Patent ID: 6607212
Filing Date: 2003-08-19
Classification: B60R,G01L

Abstract:
A collision deformation sensor for mounting within a crush zone of a vehicle, said sensor comprising first and second spaced apart substrates (26, 28) within said vehicle crush zone and a means for detecting convergence of said substrates indicative of crushing of said crush zone and generating an electronic signal in response thereto, and means (10) responsive to said electronic signal for actuating an occupant restraint system; characterized by said means for detecting convergence comprising:a) a compressible carrier medium (2) of wave energy transmitting material having wave energy scattering centers disbursed therein; b) a wave energy source (4, 6) in communication with said carrier medium, to beam wave energy into said medium, to provide a scattered energy volume within said medium containing fully scattered wave energy; c) a wave energy receiver (8) for detecting an intensity of said fully scattered wave energy; and d) signal coupling means (8) to operatively connect said receiver with signal processing means (10) for triggering said occupant restraint system when said receiver detects a change in said intensity indicating a converging of said substrates, and a consequent compression of said carrier medium, at or above an extent indicative of a severe impact of said vehicle.