Vehicle Impact Absorber with Integrated Pressure Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle impact absorption systems lack reliable and cost-efficient methods for accurately triggering passenger safety systems, such as airbags and belt tightening devices, due to limitations in detecting the severity of collisions, especially at varying speeds.
Innovation Solution
An impact absorption device with a reversibly compressible compression element equipped with a pressure sensor that can detect pressure changes during compression, allowing for precise triggering of safety devices based on collision severity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If pressure sensors are integrated into the compression element, then measurement precision and reliability of collision detection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure sensor is integrated directly into the compression element, merging the sensing function with the existing impact absorption structure. This eliminates the need for separate sensor housings and mounting mechanisms, thereby improving measurement precision while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The compression element serves dual functions: it absorbs impact energy through reversible compression and simultaneously houses the pressure sensor for collision detection. This multi-functionality approach allows the same component to provide both mechanical protection and sensing capabilities, resolving the contradiction between improved measurement and increased complexity.
2Reliability
If additional sensors are added to detect collision severity, then reliability of safety system triggering is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The compression element is designed to serve multiple purposes: impact energy absorption and collision severity measurement. By making the compression element itself sensor-equipped, the system achieves reliable collision detection without adding separate sensing components, thereby maintaining ease of manufacture while improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The compression element performs self-diagnosis by incorporating the pressure sensor within itself. This self-service approach allows the component to provide its own sensing capabilities, eliminating the need for additional independent sensors and reducing overall manufacturing costs while improving system reliability.
3Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are used to differentiate collision speeds, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The compression element is divided into multiple compression chambers with different characteristics. Each chamber responds differently to impact forces based on its design, allowing a single sensor to detect varying pressure patterns that correspond to different collision speeds. This segmentation approach enables precise speed differentiation without requiring multiple sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the compression element are designed with varying physical parameters (such as chamber volume, wall thickness, or material properties) that cause them to respond differently to impact forces. The pressure sensor detects these parameter-based variations to differentiate collision speeds, achieving precise measurement without increasing sensor quantity or device 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
The integration of a pressure sensor within the compression element enables reliable and cost-effective triggering of airbags and belt tightening devices, differentiating between low and high-speed collisions, reducing the need for additional sensors and enhancing safety system accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
impact absorption device for dampening an impact on a vehicle component by using a compression element that can be reversibly compressed
Implementation Method 2
compression element which can be reversed
Implementation Method 3
a pressure sensor is situated in the compression element which can detect the pressure during a compression process of the compression element
Data Source
AI summary
It is important to recognize the severity of an accident more accurately and reliably. To do so, the present invention consists of installing a compression element (25) that can be compressed reversibly into an impact absorption device (2) in order to dampen the impact on a vehicle component. A pressure sensor is integrated in this compression element (25) which detects the pressure during compression of the compression element (25). From the pressure signal, data such as the collision speed can be determined and a safety device such as an airbag can be triggered. By doing so, expensive early crash sensors and similar devices become unnecessary, while the severity of an accident can be reliably determined.