초록 ▼

A vehicle impact detection apparatus has a sensor for sensing impact of an object against a vehicle. A safety device, such as an external airbag or a deployable hood is actuatable on receipt of a firing signal from the sensor. The vehicle impact detection apparatus has a magnetostrictive sensor and

A vehicle impact detection apparatus has a sensor for sensing impact of an object against a vehicle. A safety device, such as an external airbag or a deployable hood is actuatable on receipt of a firing signal from the sensor. The vehicle impact detection apparatus has a magnetostrictive sensor and a stress-conducting member in the form of an elongate metal bar in the lower air dam area of the bumper of the vehicle. The signal from the sensor is analyzed to determine information about the impact.

대표청구항 ▼

[ I claim:] [1.]1. A vehicle impact detection apparatus for protecting an object external of the vehicle comprisinga magnetostrictive sensor for sensing the actual occurrence of an impact of an object with a vehicle,a control unit for processing data collected from the magnetostrictive sensor about

[ I claim:] [1.]1. A vehicle impact detection apparatus for protecting an object external of the vehicle comprisinga magnetostrictive sensor for sensing the actual occurrence of an impact of an object with a vehicle,a control unit for processing data collected from the magnetostrictive sensor about the impact with the object, the control unit determines the location on the vehicle that is impacted by the object and determines if the object is a vulnerable road user, wherein the vulnerable road user is selected from the group consisting of pedestrians, cyclists, animals, and motorcyclists, anda safety device actuatable on receipt of a firing signal from the control unit for protecting the vulnerable road user.