# US 7,610,983 B2 · Method for damage limitation in the event of an offset frontal collision, and motor vehicle having an apparatus which serves for this purpose > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,610,983 B2 - Document ID: US7610983B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/577,755 - Filed: 2004-10-11 - Published: 2007-06-07 - Granted: 2009-11-03 - Earliest claimed: 2003-10-31 - Assignees: MAGNA STEYR Fahrzeugtechnik AG & Co KG - Inventors: Toros Akgun; Stephan Winkler; Wolfgang Hirschberg; Christian Kaltenmesser - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7610983B2 ## CPC - B60R 21/0132: responsive to vehicle motion parameters {, e.g. to vehicle longitudinal or transversal deceleration or speed value} - B60R 21/013: including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over - B62D 9/00: Steering deflectable wheels not otherwise provided for (steering positon indicators B62D15/02) - B62D 21/152: {Front or rear frames} - B60G 2200/44: steerable - B60G 2200/445: Self-steered wheels - B60G 2200/462: Toe-in/out - B60G 2204/143: on the vehicle body or chassis - B60G 2206/016: allowing controlled deformation during collision - B60G 2800/222: during collision - B60G 2800/965: Automatic or driver-independent manoeuvre, e.g. for obstacle avoidance or roll-over prevention - B60R 21/0134: responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle {, e.g. using radar systems} - B60R 21/33: Arrangements for non-electric triggering of inflation (electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements B60R21/01) - B60W 30/085: Taking automatic action to adjust vehicle attitude in preparation for collision, e.g. braking for nose dropping - B60W 2030/082: {Vehicle operation after collision} - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - B60G: VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS (air-cushion vehicles B60V; {cycle suspensions B62K25/00}) - B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT ## Abstract A method for damage limitation in the event of an offset frontal collision between two motor vehicles, with a first signal which signals an imminent collision triggering the steerable front wheels (9, 10) to turn inward in opposite directions, is to minimize the impact-induced yaw moment. To this end, the steerable wheels are moved back to the initial position again after the collision or if the collision has not taken place at all. To this end, two actuators (17′, 17″) with an external power source are provided in the case of a vehicle which is equipped for this purpose, with each actuator being associated with a steerable wheel (9, 10). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for damage limitation in the event of an offset frontal collision between two motor vehicles, with a first signal which signals an imminent collision triggering the steerable front wheels (9, 10) to turn inward from an initial position in opposite directions very quickly, wherein at least one of the steerable wheels is very quickly moved back to the initial position again if either no collision has taken place within a certain time after the first signal or if a second signal which is transmitted by a further sensor (22) signals the collision which actually occurs, with the initial position being the position which the wheels were in at the time the first signal was transmitted. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first signal is generated by a direction and distance data which is repetitively recorded by at least one sensor (20; 20′, 20″) being evaluated on a basis of criteria, and the first signal being transmitted when a result of the evaluation determines a collision probability which is above a predefined value. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, when the second signal is transmitted, only the steerable wheel (9) on the collision side is moved back to its initial position and the other wheel (10) remains turned. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the wheel (10) which is not on the collision side is moved back to the initial position only when the yaw rate of the vehicle is virtually zero. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein both wheels (9, 10) are moved back to their initial position again if the second signal is not transmitted within a specific period of time. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first signal triggers the wheels to turn at a time which depends on the speed at which the two vehicles approach one another. ### Claim 7 A motor vehicle comprising an apparatus for damage limitation in the event of an offset frontal collision, wherein the motor vehicle has a steering apparatus (13, 14, 15, 16) which is associated with the front wheels (9, 10), at least one reversible actuator (17; 17′, 17″) with a very fast-acting power source is provided in the steering apparatus (13, 14, 15, 16) and influences the turning of the steerable wheels (9, 10) via connecting elements (15′, 15″) such that the wheels (9, 10) can be turned both in opposite directions from an initial position and at least one wheel (9) can be moved back to the initial position, the apparatus comprising means for generating a first signal for signalling an imminent collision and triggering the steerable front wheels (9, 10) to turn inward in opposite directions, first means for sensing that no collision has taken place within a certain time after the first signal, second means for generating a second signal for signalling that a collision has actually occurred, wherein at least one of the steerable wheels is very quickly moved back to the initial position upon a signal from either the first means or the second means. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 7, wherein two actuators (17′, 17″) with an external power source are provided, with each actuator being associated with a steerable wheel (9, 10). ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 7, wherein the actuator (17; 17′, 17″) is an electric motor.