Crash sensor system and method for a vehicle

A crash sensor system for a vehicle, the system comprising:

• a frontal vehicle frame member having an inner and outer wall;
• a side vehicle frame member having an inner and outer wall;
• a first sealed cavity formed within the inner and outer walls of the frontal vehicle frame member and a second sealed cavity formed within the inner and outer walls of the side vehicle frame member;
• and
• a first pressure sensor positioned within the first sealed cavity and a second pressure senor positioned within the second sealed cavity, the first and second pressure sensors being configured to a generate a first and pressure signal indicative of a pressure change within the first cavity and a second pressure signal indicative of a pressure change within the second cavity;
• and
• a controller configure to:
• receive the first and second pressure signal;
• compare the first and second pressure signals to a first and second predetermined pressure threshold;
• determine an occurrence of a frontal impact crash in response to the first pressure signals exceeding the first predetermined pressure threshold;
• and
• determine an occurrence of a side impact crash in response to the second pressure signal exceeding the second predetermined pressure threshold.

A method for determining the occurrence of a frontal impact crash of a vehicle, the method comprising:

• generating a pressure signal with a pressure sensor that is positioned within a seal cavity, the sealed cavity being formed within an inner and outer wall of a vehicle frame member, the pressure signal being indicative of a pressure change within the cavity of the vehicle frame member;
• comparing the pressure signal to a predetermined pressure threshold;
• and
• determining an occurrence of a frontal impact crash in response to the pressure signal exceeding the predetermined pressure threshold.