Impact Intensity Determination via Triaxial Acceleration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing crash detection methods rely on one-dimensional acceleration values, which are direction-dependent and fail to accurately determine impact strength independently of sensor orientation and gravitational acceleration, leading to potential false triggering and missed impacts.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the reception of three-dimensional acceleration signals, calculation of a direction-independent variable, integration over a time window, and generation of a signal representing impact strength, with optional low-pass filtering and subtraction of gravitational acceleration to account for orientation and interference, allowing for precise and user-friendly impact detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If one-dimensional acceleration values are used for crash detection, then the system is simple and easy to implement, but the impact strength determination is direction-dependent and inaccurate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from one-dimensional acceleration measurement to three-dimensional acceleration measurement by incorporating multiple acceleration sensors oriented in different spatial directions. This dimensional expansion allows the system to capture impact vectors from any direction, enabling accurate calculation of impact strength regardless of impact orientation, thereby resolving the direction-dependency issue while maintaining reasonable system complexity
2Device complexity
If gravitational acceleration is not compensated, then the calculation is simple, but false triggering occurs due to excessive impact strength determination from gravitational effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and separates the gravitational acceleration component from the total measured acceleration signal. By identifying and removing this constant vertical component, the system isolates only the dynamic impact-related acceleration, preventing gravitational effects from causing false high impact strength readings while maintaining reliable crash detection
3Speed
If high-frequency shocks are not filtered, then the measurement response is fast, but false impact strength determination occurs from hard object impacts on the device
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a low-pass filter that allows periodic acceleration patterns characteristic of vehicle impacts (lower frequencies) to pass through while attenuating high-frequency shock signals from hard object impacts on the device. This frequency-based discrimination maintains sensitivity to genuine crashes while rejecting spurious high-frequency noise, achieving both accurate measurement and appropriate response speed
4Use of energy by moving object
If the integral value is not determined continuously, then the processing load is reduced, but dead times occur where possible impacts could be missed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous determination of the integral value of acceleration over time, ensuring that the impact strength calculation is constantly updated without dead times. This continuous monitoring approach guarantees that no impact event is missed, as the system is always ready to detect and evaluate crash conditions, thereby maximizing detection reliability
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
Enables accurate, direction-independent impact strength determination, reducing false triggering and ensuring continuous measurement, with the ability to transmit impact signals remotely for enhanced safety and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
a triaxial acceleration sensor with which accelerations in three different directions in space can be detected
Implementation Method 2
the three signals are low-pass filtered
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for generating a signal which is representative of an impact intensity, comprising the steps of: receiving (102) at least three signals which represent in each case accelerations in different directions in space; calculating (103) a direction-independent variable from the three signals; determining (104) an integral value of the direction-independent variable via a time window; generating (105) a signal which is representative of an impact intensity on the basis of the determined integral value.