Abstract: A collision detection device is provided with a coil which is arranged at an inner side of an outer panel of a body portion of a vehicle and faces the outer panel to generate a magnetic field in a direction toward the outer panel, and a collision determining unit for determining a collision with the body portion of the vehicle based on a variation of an inductance of the coil. The collision determining unit includes a resonance circuit which is constructed of the coil. When there occurs a collision with the vehicle body portion, a distance between the outer panel and the coil will decrease so that an inductance of the coil can instantly decrease. Therefore, a resonance frequency of the resonance circuit will increase and be detected, thus shortening the response time.

Abstract: A collision detection device is provided with a coil which is arranged at an inner side of an outer panel of a body portion of a vehicle and faces the outer panel to generate a magnetic field in a direction toward the outer panel, and a collision determining unit for determining a collision with the body portion of the vehicle based on a variation of an inductance of the coil. The collision determining unit includes a resonance circuit which is constructed of the coil. When there occurs a collision with the vehicle body portion, a distance between the outer panel and the coil will decrease so that an inductance of the coil can instantly decrease. Therefore, a resonance frequency of the resonance circuit will increase and be detected, thus shortening the response time.

Abstract: A pedestrian detection system for a vehicle includes multiple acceleration sensors provided at different positions in a periphery portion of the vehicle, and a calculation unit for performing, based on a signal outputted by a designation acceleration sensor belonging to the multiple acceleration sensors, a determination whether an object colliding with the vehicle is a pedestrian. The designation acceleration sensor is one of the multiple acceleration sensors other than a closest acceleration sensor which is closest of the multiple acceleration sensors to a collision point with which the object has collided.

Abstract: An occupant protection system of a vehicle comprises a seat load measuring subsystem and an occupant protection subsystem. The seat load measuring subsystem includes a controller and weight sensors attached to a vehicle seat, each weight sensor providing a weight signal. The controller provides information determined by a weight of an occupant of the vehicle seat. In response to a detection of a crash, the occupant protection subsystem provides a crash signal determined by a magnitude of the crash. In response to a reception of the crash signal, the controller automatically decides whether a weight sensor under diagnosis is normal, abnormal or intermediate between normal and abnormal on the basis of a level of the crash signal and the weight signals obtained from the weight sensor before and after the crash.

Abstract: An occupant protection system of a vehicle comprises a seat load measuring subsystem and an occupant protection subsystem. The seat load measuring subsystem includes a controller and weight sensors attached to a vehicle seat, each weight sensor providing a weight signal. The controller provides information determined by a weight of an occupant of the vehicle seat. In response to a detection of a crash, the occupant protection subsystem provides a crash signal determined by a magnitude of the crash. In response to a reception of the crash signal, the controller automatically decides whether a weight sensor under diagnosis is normal, abnormal or intermediate between normal and abnormal on the basis of a level of the crash signal and the weight signals obtained from the weight sensor before and after the crash.

Abstract: A collision detection device has a weight, which includes an eccentric mass and a metallic plate. The weight is pivoted by a shaft at a position eccentric from the mass barycenter to have a predetermined swing velocity and frequency response. A rotor is fixed to the weight, and contact springs having contacts are provided to exert a resilient force to the weight. When the acceleration caused by the impact of collision acts on the weight, it swings against the spring force, and bounces on a stopper to swing back. The rotor which swings together with the weight causes the contacts on the springs to close at a certain swing angle, producing a collision detection signal. The eccentric mass and the metallic plate may be provided to swing separately from each other depending on the magnitude of acceleration.

Abstract: A weight (4) rotates with a shaft (5) as a rotational center during acceleration detection. A rotor (1) fixed on the weight (4) rotates integrally therewith. A first cam portion 1a of noncircular configuration on the rotor (1) contacts a plate spring (2) and a second cam portion (1b) of semicircular configuration contacts a plate spring (3), urging constantly the rotor (1) in a direction opposite to rotation direction thereof. The plate springs (2) and (3) have a contact-point function, and when the rotor (1) rotates in resistance to urging force thereof, contact is made with a contact points (2a) and (3a) on the plate springs (2) and (3) due to action of the first cam portion (1a) and second cam portion (1b), and the contacting state thereof is detected via a plate (6) and plate (7) as an electrical signal.

Abstract: When an acceleration more than a predetermined level is applied to a weight, a rotational moment is applied to a center of gravity of the weight, and therefore, the weight rotates around a shaft as a rotational center in a direction to be opposite to an elastic force given by plate springs. At this time, a rotor rotates in accordance with the rotation of the weight, the plate springs contacting respectively first cam and second cam move so as to narrow the clearance between the plate springs. When the rotor is rotated to a predetermined angle, contact points of the plate springs contact, and the contact state can be detected as an acceleration detecting signal through signal-output terminals. A stopper has two ends, and the two end are fixed to a cover to have a clearance portion between the cover and the stopper. When the weight and the stopper contact, the stopper is bent to the clearance portion side to absorb a shock due to the rotation of the weight.