Patent ID: 9592765
Date: 2017-03-14
CPC Classifications: B60Q,B60R,G01P,G07C

Claim:
1. A low-impact crash detection system for a vehicle comprising an accelerometer device from which horizontal components of acceleration are derived, a data processor comprising a bandpass filter to generate filtered horizontal components of acceleration in a frequency range 2.5 to 7.5 Hz corresponding to a low-impact crash that leaves a vehicle drivable, and a communication device for transmitting crash alert information, wherein the accelerometer device comprises a three-axis accelerometer configured to generate orientation data, and wherein the data processor is configured to: calculate a first rotation to isolate horizontal components of orientation data; calculate a second rotation of the orientation data dependent on acceleration data obtained from a velocity measuring device; perform the first and second rotations on the orientation data to calibrate the orientation of the three-axis accelerometer relative to an associated moving object; and generate an impact energy signal from the filtered horizontal acceleration components, to compare the impact energy signal with a threshold value to determine whether a low-impact crash has taken place, and to generate a crash alert for transmission by the communication device if the threshold value is exceeded.