Collision sensing apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9643554-B2
Application number	US-201414226462-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 26, 2014
Priority date	Mar 26, 2014
Publication date	May 9, 2017
Grant date	May 9, 2017

Abstract

An apparatus includes a closed body having a varied configuration between a first location and at least a second location. The apparatus further includes a pressure sensor coupled to the closed body at the first location. When forces with substantially equal magnitudes are respectively applied to the closed body at different locations between the first and second locations, the closed body respectively translates the forces to substantially equal pressure differentials at the first location.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a closed body having a varied configuration between a first location and at least a second location; and
a pressure sensor coupled to the closed body at the first location,
wherein, when forces with substantially equal magnitudes are respectively applied to the closed body at any two or more different locations between the first and second locations, the closed body respectively translates the forces to substantially equal pressure differentials at the first location.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the varied configuration of the closed body includes at least one of a variation in size, thickness, shape and material composition between the first and location and the second location.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the closed body has a cross-sectional shape that varies in size between the first location and the second location.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the cross-sectional shape of the closed body increases in size between the first location and the second location.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the cross-sectional shape of the closed body decreases in size between the first location and the second location.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the closed body has a thickness that varies between the first location and the second location.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the thickness of the closed body increases between the first location and the second location.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein thickness of the closed body decreases between the first location and the second location.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the closed body has a shape that varies between the first location and the second location.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , the closed body has a material composition that varies between the first location and the second location.

11. An apparatus comprising:
a closed body having a varied configuration between a first location and at least a second location;
a third location between the first location and the second location; and
a pressure sensor coupled to the closed body at the first location,
wherein, when forces with substantially equal magnitudes are respectively applied to the closed body at the first, second, and third locations, the closed body respectively translates the forces to substantially equal pressure differentials at the first location.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Ghannam Mahmoud Yousef
• Reddy Yeruva Satya
• Kula Paul Kevin
• Pappas Bill
• Clark Todd N

Classifications

• B60R19/26 Primary

  comprising yieldable mounting means ({B60R19/38 takes precedence;} springs, shock absorbers, or means for damping vibrations per se F16F) · CPC title

• 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

• B60R2019/1873

  Cellular materials · CPC title

• B60R2021/01013

  Means for detecting collision, impending collision or roll-over · CPC title

• B60R21/013 Primary

  including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over · CPC title