Sensorized Vehicle Panel for Impact-Triggered HV Isolation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle protection systems fail to effectively insulate high-voltage electrical and alternative fuel system components from damage and potential electric shock during low-impact accidents, which can cause severe vehicle damage and expose occupants or rescue crews to electric shock risks.

Innovation Solution

A sensorized vehicle panel with an embedded electrically conductive filament that breaks upon impact, changing electrical resistance and triggering insulation of high-voltage systems and alternative fuel components, thereby preventing electric shock and ensuring safe operation of airbag systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a protection system is provided to insulate high-voltage electrical equipment parts, then safety against electric shock is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety against electric shockVSAvoidprotection system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the impact detection function and the insulation protection function into a single integrated system. The conductive filament is embedded within the panel itself, merging the sensor and the protection mechanism into one component, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically detects impact and triggers insulation of high-voltage components without requiring external intervention or complex control systems. The conductive filament's breakage directly causes the insulation effect, creating a self-activating protection mechanism that simplifies the system architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If conductive filament is embedded in panel, then impact detection capability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimpact detection capabilityVSAvoidpanel manufacturing
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The conductive filament is implemented as a thin, flexible conductive element that can be embedded within the panel structure. This thin-film approach allows for simpler integration compared to bulky sensors, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining effective impact detection capability through the filament's electrical properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 provides effective insulation of dangerous vehicle components during impacts, ensuring safety by preventing electric shock and minimizing damage to high-voltage systems and alternative fuel components, while being cost-effective and non-intrusive to the vehicle's dimensions.

Implementation Method 1

an embedded electrically conductive filament that breaks upon impact, changing electrical resistance

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical Resistance: Electrical Resistance

Data Source

PatentEP3882086B1Sensorized panel for detection of an impact on a vehicle
Publication Date: 2024.12.18 IVECO SPA
  • EP3882086B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3882086B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3882086B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A panel (2) configured to cover a portion of a vehicle (1), and comprising a body configured to be connected to a portion that is fixed with respect to a frame of the vehicle (1), the panel (2) comprising a filament (5) of electrically conductive material configured to be electrically connected to a functional element of the vehicle (1).