US3905015A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle collision detecting apparatus
Assignee: Hitachi Ltd
•
Filing: 1972-03-17
•
Granted: 1975-09-09
•
Expires: 1992-03-17
Abstract
Abstract A vehicle collision detecting apparatus employs a detecting element constituted in a fragile material such as glass, with a coating of a conductive film for providing the detecting element with conductivity, or the fragile material contains a conductive material such as metal for providing the detecting element with conductivity. A circuit for continuously monitoring the conduction state of the detecting element is also provided wherein the detecting element is fixed in the periphery of the vehicle body, the conduction state of the detecting element is monitored, and an air-bag occupant protection device is actuated at the moment the detecting element breaks, due to vehicle collision and its conductivity vanishes.
Inventors
- 👤 Fumiyiki Inose
- 👤 Takashiro Iwasaki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 07:29
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/01; B60R21/013
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
220 words
A vehicle collision detecting apparatus comprising: a. a collision detecting element means fixedly mounted on the vehicle at a position at which deformation or strain of the vehicle body is likely to occur due to vehicle collision which comprises: 1. a substrate means constituted of fragile material for breaking in response to vehicle body deformation or strain as a result of collision; 2. two lead terminals fixed to said substrate means at mutually distant positions; and 3. means for providing an electrical conductive path between said terminals, said electrical conductive path means being a conductive material fixedly disposed with respect to said substrate means and being rendered non-conductive upon breaking of said substrate means; and b. switching means for producing an on-off signal corresponding to conduction and non-conduction of the conductive path between said lead terminals, said switching means including a magnet, a magnet member normally held in a stationary position by the attractive force of said magnet and made movable to a moving position according to the magnitude of impact of collision, a contact, to be closed when said magnetic member is moved to its moving position, a coil for producing a magnetic field superposed on the magnetic field of Said magnet exerting said attractive force, and means for supplying current to said coil through said detecting element means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
220 words
A vehicle collision detecting apparatus comprising: a. a collision detecting element means fixedly mounted on the vehicle at a position at which deformation or strain of the vehicle body is likely to occur due to vehicle collision which comprises: 1. a substrate means constituted of fragile material for breaking in response to vehicle body deformation or strain as a result of collision; 2. two lead terminals fixed to said substrate means at mutually distant positions; and 3. means for providing an electrical conductive path between said terminals, said electrical conductive path means being a conductive material fixedly disposed with respect to said substrate means and being rendered non-conductive upon breaking of said substrate means; and b. switching means for producing an on-off signal corresponding to conduction and non-conduction of the conductive path between said lead terminals, said switching means including a magnet, a magnet member normally held in a stationary position by the attractive force of said magnet and made movable to a moving position according to the magnitude of impact of collision, a contact, to be closed when said magnetic member is moved to its moving position, a coil for producing a magnetic field superposed on the magnetic field of Said magnet exerting said attractive force, and means for supplying current to said coil through said detecting element means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
two lead terminals fixed to said substrate means at mutually distant positions; and
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
two lead terminals fixed to said substrate means at mutually distant positions; and
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
two lead terminals fixed to said substrate means at mutually distant positions; and
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
two lead terminals fixed to said substrate means at mutually distant positions; and
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
A vehicle collision detecting apparatus comprising: a. a collision detecting element means fixedly mounted on the vehicle at a position at which deformation or strain of the vehicle body is likely to occur due to vehicle collision which comprises:
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
A vehicle collision detecting apparatus comprising: a. a collision detecting element means fixedly mounted on the vehicle at a position at which deformation or strain of the vehicle body is likely to occur due to vehicle collision which comprises:
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
174 words
first and second lead terminals installed in contact with said conductive film at both opposite ends of said tubular member, so that a normally conductive path is established between said first and second lead terminals; b. switching means for providing an indication signal representative of the collision of said vehicle in response to breakdown of the normally conductive path between said first and second lead terminals due to deformation of the vehicle body by a strong external impact; said collision detecting element including a rod-shaped substrate constituted of a fragile insulating material, said electrically conductive film being fixedly disposed on a surface of said substrate, said evacuated tubular member airtightly enclosing said substrate, and a pair of lead terminals each installed in mutually distant opposite end portions of said substrate so as to contact at one end thereof with said conductive film and to be air-tightly led at the other end out of said tubular member, said evacuated tubular member being spaced from said substrate along at least a portion of the length thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
174 words
first and second lead terminals installed in contact with said conductive film at both opposite ends of said tubular member, so that a normally conductive path is established between said first and second lead terminals; b. switching means for providing an indication signal representative of the collision of said vehicle in response to breakdown of the normally conductive path between said first and second lead terminals due to deformation of the vehicle body by a strong external impact; said collision detecting element including a rod-shaped substrate constituted of a fragile insulating material, said electrically conductive film being fixedly disposed on a surface of said substrate, said evacuated tubular member airtightly enclosing said substrate, and a pair of lead terminals each installed in mutually distant opposite end portions of said substrate so as to contact at one end thereof with said conductive film and to be air-tightly led at the other end out of said tubular member, said evacuated tubular member being spaced from said substrate along at least a portion of the length thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
two lead terminals fixed to said substrate means at mutually distant positions; and
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
two lead terminals fixed to said substrate means at mutually distant positions; and
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
220 words
first and second lead terminals installed in contact with said conductive film at both opposite ends of said tubular member, so that a normally conductive path is established between said first and second lead terminals; switching means for providing an indication signal representative of the collision of said vehicle in response to breakdown of the normally conductive path between said first and second lead terminals due to deformation of the vehicle body by a strong external impact, said switching means comprising: a. a magnet for generating a main magnetic field; b. a coil for operatively producing an auxiliary magnetic field which is increasingly superposed on the main magnetic field of said magnet, so that an attractive force is obtained from the superposition of said main and auxiliary magnetic fields, c. means for supplying current to said coil through said collision detecting element so as to actuate said coil, d. a magnetic member normally held in a stationary position by said attractive force and made movable to a moving position according to magnitude of impact of vehicle collision, and e. means for detecting said magnetic member held in its moving position, the movement of said magnetic member from its stationary position to its moving position being accelerated by breakdown of said collision detecting element due to deformation of the vehicle body.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
220 words
first and second lead terminals installed in contact with said conductive film at both opposite ends of said tubular member, so that a normally conductive path is established between said first and second lead terminals; switching means for providing an indication signal representative of the collision of said vehicle in response to breakdown of the normally conductive path between said first and second lead terminals due to deformation of the vehicle body by a strong external impact, said switching means comprising: a. a magnet for generating a main magnetic field; b. a coil for operatively producing an auxiliary magnetic field which is increasingly superposed on the main magnetic field of said magnet, so that an attractive force is obtained from the superposition of said main and auxiliary magnetic fields, c. means for supplying current to said coil through said collision detecting element so as to actuate said coil, d. a magnetic member normally held in a stationary position by said attractive force and made movable to a moving position according to magnitude of impact of vehicle collision, and e. means for detecting said magnetic member held in its moving position, the movement of said magnetic member from its stationary position to its moving position being accelerated by breakdown of said collision detecting element due to deformation of the vehicle body.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
A vehicle collision apparatus comprising: a collision detecting element mechanically attached to a part of a vehicle body where deformation is likely to occur, said element comprising,
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
A vehicle collision apparatus comprising: a collision detecting element mechanically attached to a part of a vehicle body where deformation is likely to occur, said element comprising,
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
118 words
means for providing an electrical conductive path between said terminals, said electrical conductive path means being a conductive material fixedly disposed with respect to said substrate means and being rendered non-conductive upon breaking of said substrate means, said collision detecting element means further including a fragile rod-shaped substrate as said substrate means, said conductive material being a conductive film fixedly disposed on the surface of said substrate, an evacuated tube surrounding said substrate, and a pair of lead terminals installed in mutually distant positions on said conductive film and arranged to be led outside the tube; and b. switching means for producing an on-off signal corresponding to conduction and non-conduction of the conductive path between said lead terminals.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
118 words
means for providing an electrical conductive path between said terminals, said electrical conductive path means being a conductive material fixedly disposed with respect to said substrate means and being rendered non-conductive upon breaking of said substrate means, said collision detecting element means further including a fragile rod-shaped substrate as said substrate means, said conductive material being a conductive film fixedly disposed on the surface of said substrate, an evacuated tube surrounding said substrate, and a pair of lead terminals installed in mutually distant positions on said conductive film and arranged to be led outside the tube; and b. switching means for producing an on-off signal corresponding to conduction and non-conduction of the conductive path between said lead terminals.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
83 words
means for providing an electrical conductive path between said terminals, said electrical conductive path means being a conductive material fixedly disposed with respect to said substrate means and being rendered non-conductive upon breaking of said substrate meanS; and b. switching means for producing an on-off signal corresponding to conduction and non-conduction of the conductive path between said lead terminals, said switching means produces an off-signal for activating an occupant protection system of the vehicle in response to the detection of a vehicle collision.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
83 words
means for providing an electrical conductive path between said terminals, said electrical conductive path means being a conductive material fixedly disposed with respect to said substrate means and being rendered non-conductive upon breaking of said substrate meanS; and b. switching means for producing an on-off signal corresponding to conduction and non-conduction of the conductive path between said lead terminals, said switching means produces an off-signal for activating an occupant protection system of the vehicle in response to the detection of a vehicle collision.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
143 words
means for providing an electrical conductive path between said terminals, said electrical conductive path means being a conductive material fixedly disposed with respect to said substrate means and being rendered non-conductive upon breaking of said substrate means; and b. switching means for producing an on-off signal corresponding to conduction and non-conduction of the conductive path between said lead terminals, said switching means including a magnet, a magnet member normally held in a stationary position by the attractive force of said magnet and made movable to a moving position according to the magnitude of impact of collision, a contact, to be closed when said magnetic member is moved to its moving position, a coil for producing a magnetic field superposed on the magnetic field of Said magnet exerting said attractive force, and means for supplying current to said coil through said detecting element means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
143 words
means for providing an electrical conductive path between said terminals, said electrical conductive path means being a conductive material fixedly disposed with respect to said substrate means and being rendered non-conductive upon breaking of said substrate means; and b. switching means for producing an on-off signal corresponding to conduction and non-conduction of the conductive path between said lead terminals, said switching means including a magnet, a magnet member normally held in a stationary position by the attractive force of said magnet and made movable to a moving position according to the magnitude of impact of collision, a contact, to be closed when said magnetic member is moved to its moving position, a coil for producing a magnetic field superposed on the magnetic field of Said magnet exerting said attractive force, and means for supplying current to said coil through said detecting element means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
39 words
A vehicle collision detecting apparatus comprising: a. a collision detecting element means fixedly mounted on the vehicle at a position at which deformation or strain of the vehicle body is likely to occur due to vehicle collision which comprises:
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
39 words
A vehicle collision detecting apparatus comprising: a. a collision detecting element means fixedly mounted on the vehicle at a position at which deformation or strain of the vehicle body is likely to occur due to vehicle collision which comprises:
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
136 words
A vehicle collision detecting apparatus comprising: first means at a part exterior of the passenger space of the vehicle mechanically coupled to the vehicle and having first and second terminals, said first means including conductive means fixedly disposed with respect to said first and second terminals for providing a normally conductive path between said first and second terminals and for establishing an open circuit between said first and second terminals in response to a vehicle collision at the exterior part of the vehicle; and second means coupled to said first means for providing an indication of said vehicle collision in response to the removal of the normally provided conductive path between said first and second terminals, said second means activating an occupant protection system of the vehicle in response to the detection of a vehicle collision.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
136 words
A vehicle collision detecting apparatus comprising: first means at a part exterior of the passenger space of the vehicle mechanically coupled to the vehicle and having first and second terminals, said first means including conductive means fixedly disposed with respect to said first and second terminals for providing a normally conductive path between said first and second terminals and for establishing an open circuit between said first and second terminals in response to a vehicle collision at the exterior part of the vehicle; and second means coupled to said first means for providing an indication of said vehicle collision in response to the removal of the normally provided conductive path between said first and second terminals, said second means activating an occupant protection system of the vehicle in response to the detection of a vehicle collision.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
29 words
A vehicle collision detecting apparatus comprising: a. a collision detecting element mechanically attached to a part of a vehicle body where deformation is likely to occur, said element comprising,
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
29 words
A vehicle collision detecting apparatus comprising: a. a collision detecting element mechanically attached to a part of a vehicle body where deformation is likely to occur, said element comprising,
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2145543A
Cited
US3441925A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-08 | 1979-03-10 | 1979-09-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-08 | 1983-03-10 | 1983-09-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-08 | 1987-03-10 | 1987-09-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |