Patent ID: 6693549
Filing Date: 2004-02-17
Classification: B60R,G01P,H01H,H03M,Y10S

Abstract:
A sensor system for detecting forces which lead to a deformation of a mechanical component, comprising:a plurality of contact elements arranged on the mechanical component and staggered one behind the other in a possible deformation direction, the contact elements including a base contact element and at least two contact elements arranged at predefined distances thereto; at least two compressible insulation layers disposed between the contact elements, one of the at least two compressible insulation layers and the predefined distances configured so that an intrusion velocity of an object causing the deformation is derivable from moments of at least one of a contacting and a de-contacting of the contact elements arranged one behind the other in the deformation direction; and an electronic evaluation circuit electroconductively connected to the contact elements and configured to detect at least one of the contacting and the de-contacting of adjacent contact elements, the electronic evaluation circuit configured to convert the at least one of the contacting and the de-contacting of adjacent contact elements into at least one of control and regulating signals; wherein the at least two compressible insulation layers include a first insulation layer arranged in a region between an upper and a middle contact element and a second insulation layer arranged in a region between the middle contact element and the base element, the first insulation layer having less stiffness than the second insulation layer.