Hybrid vehicle/pedestrian impact detecting method and apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9975510-B2
Application number	US-201314768736-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 21, 2013
Priority date	May 22, 2012
Publication date	May 22, 2018
Grant date	May 22, 2018

Abstract

An apparatus detects a vehicle/pedestrian impact event by sensing impact events near a forward location of a vehicle using a multi-port pressure sensor and acceleration sensors. The multi-port pressure sensor includes multiple pressure sensors in a unified housing, connected via individual pressure ports to multiple impact-sensing hoses mounted along the vehicle bumper. An acceleration sensor may also be installed in the same housing. A single electrical connector provides connection to the multiple pressure sensors and also the acceleration sensors.

First claim

Having described the invention, the following is claimed:

1. An apparatus for detecting an impact of a pedestrian or other object on a bumper of a vehicle, comprising:
a plurality of closed, gas filled hoses, each said hose disposed proximal to said vehicle bumper and extending along the long dimension of said bumper, each said hose having a sensing end and a non-sensing end, with the sensing ends of all said hoses disposed in proximity to one another;
a plurality of gas pressure sensors, each sensor operatively attached to the sensing end of an associated one of said plurality of hoses;
a housing for supporting said plurality of gas pressure sensors in proximity of said bumper, said housing having a closed chamber and a plurality of pressure ports, each of said pressure ports being associated with a corresponding one of said gas pressure sensors; and
a sensor gasket having a plurality of passages extending therethrough, each of said passages providing fluid communication between one of said pressure ports and its corresponding pressure sensor.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said housing comprises a single electrical connector disposed thereon for providing communication between said plurality of gas pressure sensors and other systems in said vehicle.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 , and further comprising an at least one accelerometer also contained within said housing, wherein said single electrical connector also provides communication between said at least one accelerometer and other systems in said vehicle.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 , wherein said housing includes mounting tabs configured to provide robust, stable attachment of said housing to said vehicle suitable for communication of acceleration signals from said vehicle to said at least one accelerometer via said mounting tabs.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said plurality of closed, gas filled hoses comprises two hoses extending away from said housing in opposite directions parallel to said bumper, such that said hoses extend over a distance that is substantially the combined length of both hoses and such that said non-sensing ends of said hoses are distal from one another.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 , wherein said two hoses are of generally equal length, whereby said sensing ends and hence said gas pressure sensors are disposed approximately of the midpoint of the total distance covered by said two hoses.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising a printed circuit board mounted in said housing, each of said plurality of gas pressure sensors being mounted on the same side of said printed circuit board such that said pressure sensors face the same side of said housing.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said housing includes a base and a cover connectable to the base to close the chamber, said cover being configured to compress said gasket when connected to said base so that said fluid communication between each sensor and its corresponding pressure port is air-tight.

9. Apparatus for use in detecting an impact of a pedestrian or other object on a vehicle, comprising a closed housing, a printed circuit board fixed in said closed housing, at least two pressure sensors mounted on said printed circuit board such that said pressure sensors each face the same side of said closed housing, an electrical connector accessible external to said housing for providing electrical communication between said printed circuit board and other electrical systems external to said housing, and at least two pressure ports formed on said housing, each port being in gas communication with a respective one of said at least two pressure sensors and also adapted for connection to impact sensing hoses external to said housing whereby pressure changes in said hoses will be communicated to said pressure sensors via said ports.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 , and further comprising at least one acceleration sensor also disposed on said printed circuit board, and mounting features on said housing for facilitating stable, robust mounting of said housing on a vehicle, wherein electrical communication to said at least two pressure sensors and said at least one acceleration sensor is provided via said electrical connector.

11. An apparatus for detecting a vehicle/pedestrian impact comprising:
at least one acceleration sensor mounted near a forward location of a vehicle for providing an associated acceleration signal indicative of an impact event;
at least one multi-channel pressure sensor having a plurality of pressure hoses connected thereto, the plurality of pressure hoses being mounted at associated different locations along a forward structure of the vehicle, each pressure hose providing an associated pressure indication to the multi-channel pressure sensor of an impact event, the multi-channel pressure sensor providing an associated electrical signal indicative of an impact event encountered by any of the pressure hoses; and
a controller for determining if a vehicle/pedestrian impact event has occurred in response to the acceleration signal and the associated electrical signal from the multi-channel pressure sensor and for providing an actuation control signal in response thereto;
wherein the at least one multi-channel pressure sensor includes a housing having a printed circuit board mounted therein and a plurality of pressure sensors mounted to said printed circuit board, each pressure hoses being operatively coupled to an associated one of the pressure sensors mounted on said printed circuit board.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 further including an acceleration sensor mounted to said printed circuit board.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said housing includes a cover having a plurality of pressure ports, each pressure port being connected to an associated one of said pressure sensors mounted on said printed circuit board.

14. Apparatus for use in detecting an impact of a pedestrian or other object on a vehicle, comprising:
at least two gas filled pressure sensing hoses, each of said pressure sensing hoses being disposed proximal to said vehicle bumper and extending along the long dimension of said bumper;
a housing comprising a base defining a cavity and a cover connectable to said base to close said cavity;
a printed circuit board fixed in said cavity;
at least two pressure sensors mounted on said printed circuit board;
wherein the housing further comprises at least two pressure ports, each of said pressure ports being associated with one of the pressure sensing hoses; and
at least one sensor gasket comprising at least two gasket passages extending therethrough, said at least one sensor gasket being disposed within the cavity and between the housing and the printed circuit board so that each of said gasket passages provides fluid communication between one of said pressure sensors and a corresponding one of said pressure ports.

15. Apparatus as set forth in claim 14 , wherein said at least two pressure sensors are mounted on said printed circuit board such that said pressure sensors each face the same side of said housing.

16. Apparatus as set forth in claim 14 , wherein said housing further comprises an electrical connector fitting accessible external to said housing for providing electrical communication between said printed circuit board and other electrical systems external to said housing.

17. Apparatus as set forth in claim 14 , wherein the cover, when connected to said base, compresses said sensor gasket between said printed circuit boar

Assignees

• Trw Automotive Us Llc

Inventors

• Foo Chek-Peng
• Murray Jr Neil G
• Konle Johannes
• Parker Dion
• Sanchez Luis F

Classifications

• B60R19/483

  with obstacle sensors of electric or electronic type · CPC title

• B60R21/34

  Protecting non-occupants of a vehicle, e.g. pedestrians {(B60R19/02 takes precedence)} · 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

• B60R2021/01013

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