Bumper collision sensor for an automotive vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10369947-B2
Application number	US-201715684976-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 24, 2017
Priority date	Aug 24, 2017
Publication date	Aug 6, 2019
Grant date	Aug 6, 2019

Abstract

An automotive vehicle includes a vehicle body and a fascia coupled to the vehicle body. The vehicle also includes a rigid backer plate coupled to the body. The backer plate is disposed between the body and the fascia, and is spaced from the fascia. The vehicle further includes a compressible layer disposed between the fascia and the backer plate. The compressible layer has a first face proximate the fascia and a second face proximate the backer plate. The second face is provided with a recess to define a cavity between the compressible layer and the bumper plate. A pressure sensor is disposed in the cavity. The rigid backer plate has a backer plate face proximate the compressible layer and a rib member projecting from the backer plate face. The rib member is disposed at least partially in the cavity.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An automotive vehicle comprising:
a vehicle body having a width direction;
a fascia coupled to the vehicle body, the fascia having a long dimension oriented in the width direction;
a rigid backer plate coupled to the body, the backer plate being disposed between the body and the fascia and being spaced from the fascia;
a compressible layer disposed between the fascia and the backer plate, the compressible layer having a first face proximate the fascia and a second face proximate the backer plate, the second face being provided with a recess to define a cavity between the compressible layer and the backer plate, the recess having a long dimension oriented in the width direction; and
a pressure sensor disposed in the cavity;
wherein the rigid backer plate has a backer plate face proximate the compressible layer and a rib member projecting from the backer plate face, the rib member being disposed at least partially in the cavity, the rib member having a length extending generally parallel to the width direction and having, along the length, a first portion, a second portion, and a central portion between the first portion and the second portion, wherein at the first portion the rib member projects a first distance from the backer plate face, and at the central portion the rib member projects a second distance from the backer plate face, the second distance being different from the first distance.

2. The automotive vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the rib member has a first end, a second end, the first portion is disposed at the first end, and the second portion is disposed at the second end.

3. The automotive vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the rib member has a generally rectangular cross-section.

4. The automotive vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the rib member is provided with a concave tip proximate the pressure sensor.

5. The automotive vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the rib member is provided with a convex tip proximate the pressure sensor.

6. The automotive vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the pressure sensor includes a pressure tube extending along the width direction.

7. A bumper assembly comprising:
a fascia;
a rigid backer plate spaced from the fascia;
a compressible layer disposed between the fascia and the backer plate, the compressible layer having a first face proximate the fascia and a second face proximate the backer plate, the second face being provided with a recess to define a cavity between the compressible layer and the backer plate; and
a pressure sensor disposed in the cavity;
wherein the rigid backer plate has a backer plate face proximate the compressible layer and a rib member projecting from the backer plate face, the rib member being disposed at least partially in the cavity, the rib member having a length extending generally parallel to the width direction and having, along the length, a first portion, a second portion, and a central portion between the first portion and the second portion, wherein at the first portion the rib member projects a first distance from the backer plate face, and at the central portion the rib member projects a second distance from the backer plate face, the second distance being different from the first distance.

8. The bumper assembly of claim 7 , wherein the rib member has a first end, a second end, the first portion is disposed at the first end, and the second portion is disposed at the second end.

9. The bumper assembly of claim 7 , wherein the rib member has a generally rectangular cross-section.

10. The bumper assembly of claim 7 , wherein the rib member is provided with a concave tip proximate the pressure sensor.

11. The bumper assembly of claim 7 , wherein the rib member is provided with a convex tip proximate the pressure sensor.

12. The bumper assembly of claim 7 , wherein the pressure sensor includes a pressure tube.

13. A sensor assembly for an automotive vehicle, comprising:
a vehicle body;
a bumper assembly coupled to the vehicle body, the bumper assembly including a fascia and a compressible layer disposed between the fascia and the vehicle body;
a rigid backer plate disposed between the body and the compressible layer, wherein the compressible layer is provided with a recess to define a cavity between the compressible layer and the backer plate, and wherein the backer plate is provided with a backer plate face and a rib member projecting from the backer plate face, the rib member being disposed at least partially in the cavity, the rib member having a length extending generally parallel to the width direction and having, along the length, a first portion, a second portion, and a central portion between the first portion and the second portion, wherein at the first portion the rib member projects a first distance from the backer plate face, and at the central portion the rib member projects a second distance from the backer plate face, the second distance being different from the first distance; and
a pressure sensor comprising a pressure tube disposed at least partially in the cavity.

14. The sensor assembly of claim 13 , wherein the rib member has a first end, a second end, the first portion is disposed at the first end, and the second portion is disposed at the second end.

15. The sensor assembly of claim 13 , wherein the rib member has a generally rectangular cross-section.

16. The sensor assembly of claim 13 , wherein the rib member is provided with a concave tip proximate the pressure sensor.

17. The sensor assembly of claim 13 , wherein the rib member is provided with a convex tip proximate the pressure sensor.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc
• Gm Global Tech Operation Llc

Inventors

• Stanek Christopher A

Classifications

• B60R19/48 Primary

  combined with, or convertible into, other devices or objects, e.g. bumpers combined with road brushes, bumpers convertible into beds · CPC title

• B60R21/0136

  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)} · CPC title

• B60R19/483 Primary

  with obstacle sensors of electric or electronic type · CPC title

• B60R19/22

  containing {mainly} cellular material, e.g. solid foam · CPC title

• B60R19/24

  Arrangements for mounting bumpers on vehicles · CPC title