Omni-directional crash sensor

This application is a Divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/902,000, entitled “OMNI-DIRECTIONAL CRASH SENSOR,” filed Jul. 30, 2004, which claims priority to PCT Application No. PCT/US03/01603, entitled “OMNI-DIRECTIONAL CRASH SENSOR,” filed Jan. 16, 2003 which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.

The present invention relates to impact detection, particularly to crash detection for motor vehicles.

Patent Cooperation Treaty (“PCT”) Application No. US00/04765 and the art discussed therein relate to detecting forces applied to transparency products such as automotive glass. PCT US00/04765 discloses various sensors, including capacitive sensors, embedded in or adhered to glass products, which are sensitive to physical forces applied to the glass product. In a vehicle crash sensing and occupant protection system, multiple sensors are used to determine the origin of the impact and other useful characteristics of the crash, to optimize the occupant restraining devices.

It is known that most materials change shape or form when subjected to stress, and the change may be evidenced in the material by any of several mechanisms. One such mechanism is an acoustic wave (“AW”) in which acoustic energy propagates through the material without affecting the integrity.

PCT US00/04765 discloses use of capacitive sensors, or other sensors such as strain gauges, embedded in laminated glass or adhered to glass, for the purpose of detecting vehicle crash characteristics. The present invention provides greatly improved sensors used for the cited purposes, means for determining parameters of the vehicle crash, application of the sensors on other vehicle structural components, and use of data from the spatially-distributed sensors to determine characteristics of frontal, side, rear, and other impacts as well as vehicle rollover conditions.

The present invention is of a stress wave sensor comprising a piezoelectric film and means therein for connection to sensor electronics. In the preferred embodiment, the piezoelectric film comprises polyvinylidene fluoride.

The invention is also of a stress wave sensor system comprising one or more stress wave sensors according to the preceding paragraph wherein one or more of the sensors are attached to a vehicle transparent component, preferably to the vehicle windshield.

The invention is further of an impact detection system comprising a plurality of stress wave sensors each comprising a piezoelectric film, the system optionally comprising one or more accelerometers, wherein each stress wave sensor is attached to a vehicle skin, structural, or transparent component, and preferably to a transparent component. In the preferred embodiment, each stress wave sensor comprises polyvinylidene fluoride.

The invention is additionally of a method of characterizing a vehicle crash condition by reference to output from a plurality of sensors each comprising a piezoelectric film, comprising: collecting output from the plurality of sensors and analyzing the following: one or both amplitude and rise time of each sensor\'s output; each sensor\'s output in a plurality of frequency bands, preferably from at least bands at approximately 1 kHz-2.5 kHz and 5 kHz-20 kHz; and time differentiated outputs\' of the sensors. In the preferred embodiment, the piezoelectric film comprises 30 polyvinylidene fluoride, and optionally, the plurality of sensors are attached to a vehicle transparent component. The analyzing step can comprise estimating either or both of a vehicle crash origin point and a crash severity.

The present invention is yet further of a method of filtering crash events from non-crash events by comparing a response of one or more piezoelectric film sensors located on a transparent portion of a vehicle to a response of one or more piezoelectric film sensors not located on a transparency portion, optionally employing the steps of the preceding paragraph.

The present invention is additionally of a vehicle windshield comprising a crash sensing 10 system comprising one or more piezoelectric stress wave sensors positioned in or on the vehicle windshield.

Objects, advantages and novel features, and further scope of applicability of the present invention will be set forth in part in the detailed description to follow, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and form a part of the specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. The drawings are only for the purpose of illustrating one or more preferred embodiments of the invention and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. In the drawings:

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