Sensor device and method for recording at least one contact event on a vehicle

Abstract

A sensor device for detecting at least one contact event on a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, with at least one impact sound sensor for detecting at least one impact sound signal. At least one impact sound sensor has at least one signal-transferring connection to at least one signal processing means already existing in the vehicle and associated with at least one other sensor means. With this arrangement, at least one impact sound sensor has an impact-sound-transmitting connection to a section of the outer shell of the vehicle. This allows contact events on the vehicle to be detected.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a Divisional of co-pending application Ser. No. 14 / 873,976 filed on Oct. 2, 2015 for which priority is claimed under 35 U.S.C. § 120; and this application claims priority of Application No. 10 2014 014 389.9 filed in Germany on Oct. 2, 2014 under 35 U.S.C. § 119; the entire contents of all of which are hereby incorporated by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONField of the Invention[0002]The invention relates to a sensor device for recording at least one contact event on a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, with at least one impact sound sensor for detecting at least one impact sound signal. Furthermore the invention relates to a method for recording at least one contact event on a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, with at least one sensor means for detecting at least one impact sound signal. Moreover the invention relates to a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, with a device according to the invention...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005]The invention is based on the requirement to propose a sensor device with which contact events on a vehicle can be detected by measuring impact sound, and where easy assembly, in particular retrofitting of the sensor device into an existing vehicle, is made possible.

[0008]The impact sound sensor may be provided for the purpose of continuously recording the impact sound signal issued by a section of the outer shell of a vehicle and of forwarding it to a signal processing means for further evaluation. The wiring of impact sound sensors, especially in the outer areas of the vehicle outer shell, is very cumbersome, so that it is favourable to utilise already existing wiring. For example, an impact sound sensor can be connected to an already existing sensor system. By utilising already existing wiring, expenditure in terms of labour is considerably less, leading to a cost advantage and thus permitting to retrofit the impact sound sensor system into an existing vehicle in as economical a manner as possible. Apart from wiring an already existing sensor system it is also possible to utilise an already existing signal processing means for further processing of the impact sound signals. This may, for example, be a central computer node in the vehicle. In order to record the impact sound signals of a component of a vehicle, the impact sound sensor must have a impact-sound-transmitting connection to this component. This impact sound signal of an area of the outer shell of the vehicle may for example be recorded by an impact sound sensor on the side of the vehicle outer shell facing the passenger compartment. If an object makes contact with the vehicle outer shell, an impact sound signal is generated, which is forwarded via the outer shell of the vehicle so that when several impact sound sensors are distributed across the inside of the outer shell of the vehicle, this contact-making can be detected in the entire area of the vehicle outer shell. In particular the locations where impact sound sensors are placed can be selected such that the area relevant to monitoring is completely covered and that access to these locations is such that retrofitting of the impact sound sensors is possible. At least one already existing signal processing means is associated with an ultrasound sensor. The ultrasound sensor in particular, may be an ultrasound distance sensor, which is for example arranged on the bumper of a motor vehicle. In particular this may be an ultrasound sensor of a parking assistance system, such as used for example in detecting the distances to objects such as parking cars. The impact sound sensors may be connected to the ultrasound distance sensors and the raw data issued by the impact sound sensors may, for example be pre-processed by the signal processing means of the ultrasound distance sensors, from where they are then forwarded to a central control device. Here the wiring, in particular that of the ultrasound distance sensor, may be utilised.

[0016]Furthermore the invention relates to a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, with a sensor device according to the invention. Sensor devices according to the invention may be arranged for example in the area of ultrasound distance sensors of an already existing parking assistance system in the vehicle. It is therefore possible to subsequently equip the vehicle with impact sound sensors for monitoring contact events without increasing assembly costs.

Problems solved by technology

The wiring of impact sound sensors, especially in the outer areas of the vehicle outer shell, is very cumbersome, so that it is favourable to utilise already existing wiring.

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