Active Hood Hinge Assembly for Pedestrian Impact Cushioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle hoods do not effectively protect pedestrians during collisions by absorbing energy and providing adequate cushioning, leading to potential head injuries.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle hood hinge assembly that includes a hinge, actuator, sensor, and controller to lift the hood to a pedestrian deployment position in anticipation of or during a collision, using sensors to detect pedestrian characteristics and trigger the actuator to adjust the hood's position and timing for enhanced cushioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the hood remains in the secured position during collision, then the hood structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the pedestrian protection capability is insufficient leading to potential head injuries
Solution Approach 1:
The hood hinge assembly performs preliminary action by positioning the hood in an elevated deployment position before collision occurs. Sensors detect the approaching pedestrian and trigger the actuator to lift the hood to a predetermined angle, creating a cushioning effect that absorbs impact energy and reduces head injury risk before the actual collision happens.
Solution Approach 2:
The hood hinge assembly transforms the static hood structure into a dynamic system that can adjust its position in real-time. The actuator mechanism enables the hood to move between the secured position and the deployment position, allowing the system to adapt to collision scenarios and optimize pedestrian protection based on detected conditions.
2Strength
If the hood is lifted to pedestrian deployment position using actuator, then the cushioning effect and energy absorption is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The hood hinge assembly is segmented into distinct functional components: the hinge mechanism, actuator, sensor system, and controller. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized and manufactured independently, facilitating modular assembly and simplifying the manufacturing process while achieving the desired energy absorption capability through coordinated operation of these specialized subsystems.
3Measurement precision
If sensors detect pedestrian characteristics to customize hood positioning, then the pedestrian protection precision is improved, but the system complexity and response time requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system continuously monitors the environment for pedestrian detection and provides feedback to the controller. When a pedestrian is detected, the sensor data feeds back to the controller, which then adjusts the actuator to position the hood optimally. This closed-loop feedback system enables precise customization of hood positioning based on real-time pedestrian characteristics while managing system complexity through automated control logic.
Data Source
AI summary
A hinge assembly is provided to lift a hood of a vehicle relative to a vehicle body in anticipation of, during, or right after a collision has occurred to cushion contact with a pedestrian. The hood selectively covers a compartment of the vehicle when in a secured position. The hinge assembly includes a hinge configured to guide the hood from the secured position to both of an open position or to a pedestrian deployment position relative to the vehicle body. An actuator moves the hood from the secured position to the pedestrian deployment position. A controller controls the actuator based at least in part on a characteristic of the pedestrian.