Vehicle Bumper Supporting Members for Corner Collision Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle bumper structures equipped with pedestrian collision detection sensors face limitations in processing angles, preventing the bumper reinforcement from being disposed at corner portions, which results in an inability to detect collisions at these areas due to the absence of a member generating a reaction force during collisions.
Innovation Solution
The vehicle bumper structure incorporates a bumper reinforcement disposed with the vehicle transverse direction as its length, an absorber extending in the transverse direction adjacent to the reinforcement, a pressure tube between them, and supporting members extending from the reinforcement's end portions to support the absorber and pressure tube, allowing reaction force generation and collision detection at corner portions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If the bumper reinforcement is bent at greater than or equal to a predetermined angle to correspond to corner portions, then the bumper reinforcement can be disposed at the vehicle rear side with respect to corner portions, but the bending processing cannot be carried out due to processing limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the original single bumper reinforcement structure into multiple segments by introducing supporting members as separate components. These supporting members are connected to the bumper reinforcement and extend toward the corner portions, allowing the system to achieve the required angular configuration without bending the main reinforcement beyond processing limits. This segmentation enables the structure to adapt to corner portions while maintaining manufacturability of individual components.
2Ease of manufacture
If the bumper reinforcement is not disposed at the vehicle rear side with respect to corner portions, then processing limitations are avoided, but no member generates reaction force with respect to the pressure tube at corner portions, preventing collision detection
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting members act as intermediary elements between the bumper reinforcement and the corner portions. These members extend from the bumper reinforcement toward the corner portions and provide the necessary structural support to generate reaction forces on the pressure tube during collisions at corner areas. This intermediary structure enables collision detection functionality without requiring the main bumper reinforcement to be disposed at positions that would exceed bending processing capabilities.
3Reliability
If the bumper reinforcement is disposed at the vehicle rear side with respect to corner portions, then collision detection at corner portions becomes possible, but the bumper reinforcement cannot be disposed there due to processing limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from a two-dimensional planar arrangement to a three-dimensional spatial configuration by introducing supporting members that extend in multiple directions. The supporting members connect the bumper reinforcement to the corner portions through a three-dimensional space, allowing the system to achieve the required spatial relationship for collision detection without requiring excessive bending of the main reinforcement in a single plane. This dimensional transition enables the structure to overcome processing limitations.
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 enables effective detection of collisions at corner portions by generating a reaction force through the supporting members, enhancing the detection range and accuracy of the pedestrian collision detection sensor, even when processing limitations restrict bumper reinforcement placement.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure sensor outputs a signal corresponding to the change in pressure of the pressure tube
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
At a front bumper (12), supporting members (30) that are bodies separate from a bumper RF (20) are assembled to vehicle transverse direction both end portions of the bumper RF (20), and the supporting members (30) extend from vehicle transverse direction both ends of the bumper RF (20) toward vehicle transverse direction outer sides and a vehicle rear side. Further, the supporting members (30) are disposed adjacent to vehicle rear sides of absorber side portions (54) and pressure tube side portions (76). Therefore, even in a case in which the bumper RF (20) cannot be disposed at vehicle rear sides of corner portions (10A) of a vehicle (10) due to limitations in processing the bumper RF (20) or the like, the absorber side portions (54) and the pressure tube side portions (76) can be supported from a vehicle rear side by the supporting members (30). Due thereto, at a time of a collision with a collision body, reaction force with respect to the pressure tube (72) can be generated by the supporting members (30). As a result, a collision with a collision body at the corner portion (10A) can be detected.