# US 8,751,113 B2 · Method and apparatus for detecting pedestrian vehicle impact > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,751,113 B2 - Document ID: US8751113B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/778,505 - Filed: 2010-05-12 - Published: 2011-11-17 - Granted: 2014-06-10 - Earliest claimed: 2010-05-12 - Assignees: TRW Automotive U.S. LLC - Applicants: Chek-Peng Foo; Huahn-Fern Yeh; Meng-Fu Tsai; Raymond J. David - Inventors: Chek-Peng Foo; Huahn-Fern Yeh; Meng-Fu Tsai; Raymond J. David - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8751113B2 ## CPC - B60R 21/0136: responsive to actual contact with an obstacle {, e.g. to vehicle deformation, bumper displacement or bumper velocity relative to the vehicle (monitoring crash strength in combination with passenger seat detection B60R21/01558)} - B60R 21/013: including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over - B60R 21/0132: responsive to vehicle motion parameters {, e.g. to vehicle longitudinal or transversal deceleration or speed value} - B60R 21/34: Protecting non-occupants of a vehicle, e.g. pedestrians {(B60R19/02 takes precedence)} - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract An apparatus (50) detects a pedestrian/vehicle impact, the apparatus including a plurality of sensors (62, 64, 66) mounted near a forward location of a vehicle (52), each sensor providing an associated signal indicative of an impact event. A metric determining device (80) determines metric values for each of the sensor signals. A controller (80) determines if any of said determined metric values indicates the occurrence of a misuse event. The controller also determines if a pedestrian/vehicle impact event is occurring by comparing the metric value of at least one sensor signal against a selectable threshold. An actuation signal is provided in response to the comparison. The selectable threshold is selected in response to the determined occurrence of a misuse event. An actuatable pedestrian impact mitigation device (84) is attached to the vehicle and is actuated in responsive to the actuation signal from said controller. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for detecting a pedestrian/vehicle impact comprising: a plurality of space apart acceleration sensors mounted near a forward location of a vehicle, each sensor providing an associated acceleration sensor signal indicative of an impact event; a metric determining device for determining displacement metric values as a function of impact energy metric values, wherein the displacement metric values and impact energy metric values are determined from each of the acceleration sensor signals; a vehicle speed sensor for sensing vehicle speed and providing a vehicle speed signal indicative thereof; a controller for determining if a pedestrian impact has occurred by comparing the determined displacement metric values as a function of impact energy metric values for each of the acceleration sensor signals against selectable associated threshold values and for providing an actuation control signal in response thereto, said selectable associated threshold values being selected in response to the vehicle speed signal; and an actuatable impact mitigation device attached to the vehicle and being responsive to said actuation control signal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus for detecting a pedestrian impact of claim 1 wherein said metric determining device determines said impact energy metric values from each acceleration sensor signal having frequency components within a predetermined frequency range. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus for detecting a pedestrian impact of claim 1 wherein said metric determining device determines said impact energy metric values from sensor acceleration signals having frequency components within a frequency range of 400-800 Hz. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus for detecting a pedestrian impact of claim 1 wherein said metric determining device determines said displacement metric values from each acceleration sensor signal over a predetermined time window. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus for detecting a pedestrian impact of claim 1 wherein the selectable associated threshold values are further selectable in response to a misuse condition. ### Claim 6 A method for detecting a pedestrian/vehicle impact comprising the steps of: sensing impact acceleration at a plurality of spaced apart positions near a forward location of a vehicle and providing an associated acceleration sensor signal indicative of an impact event; determining displacement metric values as a function of impact energy metric values, wherein the displacement metric values and impact energy metric values are determined from each of the acceleration sensor signals; sensing vehicle speed and providing a vehicle speed signal; selecting threshold values in response to the vehicle speed signal; determining if a pedestrian impact has occurred in response to the determined metric values by comparing the determined displacement metric values as a function of impact energy metric values against associate selected threshold values and providing an actuation signal in response thereto; and actuating an actuatable impact mitigation device in response to said actuation signal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6 wherein the step of determining impact energy metric values is responsive to impact acceleration signals within a predetermined frequency range. ### Claim 8 An apparatus for detecting a pedestrian/vehicle impact comprising: a plurality of acceleration sensors mounted near a forward location of a vehicle, each sensor providing an associated acceleration sensor signal indicative of an impact event; a metric determining device for determining displacement metric values as a function of impact energy metric values, wherein the displacement metric values and impact energy metric values are determined from each of the acceleration sensor signals; a controller for determining if a pedestrian impact has occurred by comparing the determined displacement metric values as a function of impact energy metric values against associated threshold values and for providing an actuation control signal in response thereto; and an actuatable impact mitigation device attached to the vehicle and being responsive to said actuation control signal. ### Claim 9 A method for detecting a pedestrian/vehicle impact comprising the steps of: sensing impact acceleration at a plurality of spaced apart positions near a forward location of a vehicle and providing an associated acceleration sensor signal indicative of an impact event; determining displacement metric values as a function of impact energy metric values, wherein the displacement metric values and impact energy metric values are determined from each of the acceleration sensor signals; determining if a pedestrian impact has occurred in response to the determined metric values by comparing the determined metric values as a function of impact energy metric values against associate threshold values and providing an actuation signal in response thereto; and actuating an actuatable impact mitigation device in response to said actuation signal.