Vehicle Impact Sensor Chamber Pressure Amplification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional impact sensing systems in vehicles face challenges in measuring pressure associated with crash-related impacts due to through-holes in vehicle members and large cavities that reduce sensor effectiveness, leading to lower signal quality and slower response times.
Innovation Solution
The impact sensor system employs a sensor chamber with varying cross-sectional areas within vehicle frame members, such as diverging or converging conical shapes, to amplify pressure signals and improve response times, coupled with pressure sensors that generate signals indicative of impacts to the exterior surface, allowing for more accurate controller evaluations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If pressure sensors are installed in conventional vehicle cavities with through-holes, then device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to inability to adequately measure crash-related pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle body cavity is segmented into a sensor chamber portion and a non-sensor chamber portion. The sensor chamber is a dedicated isolated volume within the cavity that excludes through-holes and other features that would interfere with pressure measurement, while the non-sensor chamber portion contains these features. This segmentation allows precise pressure measurement in the sensor chamber while maintaining the structural and weight-saving benefits of through-holes in other parts of the cavity.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor chamber is extracted as a distinct functional element from the general vehicle body cavity. By isolating the pressure sensing function into a separate chamber portion that is substantially isolated from through-holes and large cavity features, the patent removes the interfering elements from the measurement zone while preserving them in the overall structure.
2Measurement precision
If conventional cavity structures are used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but signal quality deteriorates due to large cavity volumes reducing pressure change detection
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor chamber is designed with locally optimized qualities different from the general cavity. It has a smaller, controlled volume with specific geometric features (such as conical or frustoconical shapes) that enhance pressure wave propagation and signal quality. These local quality improvements are concentrated where needed for sensing, while the rest of the cavity maintains its conventional manufacturing-friendly structure.
3Measurement precision
If through-holes are present in vehicle members, then weight is reduced and wiring conduits are provided, but measurement precision deteriorates due to reduced pressure measurement capability
Solution Approach 1:
The cavity is divided into sensor and non-sensor zones. Through-holes are permitted in the non-sensor chamber portion for weight reduction and wiring purposes, while the sensor chamber portion remains substantially isolated from such features, preserving pressure measurement precision.
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 configuration results in higher signal magnitude with less noise and faster response times, enhancing the accuracy and effectiveness of vehicle safety system deployments.
Implementation Method 1
The sensor chamber includes a first end having a first cross-sectional area and a second end having a second cross-sectional area of a different size than the first cross-sectional area, wherein the first end is closer to the exterior surface than the second end
Data Source
AI summary
An impact sensor system for a vehicle that includes a frame member having a cavity and a chamber arranged within the cavity. The chamber includes two ends with different cross-sectional areas. The impact sensor system further includes a sensor coupled to the chamber that generates a signal indicative of a pressure change within the chamber caused by an impact to the frame member.