Benteler-automobiltechnik Gmbh

Bjorn Richter

Thorsten Andres

An apparatus and a method for detecting deformations of a vehicle component on a motor vehicle are disclosed, which are capable of unambiguously determining the location and temporal progression of the deformation, as well as the severity of the deformation, within a very short time after the deformation of the vehicle component begins. An emitter unit together with a detector unit is displaced relative to an aperture component disposed on the vehicle component upon deformation of the vehicle component. A beam path of a light beam between the emitter unit and the detector unit is interrupted or opened when the aperture component is displaced relative to the emitter unit, thereby changing an illumination intensity detected by the detector unit. A signal representative of the illumination intensity is transmitted from the detector unit to an evaluation unit.

Apparatus and method for detecting deformations on a vehicle component

An apparatus and a method for detecting deformations of a vehicle component on a motor vehicle are disclosed, which are capable of unambiguously determining the location and temporal progression of the deformation, as well as the severity of the deformation, within a very short time after the deformation of the vehicle component begins. A grid module having a grid, an emitter component with a light emitter; and a detector with at least one sensor unit are hereby provided on the vehicle component. A beam path of a light beam between the light emitter and the detector is alternatingly interrupted when the grid is displaced relative to the emitter component due to a deformation of the vehicle component. The detector detects a signal in form of light pulses generated by the interruption of the light beam and the light pulses are transmitted as a time-modulated signal to an evaluation unit.

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Paderborn, Germany

Bjorn Richter