# US 7,611,177 B1 · Rear bumper with smart key sensor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,611,177 B1 - Document ID: US7611177B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 12/187,004 - Filed: 2008-08-06 - Granted: 2009-11-03 - Earliest claimed: 2008-08-06 - Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. - Inventors: David William Schelberg; Mingher Fred Shen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7611177B1 ## CPC - B60R 19/18: {characterised by the cross-section;} Means within the bumper to absorb impact - B60R 19/483: {with obstacle sensors of electric or electronic type} - B60R 2019/1813: {made of metal} - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A bumper for a motor vehicle that includes a proximity sensor is provided. The bumper includes a bumper beam having a vehicle surface and an energy absorbing surface, the vehicle surface having a bracket to attach to a forward end or rearward end of the motor vehicle. An energy absorber extends along a length of the bumper beam, the energy absorber having a bumper beam side and an impact side. The bumper beam side of the energy absorber can have a tab to attach to the energy absorbing surface of the bumper beam and the impact side can have a plurality of box-shaped energy absorbing sections and a sensor section. The proximity sensor is attached to the energy absorber at the sensor section. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A bumper for a motor vehicle, said bumper comprising: a bumper beam having a vehicle surface and an energy absorbing surface, said vehicle surface having a bracket to attach to a forward end or rearward end of a motor vehicle; an energy absorber extending along a length of said bumper beam, said energy absorber having a bumper beam side and an impact side, said bumper beam side attached to said energy absorbing surface of said bumper beam and said impact side having a plurality of box-shaped energy absorbing sections; a recess on said impact side of said energy absorber, said recess forming a sensor section; and a sensor attached to said energy absorber at said sensor section. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The bumper of claim 1, wherein said bumper beam has a B-shaped cross section. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The bumper of claim 1, wherein said bumper beam is made from steel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The bumper of claim 1, wherein said recess is bounded by an upper support surface section and at least one box-shaped energy absorbing section. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The bumper of claim 4, wherein said sensor is located at least partially below said upper support surface section of said energy absorber. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The bumper of claim 4, wherein said sensor does not extend beyond an impact surface of said at least one bounding box-shaped energy absorbing section. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The bumper of claim 1, wherein said sensor has electrical wiring for electrically connecting said sensor to a controller. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The bumper of claim 1, wherein said sensor has a wireless capability of communicating with a controller. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The bumper of claim 1, wherein said sensor is a smart key sensor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The bumper of claim 9, wherein said smart key sensor is located proximate the middle of a longitudinal length of said energy absorber. ### Claim 11 A rear bumper for a motor vehicle, said rear bumper comprising: a bumper beam having a front surface and a rear surface, said front surface having a bracket to attach to a rearward end of a motor vehicle; an energy absorber extending along a longitudinal length of said bumper beam, said energy absorber having a bumper beam side and an impact side, said bumper beam side attached to said rear surface of said bumper beam and said impact side having a plurality of box-shaped energy absorbing sections and a sensor section; and a smart key sensor attached to said energy absorber at said sensor section. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The rear bumper of claim 11, wherein said sensor section is a recess on said impact side bounded by an upper support surface section of said energy absorber and at least one box-shaped energy absorbing section. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The rear bumper of claim 12, wherein said sensor is located at least partially below said upper support surface section and does not extend beyond an impact surface of said at least one bounding box-shaped energy absorbing section. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The rear bumper of claim 13, wherein said sensor has electrical wiring for electrically connecting said sensor to a controller. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The rear bumper of claim 14, wherein said smart key sensor is located proximate the middle of said length of said energy absorber. ### Claim 16 A rear bumper for a motor vehicle, said rear bumper comprising: a bumper beam having a front surface and a rear surface, said front surface having a bracket to attach to a rearward end of a motor vehicle; an energy absorber extending along a length of said bumper beam, said energy absorber having a bumper beam side and an impact side, said bumper beam side having a tab to attach to said rear surface of said bumper beam and said impact side having a plurality of box-shaped energy absorbing sections; a smart key sensor section in the form of a recess on said impact side; and a smart key sensor attached to said energy absorber at said smart key sensor section. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The bumper of claim 16, wherein said smart key sensor section is a recess bounded by an upper support surface section of said energy absorber and at least one box-shaped energy absorbing section. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The bumper of claim 17, wherein said smart key sensor is located at least partially below said upper support surface section and does not extend beyond an impact surface of said at least one bounding box-shaped energy absorbing section. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The bumper of claim 18, wherein said smart key sensor is located proximate the middle of said length of said energy absorber.