Multi-Sensor Pressure Tube System for Vehicle Collision Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pressure tube sensor systems for pedestrian impact detection in vehicles only measure mass and lack spatial information, making it difficult to accurately distinguish between small and large collision objects and determining the vehicle's own speed during collisions.
Innovation Solution
A system with two pressure tube sensors arranged at a spatial distance, allowing for the determination of the minimum size of a collision object and the vehicle's own speed, which enhances pedestrian protection by providing a spatial component to collision detection and influencing safety function triggering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single pressure tube sensor is used to detect pedestrian impact, then the system structure is simple, but the measurement precision of collision object size and vehicle speed is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a single sensor point measurement to a multi-sensor spatial distribution measurement. By arranging multiple pressure tube sensors at different positions (front, side, rear of the vehicle), the system captures spatial information about collision objects, enabling determination of both size and vehicle speed through geometric analysis of pressure signal patterns across the sensor array.
2Reliability
If multiple pressure tube sensors are deployed to improve collision detection accuracy, then the measurement precision improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the collision detection task into multiple independent sensor units distributed around the vehicle. Each pressure tube sensor independently detects local pressure changes, and the controller integrates these segmented measurements to reconstruct complete collision information, improving reliability through redundant detection points while managing complexity through modular sensor design.
3Loss of information
If spatial information from multiple sensors is processed, then the determination of minimum collision object size and vehicle speed improves, but the information processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical measurement systems with pressure-based sensing and electronic signal processing. Instead of using mechanical devices to directly measure collision object dimensions and vehicle speed, the system uses pressure tube sensors to convert mechanical impact into electrical pressure signals, which are then processed algorithmically to extract spatial information, minimizing information loss while keeping processing manageable through software-based analysis.
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 system improves the accuracy of collision object size determination and vehicle speed assessment, enabling more precise triggering of safety functions such as airbags and emergency braking, thereby enhancing pedestrian protection.
Implementation Method 1
The pressure tube is filled with air and sealed at each of its ends with a respective pressure sensor. The deformation in the foam that occurs in the event of an impact with a pedestrian thus leads to the tube being compressed, as a result of which a pressure signal is measured by the two pressure sensors.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for generating a trigger signal for triggering at least one safety function of a motor vehicle includes receiving respective signals from at least two pressure tube sensors; determining a minimum size of a collision object and/or a speed of the motor vehicle from the signals received, and emitting the trigger signal for the at least one safety function in accordance with at least one of the parameters.