The technical field relates generally to a system for detecting impacts on a vehicle.
Side-impact airbags, such as side-curtain airbags, are frequently being offered in modern vehicles to provide protection in the event of a collision, crash, and/or other impact with a side of the vehicle and/or a roll-over of the vehicle. Typically, the impact sensor which initiates inflation of these airbags is mounted in the door of the vehicle.
However, some vehicles are equipped with doors that may be removed, e.g., some models of the JeepĀ® Wrangler. Further, some vehicles may be modified by their owners to remove the doors.
As such, it is desirable to present a system for detecting a side-impact of a vehicle without doors. In addition, other desirable features and characteristics will become apparent from the subsequent summary and detailed description, and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background.
In one exemplary embodiment, an impact detection system for a vehicle having at least one structural pillar includes an impact sensor configured to generate a signal in response to detecting an impact on a side of the vehicle. The impact sensor is disposed on the at least one structural pillar of the vehicle.
Other advantages of the disclosed subject matter will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:
Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, a vehicle 100 with an impact detection system 102 is shown and described herein.
In the exemplary embodiment, the vehicle 100 includes at least one structural pillar 200.
The impact detection system 102 includes an impact sensor 104, shown in
In the exemplary embodiment, the impact sensor 104 is disposed on the at least one structural pillar 200 of the vehicle 100. More particularly, in the exemplary embodiment, the impact sensor 104 is disposed on the B-pillar 204. Even more particularly, in the exemplary embodiment, the B-pillar 204 defines a cavity 206, e.g., a channel, and the impact sensor 104 is disposed in the cavity 206.
In the exemplary embodiment, the impact sensor 104 is a pressure sensor 208. The pressure sensor 208 is configured to generate the signal in response to a change in pressure being indicative of an impact. That is, when a collision, crash, and/or other impact occurs with the side 106 of the vehicle 100, a rapid change in volume may occur within the cavity 206 of the B-pillar 204. The pressure sensor 208 detects that change in volume as a change in pressure and generates the signal that is indicative of an impact with the side 106 of the vehicle 100. Since the pillar 200 of the vehicle may not experience substantial vibration and/or acceleration during an impact, utilizing the pressure sensor 208 is advantageous for detecting the impact.
In another embodiment, the pressure sensor 208 may be located in a structural pillar 200 other than the B-pillar 204. In yet other embodiments, the pressure sensor 208 may be disposed in other structural cavity locations of the vehicle 100, in addition to and/or instead of one of the structural pillars 200. These positions may be at any location on the vehicle 100, i.e., not just the sides 106 of the vehicle 100.
In another embodiment, the impact sensor 104 may be implemented with a sensing bladder. In yet another embodiment, the impact sensor 104 may be implemented with an acceleration based sensor, i.e., an accelerometer.
Referring again to
The present invention has been described herein in an illustrative manner, and it is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Obviously, many modifications and variations of the invention are possible in light of the above teachings. The invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described within the scope of the appended claims.
This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application No. 62/626,864, filed Feb. 6, 2018, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62626864 | Feb 2018 | US |