Accident sensor

Abstract

An accident sensor for triggering a motor-vehicle safety system. A deformable, first part and a second part that acoustically detects a deformation at the first part is provided. The deformable, first part includes a plastic part or is integrated with a plastic part disposed around the exterior of the motor vehicle and includes a continuous medium for transmitting a signal. The first part generates an acoustical structure-borne signal when it is deformed. The second part includes a structure-borne signal sensor that receives the acoustical signal and conducts said signal further to an evaluation unit.

1 . An accident sensor for triggering a motor-vehicle safety system, comprising: 
 a deformable, first part and a second part that acoustically detects a deformation at the first part,    wherein the deformable, first part comprises a plastic part or is integrated with a plastic part disposed around the exterior of the motor vehicle and includes a continuous medium for transmitting a signal,    wherein the first part generates an acoustical structure-borne signal when it is deformed, and    wherein the second part comprises a structure-borne signal sensor that receives the acoustical signal and conducts said signal further to an evaluation unit.    
     
     
         2 . An accident sensor for triggering a motor-vehicle safety system, comprising: 
 a deformable, first part and a second part that optically detects the deformation at the first part;    wherein the first part comprises a radiation-transparent plastic part that is penetrated by a defined quantity of light, is disposed on the exterior of the motor vehicle, and includes a continuous medium for transmitting a signal;    wherein a light beam path in the first part and the defined quantity of light change when the first part is deformed, said light being a signal; and    wherein the second part comprises a radiation-sensitive detector that detects said signal.    
     
     
         3 . The accident sensor for triggering a motor-vehicle safety system, comprising: 
 a deformable, first part and a second part that electromagnetically detects the deformation at the first part;    wherein the deformable, first part comprises a plastic part that is disposed on the exterior of the motor vehicle and includes a continuous medium for transmitting a signal, wherein said continuous medium generates pressure waves during the deformation; and    wherein the second part comprises a piezofilm that receives the pressure waves and converts said pressure waves into an electrical signal, and conducts said electrical signal further to an evaluation unit.    
     
     
         4 . The accident sensor for triggering a motor-vehicle safety system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first part serves simultaneously as a bumper and a scratch guard for the motor-vehicle.  
     
     
         5 . The accident sensor for triggering a motor-vehicle safety system according to  claim 1 , further comprising an evaluation unit which determines an impact site on the motor vehicle based on a signal course between the impact site and a signal detector and a transit time elapsed between the signal being generated at the impact site and the signal being detected.  
     
     
         6 . The accident sensor for triggering a motor-vehicle safety system according to  claim 1 , further comprising an evaluation unit which determines an impact site on the motor vehicle based on a spatial orientation of acoustical receivers.  
     
     
         7 . The accident sensor for triggering a motor-vehicle safety system according to  claim 2 , wherein the first part serves simultaneously as a bumper and a scratch guard for the motor-vehicle.  
     
     
         8 . The accident sensor for triggering a motor-vehicle safety system according to  claim 3 , wherein the first part serves simultaneously as a bumper and a scratch guard for the motor-vehicle.  
     
     
         9 . The accident sensor for triggering a motor-vehicle safety system according to  claim 2 , further comprising an evaluation unit which determines an impact site on the motor vehicle based on a signal course and a transit time between the impact site and a signal detection.  
     
     
         10 . The accident sensor for triggering a motor-vehicle safety system according to  claim 3 , further comprising an evaluation unit which determines an impact site on the motor vehicle based on a signal course and a transit time between the impact site and a signal detection.  
     
     
         11 . The accident sensor for triggering a motor-vehicle safety system according to  claim 2 , further comprising an evaluation unit which determines an impact site on the motor vehicle based on a spatial orientation of acoustical receivers.  
     
     
         12 . The accident sensor for triggering a motor-vehicle safety system according to  claim 3 , further comprising an evaluation unit which determines an impact site on the motor vehicle based on a spatial orientation of acoustical receivers.  
     
     
         13 . An accident sensor for triggering a motor-vehicle safety system, comprising: 
 a deformable, first part and a second part that detects a deformation at the first part,    wherein the first part comprises a plastic part or is integrated into a plastic part disposed around the exterior of the motor vehicle and includes a continuous medium for transmitting a signal representing a deformation of the first part for detection by the second part.    
     
     
         14 . The accident sensor according to  claim 13 , wherein the continuous signal transmitting medium comprises a medium for transmitting an acoustical signal, the plastic part generates an acoustical structure-borne-sound when it is deformed that is transmitted over the medium, and the second part comprises a structure-borne-sound sensor that receives the acoustical signal and conducts it further to an evaluation unit.  
     
     
         15 . The accident sensor according to  claim 13 , wherein the continuous signal transmitting medium comprises a radiation transparent medium defining a beam path that is penetrated by a defined quantity of light, wherein the beam path and thus the defined quantity of light change when the plastic part is deformed, and the second part comprises a radiation-sensitive detector that detects the quantity of light, which has changed due to the deformation.  
     
     
         16 . The accident sensor according to  claim 13 , wherein the continuous signal transmitting medium comprises a medium for transmitting an electromagnetic signal, the plastic part includes means for generating an electromagnetic signal under pressure, and the second part includes a detector for detecting the electromagnetic signal transmitted over the medium by said generating means.  
     
     
         17 . The accident sensor for triggering a motor-vehicle safety system according to  claim 1 , further comprising an evaluation unit which determines an impact site on the motor vehicle based on a spatial orientation of optical receivers.  
     
     
         18 . The accident sensor for triggering a motor-vehicle safety system according to  claim 2 , further comprising an evaluation unit which determines an impact site on the motor vehicle based on a spatial orientation of optical receivers.  
     
     
         19 . The accident sensor for triggering a motor-vehicle safety system according to  claim 3 , further comprising an evaluation unit which determines an impact site on the motor vehicle based on a spatial orientation of optical receivers.