Vehicle Side Door Impact Beam Load Transmission for Airbag Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle side door structures fail to effectively differentiate between localized and wide-area loads, leading to inappropriate airbag deployment in side impact scenarios, as the current acceleration sensors lack sufficient load input differentiation between these two types of impacts.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle side door structure featuring an impact beam and a load transmission member with strategically positioned joints and a horizontal section, which transmits loads efficiently to an impact detector when a localized load is applied, while minimizing load transmission during wide-area impacts by allowing the door panels to intrude less, thus reducing the load input to the detector.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If an acceleration sensor is attached to the side door to detect impact loads, then airbag deployment can be triggered for localized impacts, but the sensor cannot differentiate between localized and wide-area loads, leading to inappropriate airbag deployment
Solution Approach 1:
The side door structure is segmented into multiple load transmission paths: one path through the impact beam for localized loads, and another path through the load transmission member for wide-area loads. The acceleration sensor is positioned to detect loads transmitted through these segmented paths, enabling differentiation between localized and wide-area impacts based on the distinct load transmission characteristics of each path.
Solution Approach 2:
The load transmission member acts as an intermediary element that selectively transmits wide-area loads to the acceleration sensor while the impact beam transmits localized loads. This intermediary structure enables the sensor to receive differentiated load inputs from different impact types, allowing accurate discrimination between localized and wide-area impacts for proper airbag deployment decisions.
2Force
If the acceleration sensor directly detects loads on the side door, then simple impact detection is achieved, but the load input to the sensor is insufficient for localized impacts compared to wide-area impacts
Solution Approach 1:
The load transmission member serves as a mechanical intermediary that amplifies and directs localized load forces to the acceleration sensor. When a localized impact occurs, the load is transmitted through the impact beam and concentrated onto the load transmission member, which then transmits this amplified load to the sensor, ensuring sufficient load input for accurate detection of localized impacts.
Solution Approach 2:
The structure changes the force transmission parameters by creating different load paths with distinct mechanical characteristics. The impact beam and load transmission member are designed with specific geometries and connection points that alter the force magnitude and distribution reaching the sensor, thereby changing the load input parameters to enhance sensitivity for localized impacts while maintaining simplicity in detection.
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
The structure enhances load input to the impact detector during localized loads, ensuring appropriate airbag deployment in side impacts while avoiding unnecessary deployment during wide-area impacts, thereby improving occupant protection and reducing airbag actuation errors.
Implementation Method 1
the outer panel locally approaches the inner panel side due to bending of the length direction intermediate portion of the impact beam towards the inner side in the vehicle width direction
Implementation Method 2
load is transmitted, via the horizontal section and the inner-side joint section of the load transmission member, to the inner panel
Data Source
AI summary
Load input to an impact detector can be increased when a localized load is input, in comparison to when load is input to a comparatively wide region. In the vehicle side door structure 10, when a localized load is input, for example due to an impact to an outer panel 18 of a pole, or the like, to a length direction intermediate portion of an impact beam 26, via the outer panel 18, the outer panel 18 locally approaches the inner panel 20 side due to the length direction intermediate portion of the impact beam 26 bending, and a load is input to the vehicle width direction outer-edge portion of the sensing bracket 32. As a result, load is transmitted to the inner panel 20, via the horizontal section 32B and an inner-side joint section 32A of the sensing bracket 32, and also load (acceleration, displacement or the like) is input to an acceleration sensor 40 attached to the inner panel 20.