Collision obstacle discrimination device

Abstract

A collision obstacle discrimination device has a load sensor. The load sensor includes an elongated member which is arranged in a bumper of a vehicle and extends substantially in a width direction of the vehicle, and a plurality of sensor members which are fixed in a space defined by the elongated member and arrayed in the vehicle width direction. The sensor member is disposed to detect a physical property which varies in response to a load applied to the bumper due to a collision of the vehicle. Sensitivities of the plurality of sensor members are respectively set in response to vehicle-width-direction positions of the sensor members to be diversified, so that the plurality of sensor members have a substantially same response property with respect to the load applied to the bumper.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partially longitudinally sectional view showing a front portion of a vehicle where a collision obstacle discrimination device is mounted according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partially laterally sectional view showing the front portion of the vehicle in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partially cross-sectional view showing a load sensor according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a front view showing a spacer of the load sensor according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a graph showing a relation between a load and a deformation amount of a middle portion of a bumper and a relation between a load and a deformation amount of an end portion of the bumper according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a partially cross-sectional view showing a load sensor according to a first modification of the first embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing wirings of the load sensor according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 8A is a schematic perspective view showing a sensor member which is independently constructed according to a second modification of the first embodiment, and FIG. 8B is a schematic disassembled view showing the sensor member in FIG. 8A; and

FIG. 9 is a partially laterally sectional view showing a collision obstacle discrimination device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A collision obstacle discrimination device, comprising a load sensor which includes: an elongated member which is arranged in a bumper of a vehicle and extends substantially in a width direction of the vehicle, the elongated member defining therein a space; anda plurality of sensor members which are fixed in the space of the elongated member and arrayed in the vehicle width direction, the sensor member being disposed to detect a physical property which varies in response to a load applied to the bumper due to a collision of the vehicle, whereinsensitivities of the plurality of sensor members are respectively set in response to vehicle-width-direction positions of the sensor members to be diversified, so that the plurality of sensor members have a substantially same response property with respect to the load applied to the bumper.

2. The collision obstacle discrimination device according to claim 1, wherein each of the sensor members is mounted to an inner surface of the elongated member, and has a spacer portion and a load detection unit which detects the physical property,the spacer portions of the plurality of sensor members partitioning the space defined by the elongated member into a plurality of gaps, in each of which the load detection unit of the corresponding sensor member is arranged.

3. The collision obstacle discrimination device according to claim 2, wherein the elongated member includes a first band-shaped portion and a second band-shaped portion which are opposite to each other; andthe plurality of sensor members are sandwiched between the first band-shaped portion and the second band-shaped portion.

4. The collision obstacle discrimination device according to claim 2, wherein the load detection unit includes a first contact portion, and a second contact portion which has a pressure sensitive ink,the first contact portion and the second contact portion facing each other and being spaced from each other by the gap,a resistance between the first contact portion and the second contact portion varying in response to a pressure applied to the load detection unit.

5. The collision obstacle discrimination device according to claim 4, wherein the sensitivities of the plurality of sensor members are diversified in response to the vehicle-width-direction positions of the sensor members, by diversifying kinds of the pressure sensitive inks.

6. The collision obstacle discrimination device according to claim 2, wherein the sensitivities of the plurality of sensor members are diversified in response to the vehicle-width-direction positions of the sensor members, by adjusting a deformation amount of the sensor member via an alteration of at least one of a thickness of the spacer portion, an elasticity of the spacer portion, and a dimension of the gap partitioned by the spacer portion.

7. The collision obstacle discrimination device according to claim 1, wherein the load sensor is sandwiched between a bumper absorber of the vehicle and a bumper reinforcement member of the vehicle,the bumper absorber extending in the vehicle width direction in the bumper to buffer an impact to the vehicle due to the collision,the bumper reinforcement member being arranged at a vehicle rear side of the bumper absorber and extending along the bumper absorber.

8. The collision obstacle discrimination device according to claim 2, wherein the spacer portions of the plurality of sensor members are integrated with each other.

9. The collision obstacle discrimination device according to claim 1, wherein the load sensor is a chamber type load sensor,the elongated member defining therein a plurality of chambers which are respectively closed,the sensor members respectively detecting pressures in the chambers, the pressure varying in response to the load applied to the bumper due to the collision.

10. The collision obstacle discrimination device according to claim 9, wherein the sensitivities of the plurality of sensor members are diversified in response to the vehicle-width-direction mounting positions of the sensor members, by adjusting the pressure in the chamber.

11. The collision obstacle discrimination device according to claim 1, wherein the load sensor is a tube type load sensor.