Vehicle structure material strengthening system and vehicle containing same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11639145-B2
Application number	US-202117141295-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 5, 2021
Priority date	Nov 17, 2020
Publication date	May 2, 2023
Grant date	May 2, 2023

Abstract

A vehicle structure material strengthening system and a vehicle containing the same are described. The vehicle structure material strengthening system has at least one collision sensor, a processor, and a power supply. The collision sensor is suitable for being mounted on the vehicle. The processor is electrically connected to the collision sensor for receiving a collision signal from the collision sensor, and determines whether to transmit a power activation signal according to the collision signal. The power supply is electrically connected to the processor and the vehicle. When the collision signal is greater than or equal to a collision threshold, the processor transmits the power activation signal to the power supply, wherein the power supply transmits a circuit to the vehicle according to the power activation signal; or when the collision signal is less than the collision threshold, the processor does not transmit the power activation signal.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A vehicle structure material strengthening system, comprising:
at least one collision sensor suitable for being mounted on a vehicle;
a processor electrically connected to the at least one collision sensor for receiving a collision signal from the at least one collision sensor, wherein the processor determines whether to transmit a power activation signal according to the collision signal; and
a power supply electrically connected to the processor and the vehicle,
wherein:
when the collision signal is greater than or equal to a collision threshold, the processor transmits the power activation signal to the power supply, wherein the power supply transmits a circuit to the vehicle according to the power activation signal, such that a current is applied to metal of the vehicle, thereby improving mechanical properties of the metal; and
when the collision signal is less than the collision threshold, the processor does not transmit the power activation signal.

2. The vehicle structure material strengthening system according to claim 1 , wherein the vehicle comprises at least one of a manned vehicle and an unmanned vehicle.

3. The vehicle structure material strengthening system according to claim 2 , wherein the manned vehicle comprises at least one of an automobile, a public transport carriage, a track vehicle, and an aircraft.

4. The vehicle structure material strengthening system according to claim 3 , wherein the manned vehicle is the automobile, and the power supply is electrically connected to at least one of an A-pillar, a B-pillar, and a C-pillar of the automobile.

5. The vehicle structure material strengthening system according to claim 3 , further comprising:
at least one auxiliary airbag installed in the vehicle and electrically connected to the processor, wherein the processor determines whether to transmit an auxiliary airbag activation signal according to the collision signal, wherein:
when the collision signal is greater than or equal to the collision threshold, the processor transmits the auxiliary airbag activation signal to the at least one auxiliary airbag, wherein the at least one auxiliary airbag is activated according to the auxiliary airbag activation signal; or
when the collision signal is less than the collision threshold, the processor does not transmit the auxiliary airbag activation signal.

6. The vehicle structure material strengthening system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one collision sensor comprises a plurality of collision sensors, and the plurality of collision sensors are dispersedly mounted on the vehicle.

7. The vehicle structure material strengthening system according to claim 6 , wherein the plurality of collision sensors are dispersedly mounted on an outer surface of the vehicle.

8. The vehicle structure material strengthening system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one collision sensor comprises at least one of an electromechanical collision sensor, an electronic collision sensor, and a mercury switch collision sensor.

9. The vehicle structure material strengthening system according to claim 1 , wherein the power supply provides the current greater than OA and less than or equal to 500 A to the vehicle.

10. A vehicle, comprising a vehicle structure material strengthening system according to claim 1 .

11. The vehicle according to claim 10 , wherein the vehicle comprises at least one of a manned vehicle and an unmanned vehicle.

12. The vehicle according to claim 11 , wherein the manned vehicle comprises at least one of an automobile, a public transport carriage, a track vehicle, and an aircraft.

13. The vehicle according to claim 12 , wherein the manned vehicle is the automobile, and the power supply is electrically connected to at least one of an A-pillar, a B-pillar, and a C-pillar of the automobile.

14. The vehicle according to claim 12 , further comprising:
at least one auxiliary airbag installed in the vehicle and electrically connected to the processor, wherein the processor determines whether to transmit an auxiliary airbag activation signal according to the collision signal, wherein:
when the collision signal is greater than or equal to the collision threshold, the processor transmits the auxiliary airbag activation signal to the at least one auxiliary airbag, wherein the at least one auxiliary airbag is activated according to the auxiliary airbag activation signal; or
when the collision signal is less than the collision threshold, the processor does not transmit the auxiliary airbag activation signal.

15. The vehicle according to claim 10 , wherein the at least one collision sensor comprises a plurality of collision sensors, and the plurality of collision sensors are dispersedly mounted on the vehicle.

16. The vehicle according to claim 15 , wherein the plurality of collision sensors are dispersedly mounted on an outer surface of the vehicle.

17. The vehicle according to claim 10 , wherein the at least one collision sensor comprises at least one of an electromechanical collision sensor, an electronic collision sensor, and a mercury switch collision sensor.

18. The vehicle according to claim 10 , wherein the power supply provides the current greater than OA and less than or equal to 500 A to the vehicle.

Assignees

• Univ Nat Cheng Kung

Inventors

• Lin Shih-Kang
• Liu Yu-Chen
• Chen Yu-Ching
• Lin Kuan-Hsueh

Classifications

• C22F3/00 Primary

  Changing the physical structure of non-ferrous metals or alloys by special physical methods, e.g. treatment with neutrons · CPC title

• B60R2021/01006

  Mounting of electrical components in vehicles · CPC title

• C22C21/00

  Alloys based on aluminium · CPC title

• B60R21/017 Primary

  including arrangements for providing electric power to safety arrangements {or their actuating means, e.g. to pyrotechnic fuses or electro-mechanic valves} · CPC title

• B60R21/0136 Primary

  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