Vehicle crush zone crash sensor
AssigneeAutomotive Technologies International, Inc.
InventorDavid S. Breed
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A crash sensor, designed for arrangement in the crush zone of a motor vehicle, is operative to determine when and if a crash is severe enough to deploy the passive restraint system (e.g. airbag or seat belt tensioner) of the vehicle. The sensor is responsive to trigger the passive restraint system when the vehicle impact with a barrier causes vehicle elements in the crush zone to deform as far back as the sensor position.
Claims21
In a motor vehicle having a forward extremity, a crush zone immediately rearward of said forward extremity, a crash sensor arranged in said crush zone and an occupant restraint system responsive to said crash sensor, the improvement wherein said crash sensor comprises:
- means arranged at a given position in said crush zone of the vehicle for determining when the vehicle elements in said crush zone have been deformed as far back in the vehicle as said position;
- and
- means responsive to said determining means for actuating said occupant restraint system when a vehicle impact with a barrier causes said vehicle elements in said crush zone to deform as far back as said position;
- wherein said position is a sufficient longitudinal distance rearward from said forward extremity of the vehicle such that an impact by said forward extremity with a barrier at a vehicle speed below a prescribed threshold value will not actuate said occupant restraint system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.