Crash Zone Satellite Accelerometers for Offset Crash Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current air bag restraining systems in vehicles have limitations in effectively detecting and responding to offset deformable barrier, oblique/angular, and pole crash events, as they rely on incomplete crash data from central sensors alone.
Innovation Solution
The use of XY crush-zone satellite accelerometers to sense crash acceleration at multiple locations within the vehicle, providing comprehensive crash data for enhanced detection and actuation of multistage occupant restraining systems, including air bags, by a controller that filters and processes signals to discriminate crash events accurately.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If central crash accelerometer alone is used for crash detection, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision and reliability of crash event detection deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The crash detection system is segmented into multiple independent accelerometer sensors positioned at different locations (central crash accelerometer and forward crush-zone accelerometers). Each sensor independently measures crash acceleration at its specific location, and the controller integrates signals from all sensors to achieve comprehensive crash event detection. This segmentation allows the system to maintain low individual sensor complexity while achieving high overall measurement precision through multi-point data fusion.
2Measurement precision
If multiple crush-zone satellite accelerometers are added, then measurement precision and crash scenario detection improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The forward crush-zone accelerometers serve multiple functions simultaneously: they detect offset deformable barrier crashes, oblique/angular crashes, and pole crash events. A single accelerometer placement provides universal detection capability across multiple crash scenarios that would otherwise require multiple specialized sensors. The controller universally processes signals from all accelerometers using a unified algorithm framework, enabling one system to handle diverse crash types without proportionally increasing complexity.
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 approach enables improved detection and response to various crash scenarios, ensuring enhanced occupant safety by providing precise actuation of air bags and other restraining devices based on comprehensive crash metrics, thereby improving the overall safety and effectiveness of the vehicle's crash response system.
Implementation Method 1
a central crash accelerometer sensing crash acceleration at a central vehicle location and providing a first crash acceleration signal indicative of the sensed crash acceleration
Implementation Method 2
a crush zone crash accelerometer sensing transverse crash acceleration at a forward location of the vehicle and providing a transverse crash acceleration signal indicative of the sensed transverse crash acceleration
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus is provided for controlling a vehicle actuatable occupant restraining system including a central crash accelerometer sensing crash acceleration at a central vehicle location and providing a first crash acceleration signal indicative thereof. A crush zone crash accelerometer senses transverse crash acceleration at a forward location of the vehicle. A controller actuates the actuatable occupant restraining system in response to the central crash acceleration signal and the transverse crash acceleration signal from the crush zone sensor.