Offset Acceleration Sensor Collision Detection Threshold
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing occupant protection systems face challenges in accurately determining vehicle collisions when a single satellite sensor is offset from the vehicle's center line, leading to difficulties in distinguishing between collisions based on collision position and speed, resulting in potential errors in activating safety devices.
Innovation Solution
A control device that uses a single acceleration sensor offset from the vehicle's center line, incorporating a control unit with threshold setting and determining units to analyze the sensor's output signals, taking into account vehicle speed to improve collision detection accuracy, and optionally integrating signals to enhance collision determination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If one satellite sensor is disposed offset from the vehicle center line, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to inability to distinguish collision position and speed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of threshold values dynamically based on vehicle speed. The control unit adjusts the threshold for collision detection according to the detected vehicle speed, allowing accurate collision determination despite the single offset sensor. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining measurement precision through adaptive parameter adjustment rather than using multiple sensors.
2Measurement precision
If one satellite sensor is disposed on the vehicle center line, then measurement precision is improved for head-on collisions, but ease of manufacture deteriorates due to vehicle design constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent compensates for the offset sensor position by dynamically adjusting detection thresholds based on vehicle speed. This allows the sensor to be positioned according to vehicle design requirements rather than being constrained to the center line, while maintaining accurate collision detection through parameter adaptation.
3Ease of operation
If threshold values are fixed for collision detection, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to varying vehicle speeds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the threshold values dynamic by linking them to vehicle speed. The control unit automatically adjusts the detection threshold according to the current vehicle speed, eliminating the need for manual configuration while maintaining high detection accuracy across different operating conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the vehicle speed sensor to continuously adjust the collision detection threshold. This closed-loop approach ensures the threshold adapts to current operating conditions, maintaining measurement precision without complicating the operation for the user.
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 solution enhances the accuracy of collision detection and reduces the likelihood of errors by considering vehicle speed and adjusting thresholds accordingly, enabling effective operation of occupant protection devices even for offset collisions.
Implementation Method 1
a satellite sensor (an acceleration sensor) for detecting a vehicle collision
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3(A)~3(B)
AI summary
The occurrence of a vehicle collision is determined using an output signal of one satellite sensor disposed to be offset from a vehicle center line. A control device for an occupant protection device includes: an acceleration sensor (2) disposed at a front position of a vehicle (1); and a control unit (3) that determines the occurrence of a collision based on an output signal of the acceleration sensor and operates an occupant protection device (4). The acceleration sensor (2) is one satellite sensor disposed to be offset in a vehicle width direction from a vehicle front center position. The control unit (3) includes: a first threshold setting unit that sets a first threshold so as to correspond to a traveling speed of the vehicle; and a determining unit that compares a level of the output signal of the acceleration sensor with the first threshold to determine the occurrence of a collision.