Abstract: A system for detecting objects colliding with an automotive vehicle includes a bumper-reinforcing member disposed behind a front bumper, a supporting member disposed behind the bumper-reinforcing member, forming a small gap therebetween, and a load sensor disposed between the bumper-reinforcing member and the supporting member in an overlapped manner. A load caused by a collision and detected by the load sensor is fed to an electronic controller that determines whether the object colliding with the vehicle is a pedestrian or other objects. Since the load sensor is mounted in a manner overlapping with the bumper-reinforcing member and the supporting member, an increase in a longitudinal length of a bumper structure by installing the load sensor is minimized. The load sensor may include plural detecting plates, each having a strain gage mounted thereon.

Abstract: A collision detector for a vehicle that defines a width direction is disclosed. The collision detector includes a back plate for coupling to the vehicle. The collision detector also includes a plurality of chamber members coupled to the back plate. Each of the chamber members defines a chamber space therein. Also, the collision detector includes a pressure sensor for detecting pressure in at least one of the chamber spaces to thereby detect collision of the vehicle. The chamber members are provided across the width of the vehicle.

Abstract: A collision detection apparatus has a support member which is fixed to side members of a vehicle, an absorber which is arranged at a vehicle front side of the support member to define a space therebetween, a chamber member defining therein a chamber space which is substantially sealed, and a pressure sensor for detecting a pressure in the chamber space. The chamber member is arranged in the space defined between the absorber and the support member. A collision of the vehicle is detected based on a variation in the pressure of the chamber space.

Abstract: A collision detection system for a vehicle includes a bumper reinforcement fixed to a side member of the vehicle, a pressure sensor placed in front of the bumper reinforcement and having at least one pressure-sensitive member, and a load plate placed in front of the pressure sensor. The load plate has a base member and at least one leg member extending from the base member toward the bumper reinforcement. The base member has a first portion facing the pressure sensitive member of the pressure sensor and a second portion fixed to the leg member. The pressure sensor can have a small pressure-sensitive range, because the leg member reduces pressure applied through the load plate to the pressure sensor.

Abstract: A collision determination apparatus has a detection unit and a determination unit. The detection unit is disposed to a connecting portion that connects a panel member to a body of a vehicle. The detection unit detects a collision load applied to the panel member due to a collision and transmitted to the connecting portion in a direction parallel to a ground, and outputs a detection signal to the determination unit. The determination unit determines the collision. The panel member is for example a hood or a front fender of the vehicle.

Abstract: A collision detector includes a chamber, a pressure sensor, and a bumper absorber. The chamber defines a hollow space, and the pressure sensor detects a pressure in the hollow space. The bumper absorber absorbs impact caused by a collision of an object with a vehicle, and covers an outer periphery of the chamber. The chamber and the bumper absorber are interposed with a gap in an entire width of the vehicle. In case of collision, the chamber is not bound by the bumper absorber deformed by the impact of the collision, thereby enabling an accurate detection of the collision of the vehicle with the object.

Abstract: A walker collision detector includes a chamber member and a pressure sensor. The chamber member defines a chamber. On a back side of the chamber member, a concave for housing the pressure sensor is formed. The pressure sensor is connected to the chamber member for detecting the pressure in the chamber. The pressure sensor in a housed condition in the concave is connected to the chamber member, and is fixed on a front face of a bumper reinforcement. Therefore, a pressure sensor arrangement space conventionally required for installing the pressure sensor is not required, and cutting work or the like of the bumper reinforcement is not required. As a result, the walker collision detector has an improved installability on a vehicle.

Abstract: A collision detecting device includes a chamber member providing a space, a pressure sensor for detecting a pressure inside the space, a determination means, a bumper absorber for absorbing an impact generated by collision and a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the chamber member. Hardness of the chamber member changes with temperature. Thus, the deformation degree of the chamber member is different depending on temperature. However, the determination means corrects the pressure detected by the pressure sensor based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor, and determines collision based on the corrected pressure. Therefore, a collision detecting device which can determine collision of an object with a vehicle accurately without being affected by the change of temperature can be obtained.

Abstract: A collision detecting device includes a chamber member providing a chamber, a pressure sensor connected to the chamber member, and a bumper absorber absorbing an impact generated by collision of an object with the vehicle. The bumper absorber has a region, which has a thickness in a front-rear direction of the vehicle. The thickness of the region is equal to or smaller than a predetermined thickness. The region is in contact with at least a portion of the chamber member. The collision is detected based on the pressure of the chamber detected by the pressure sensor. Hereby, a collision detecting device in which the bumper absorber has sufficient rigidity, and the chamber has sufficient deformability in case of collision can be obtained.

Abstract: A collision detection apparatus includes (i) a bumper reinforcement, (ii) a side supporting member as a side member or a crash box, (iii) a deforming body, and (iv) a strain detecting device. In this collision detection apparatus, frictional force exerted on the interface between the deforming body and the bumper reinforcement or the side supporting member is increased. In the collision detection apparatus, degradation in the detection accuracy of a strain detecting device is suppressed.

Abstract: A collision detecting apparatus has a plurality of collision detecting means and a determination means for determining a collision based on at least one of outputs of the plurality of collision detecting means. Each of the collision detecting means has a crank member and a deformation detecting member disposed at the center of a middle portion of the crank member for detecting a deformation of the middle portion. Each of the crank member has a first extending portion extending from a first end of the middle portion and a second extending portion extending from a second end of the middle portion in a direction opposite to the first extending portion. A first collision detecting means and a second collision detecting means are arranged in opposite directions between a reinforcement member and one of side members.

Abstract: A collision detecting system includes a bumper reinforcement member, a crush box disposed between the bumper reinforcement member and a fixing member of the vehicle, a strain inducing member fixed to the crush box so as to distort in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle as the crush box is compressed between the reinforcement member and the fixing member and a strain measuring element fixed to the strain inducing member 5. The strain inducing member has a strain measuring portion having such a shape that stress of the strain inducing member concentrates into the strain measuring portion. The strain measuring element is fixed to the strain measuring portion to measure a component of the strain of the strain measuring portion in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The strain measuring portion has an asymmetrical cross-section in a vertical direction of the vehicle.

Abstract: A collision detection system for a vehicle includes a bumper reinforcement fixed to a side member of the vehicle, a pressure sensor placed in front of the bumper reinforcement and having at least one pressure-sensitive member, and a load plate placed in front of the pressure sensor. The load plate has a base member and at least one leg member extending from the base member toward the bumper reinforcement. The base member has a first portion facing the pressure sensitive member of the pressure sensor and a second portion fixed to the leg member. The pressure sensor can have a small pressure-sensitive range, because the leg member reduces pressure applied through the load plate to the pressure sensor.

Abstract: A wire collision sensor system for a vehicle, which includes a vehicle body, includes a bumper, a wire, a wire deformation sensor and a determination circuit. The bumper is mounted on a longitudinal end portion of the vehicle body. The wire, which senses a collision of the vehicle, is received in the bumper and extends along the bumper in a transverse direction of the vehicle. The wire is connected to at least one of the vehicle body and the bumper at both ends in such a manner that the wire is displaceable in a longitudinal direction of the wire. The wire deformation sensor electrically senses a physical quantity, which is associated with a deformation of the wire at a time of the collision. The wire deformation sensor transmits an output, which indicates the sensed physical quantity. The determination circuit determines a state of the collision based on the output.

Abstract: A collision detection system for a vehicle has two collision load sensors, which are respectively positioned between a rear end surface of a bumper reinforce member and front end surfaces of two side members of the vehicle. Thus, a collision load at any position in a vehicle-width direction of a bumper of the vehicle can be appropriately detected.

Abstract: A planar pressure-sensitive switch unit has multiple pressure-sensitive switches that are disposed in a longitudinal direction of a bumper cover of a vehicle with given intervals for detecting the number of collision objects. Collision load sensors are disposed between a bumper reinforcement and side members for detecting a total collision load by adding up two outputs. Then, a collision load per a single collision object is computed by dividing the total collision load by the number of collision objects and is compared with a collision load corresponding to a pedestrian. Thus, even when the vehicle collides with multiple objects at the same time, collision with a pedestrian can be properly determined.

Abstract: A system for detecting objects colliding with an automotive vehicle includes a bumper-reinforcing member disposed behind a front bumper, a supporting member disposed behind the bumper-reinforcing member, forming a small gap therebetween, and a load sensor disposed between the bumper-reinforcing member and the supporting member in an overlapped manner. A load caused by a collision and detected by the load sensor is fed to an electronic controller that determines whether the object colliding with the vehicle is a pedestrian or other objects. Since the load sensor is mounted in a manner overlapping with the bumper-reinforcing member and the supporting member, an increase in a longitudinal length of a bumper structure by installing the load sensor is minimized. The load sensor may include plural detecting plates, each having a strain gage mounted thereon.

Abstract: A collision detector for a vehicle that defines a width direction is disclosed. The collision detector includes a back plate for coupling to the vehicle. The collision detector also includes a plurality of chamber members coupled to the back plate. Each of the chamber members defines a chamber space therein. Also, the collision detector includes a pressure sensor for detecting pressure in at least one of the chamber spaces to thereby detect collision of the vehicle. The chamber members are provided across the width of the vehicle.

Abstract: A collision detection apparatus has a support member which is fixed to side members of a vehicle, an absorber which is arranged at a vehicle front side of the support member to define a space therebetween, a chamber member defining therein a chamber space which is substantially sealed, and a pressure sensor for detecting a pressure in the chamber space. The chamber member is arranged in the space defined between the absorber and the support member. A collision of the vehicle is detected based on a variation in the pressure of the chamber space.

Abstract: A collision obstacle discrimination device has a load sensor. The load sensor includes an elongated member which is arranged in a bumper of a vehicle and extends substantially in a width direction of the vehicle, and a plurality of sensor members which are fixed in a space defined by the elongated member and arrayed in the vehicle width direction. The sensor member is disposed to detect a physical property which varies in response to a load applied to the bumper due to a collision of the vehicle. Sensitivities of the plurality of sensor members are respectively set in response to vehicle-width-direction positions of the sensor members to be diversified, so that the plurality of sensor members have a substantially same response property with respect to the load applied to the bumper.