicle component

US8462319B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• BENTELER AUTOMOBILTECHNIK GMBH · DE

Inventors

• Thorsten Andres · Paderborn, DE
• Björn Richter · Paderborn, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 16, 2009
• Grant date: Jun 11, 2013
• Expiry date: Nov 25, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B60R2021/01302
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for detecting deformations of a vehicle component on a motor vehicle are disclosed, which are capable of unambiguously determining the location and temporal progression of the deformation, as well as the severity of the deformation, within a very short time after the deformation of the vehicle component begins. An emitter unit together with a detector unit is displaced relative to an aperture component disposed on the vehicle component upon deformation of the vehicle component. A beam path of a light beam between the emitter unit and the detector unit is interrupted or opened when the aperture component is displaced relative to the emitter unit, thereby changing an illumination intensity detected by the detector unit. A signal representative of the illumination intensity is transmitted from the detector unit to an evaluation unit.