The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 06, 2003
Filed:
Apr. 23, 2001
Morgan D. Murphy, Kokomo, IN (US);
Douglas Allen Nunan, Kokomo, IN (US);
Charles A. Cluff, Zionsville, IN (US);
David R. Little, Kokomo, IN (US);
Greston T. McCoy, Jr., Alexandria, IN (US);
Gary Eugene Oberlin, Windfall, IN (US);
Delphi Technologies, Inc., Troy, MI (US);
Abstract
An improved vehicle crash sensing apparatus quickly and reliably characterizes frontal impacts with only minimal data processing requirements. Two or more longitudinally separated piezoelectric strips strategically located in a frontal portion of the vehicle produce impact signals that are analyzed to characterize the type of impact and the structural crush rate. In a simple implementation involving only two piezoelectric strips, a first strip extends laterally along a forward portion of the front bumper, and a second strip extends laterally along a forward portion of the hood panel, above and rearward of the first strip. In cases where an impact signal is developed by only one of the two strips, a high (under-ride) or low (over-ride) impact is indicated. If impact signals are developed by both strips, the intervening time is measured as an indication of the structural crush rate. In a more complex implementation, the bumper and hood strips are divided into two or more individual strip segments so the center and distribution of impact and the impact vector may be quickly and reliably characterized as well.