Nov 29 2010
Continental’s latest Crash Impact Sound Sensing technology enables enhanced occupant safety by deploying airbags more quickly in side-impact and frontal crashes. The new technology uses structure-borne noise as the detecting factor, which measures the occupant protection in milliseconds, whereas other impact sensors available in the market measure air pressure or acceleration changes.
Continental claims that its structure-borne noise sensor can transport crash severity information to the restraints control module of an automobile threefold quicker than an acceleration sensor. The module can receive the information 15 milliseconds quicker, which is decisive in the firing, which must be done within 10-40 milliseconds in a front-impact crash.
Continental’s Crash Impact Sound sensor is cost effective for automobile manufacturers in other countries where safety standards not demanding the usage of an acceleration sensor. The company estimates that its sensor can replace two acceleration sensors, which in turn decreases cost and eliminates difficulty.
Continental has also introduced the clipSAT sensor-mounting technology to enhance the productivity of the OEMs. It is a side-mounted collision pressure sensor integrated with a latest mechanical structure, which eliminates the usage of extra fasteners or tools for installation. The ClipSAT can be installed within the side door panel in one movement, which enables quicker installation and reduces related production cost.
Side-mounted pressure sensors (pSAT) determines the door cavity’s pressure changes and reacts speedily as it takes the full side door as its sensing area. It is independent to rigid structures’ acceleration values. For side collision that happens due to thin blockages, these sensors deliver superior outputs.
Source: http://www.conti-online.com