Pedestrian Bumper Sensor Pressure Tube Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle bumper structures with pedestrian collision detection sensors face challenges in securing a detection range in the vehicle width direction while preventing interference with peripheral components during damageability testing, which can lead to increased placement space and potential damage.

Innovation Solution

The bumper reinforcement is positioned with its length direction along the vehicle width direction at the rear side of the bumper cover, and the absorber is disposed adjacent to the front side, with the pressure tube extending between them. The vehicle width direction outer end of the bumper reinforcement is set between specific normal lines to ensure detection range without extending beyond the front-rear reference line, thereby preventing interference with peripheral components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the bumper reinforcement is extended further toward the vehicle width direction outer sides to secure the detection range, then the pedestrian collision detection range is improved, but the placement space increases and interference with peripheral components occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepedestrian collision detection rangeVSAvoidplacement space of bumper reinforcement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure tube is configured to extend not only in the vehicle width direction but also in the vehicle front-rear direction, utilizing multiple spatial dimensions to achieve comprehensive detection coverage without requiring the bumper reinforcement to extend further in the width direction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The pressure tube is positioned within the space between the bumper reinforcement and the absorber, effectively utilizing the existing structural space without requiring additional external space or extending the bumper reinforcement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If the bumper reinforcement is extended further toward the vehicle width direction outer sides to secure the detection range, then the pedestrian collision detection range is improved, but interference with peripheral components disposed at the vehicle rear side occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepedestrian collision detection rangeVSAvoidinterference with peripheral components

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The detection system utilizes both vehicle width direction and vehicle front-rear direction extensions of the pressure tube to achieve comprehensive coverage without requiring the bumper reinforcement to extend in the width direction, thereby avoiding interference with rear-side peripheral components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The absorber serves as an intermediary structure that allows the pressure tube to extend toward the vehicle rear side without direct contact between the bumper reinforcement and peripheral components, preventing interference while maintaining detection capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This configuration secures the vehicle width direction detection range for pedestrian collision detection while improving damageability performance by reducing the need for extensive bumper reinforcement placement, thus preventing interference with rear-side components during testing.

Implementation Method 1

the pressure tube to be deformed (squashed) by the bumper reinforcement and the absorber, and a signal according to the change in pressure of the pressure tube to be output by the pedestrian collision detection sensor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure change: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

the pressure tube to be deformed (squashed) by the bumper reinforcement and the absorber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDeformation: Deformation

Data Source

PatentEP3006274B1Vehicle bumper structure including a pedestrian collision detection sensor

Publication Date: 2018.05.09 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK

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Figure 3A

AI summary

A vehicle bumper structure including: bumper reinforcement at a rear of a bumper cover; an absorber in front of the bumper reinforcement; and a pedestrian collision detection sensor including a pressure tube between the bumper reinforcement and the absorber, wherein a position of a width direction outer end of the bumper reinforcement is set between a first normal line and a second normal line, where a front-rear reference line passes through a width direction outer end of a front hood or apron upper member and extends along a front-rear direction, the first normal line passes through an intersection point between the front-rear reference line and the bumper cover and extends along the direction of a normal line with respect to the width direction outer end of the bumper reinforcement, and the second normal line is offset by 100 mm to a width direction inner side of the first normal line.