Diagonal Impact Sensor Collision Detection System

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional vehicle collision detection systems require a separate safing sensor to ensure reliability, increasing manufacturing costs and complexity.

Innovation Solution

A collision detection system using a sensor unit to measure impacts along intersecting diagonal axes, allowing the control unit to calculate longitudinal and transverse impacts and determine collision direction without a separate safing sensor, thereby reducing manufacturing costs and complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a separate safing sensor is installed to ensure system reliability, then the reliability of collision detection is improved, but the manufacturing cost and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollision detection reliabilityVSAvoidsensor system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the functions of detection sensor and safing sensor into a single sensor unit. The sensor measures impacts along two diagonal axes (A and B), and the control unit calculates longitudinal impact (X) and transverse impact (Y) by processing these measurements. This merging eliminates the need for separate safing sensors while maintaining the ability to verify measurement validity through cross-axis comparison.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single sensor unit performs multiple functions: it acts as both the primary detection sensor and the safing sensor. By measuring impacts along two intersecting diagonal axes, the same sensor provides both collision detection data and reliability verification data, eliminating the need for dedicated separate sensors for each function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If a separate safing sensor is installed to ensure system reliability, then the collision detection reliability is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollision detection reliabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the functions of detection sensor and safing sensor into a single sensor unit. The sensor measures impacts along two diagonal axes (A and B), and the control unit calculates longitudinal impact (X) and transverse impact (Y) by processing these measurements. This merging eliminates the need for separate safing sensors while maintaining the ability to verify measurement validity through cross-axis comparison.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Device complexity

If impact sensors measure only along single axes, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to distinguish collision direction is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor arrangement complexityVSAvoidcollision direction detection precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from single-axis impact measurement to two-axis diagonal measurement. By installing the sensor to measure impacts along two intersecting diagonal axes (A and B) instead of a single axis, the system gains the capability to distinguish collision directions (front vs. side collisions) through mathematical calculation of longitudinal (X) and transverse (Y) impact components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS7607510B1Collision detection system for vehicle

Publication Date: 2009.10.27 HYUNDAI MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

Disclosed herein is a collision detection system for a vehicle. The collision detection system for a vehicle according to the present invention includes a sensor unit and a control unit. The sensor unit measures impacts A and B along two axes that intersect each other in diagonal directions. The control unit calculates a longitudinal impact X and a transverse impact Y using the measured impacts A and B, and determines the direction of collision and whether to operate at least one device for protection against collision-related injury using the impacts.