Communications: electrical – Condition responsive indicating system – Specific condition
Reexamination Certificate
2001-09-06
2004-03-23
La, Anh V (Department: 2636)
Communications: electrical
Condition responsive indicating system
Specific condition
C340S426110, C280S751000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06710712
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to deformation components and a documentation system for deformable components for use in a motor vehicle.
A number of components which are to comply with safety criteria, especially in crash situations, are used in motor vehicles. These components are designed to be able to absorb at least part of the energy of impact in a crash situation, such as a collision accident, and so can largely prevent injury to occupants. Such deformation components are employed, for example, in the area of the rear roof frame, in order to be able to meet with adequate reliability the head impact criteria as provided by FMVSS 201. According to FMVSS 201, the head injury force as measured by the HIC(d) (head injury criterion) in the case of impact on a head model at certain points in the interior of a motor vehicle must be less than 1000.
Such elements conventionally consist of various foamed plastics (such as EPP or PU), but ribbed packages of injection molded plastic, metal honeycombs, flex tubing, deformation plates, and the like are also used. Documentation in assembly (by the supplier or by the vehicle maker) is becoming increasingly difficult because of the increasing number of deformation components. For the sake of passenger safety and from the viewpoint of legal liability of the manufacturer of vehicles it is absolutely indispensable to produce complete documentation. After vehicles have been manufactured it is no longer possible to monitor the presence and correct installation of deformation components by optical means, since the elements are mostly concealed when installed. In installation it may happen, for example, that deformation components which were not at all provided for a specific position are nevertheless installed in this position. Hence deformation components which are too small are installed, or ones which are too large are forced into the wrong position. It must be possible to detect such errors after installation as well.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Hence the object of the invention is to develop a deformation element which is simple to manufacture and which makes it possible to identify this element after installation as well and to ensure correlation of data with the deformation element.
The invention is based on the determination that this object can be attained by means of a deformation element permitting contact-free identification, one which may be manufactured by conventional means, and one whose identification characteristics do not change.
It is claimed for the invention that this object is attained by means of a deformation component for use in a vehicle, one having at least one passive identification element as an integrated component which performs a read-only function. Vehicle parts are designated as deformation components which represent energy absorbing impact elements, in doors for example, as well as reinforced body structures on side sills and roof pillars. These parts are also designated as paddings. The deformation component claimed for the invention has an identification element as an integral component. Hence this element is joined to the deformation component so that it cannot be lost. Consequently, it is not possible for the identification element to be removed without destroying the deformation component. This ensures that manipulation such as replacement of identification elements can be prevented.
In addition, the identification element claimed for the invention is designed so that it performs a read-only function exclusively, that is, any data stored in the identification element can only be retrieved, or so that the identification element provides, on the basis of its structure, information regarding the deformation component into which it is integrated. On the other hand, in the case of the identification element claimed for the invention it is not possible to alter it and any data stored in it or to store other data in it after manufacture of the deformation component has been completed. During manufacture of the deformation component data are associated with the identification element which either are stored in this element or are documented by being entered in a list in which a relationship is established between the identification element and the features of the deformation component. This identification element is then entered in the corresponding deformation component. Consequently, after the deformation component has been completed it is not possible for the vehicle manufacturer or, for example, the customer service, to alter the data, even inadvertently. Since the identification element represents an integral component of the deformation component, the identification element is entered into or applied to the deformation component during manufacture of the latter. Unlike identification elements which are applied during assembly of a motor vehicle to deformation components which have already been produced, inadvertent erroneous association of an identification element with a deformation component is prevented in the case of the deformation component claimed for the invention. Such securing of data and their coordination with deformation components is indispensable for safety engineering reasons. At the same time, because of the passive design of the identification element it is not necessary to provide power supply for the identification element in the deformation component. The identification element is designed as an information carrier which is passive in operation, that is, an element from which data or information are scanned but one which need not deliver such data without external intervention. Consequently, provision of a power supply in the deformation component is not necessary in the case of the passive identification element used as claimed for the invention. Hence the identification element may be very small in size and accordingly does not decisively affect the properties, in particular the ability of the deformation component to absorb energy.
In one embodiment the identification element may be nondetachably embedded in foam in the deformation component. In the case of deformable components which for energy absorption purposes consist of plastic, especially foam plastic, the identification element may be introduced into the deformation component during manufacture, optionally after storage of data. In this way it can be additionally protected from external influences and temperature changes during installation in the motor vehicle during assembly and in the finished vehicle.
The identification element may, however, also be nondetachably mounted on the deformation component. In this embodiment the identification element may, for example, be mounted on the deformation component with adhesive. This embodiment is available, for example, for deformation components, especially metal deformation components, which are to be used in parts of a vehicle which are covered by sheathing and to which access or with which unintentional contact is prevented. For example, an identification element may be secured to a deformation component by an adhesive which is to be used in the roof structure of the vehicle. This deformation component is separated from the passenger compartment at least by the vehicle roof and the identification element is accordingly protected.
In a preferred embodiment the identification element is represented by a transponder. A transponder generally consists of a data storage medium and a coil or antenna for reception of energy and transmission of stored data. Characteristics of the deformation component are stored in the storage medium during manufacture of the deformable component and may be retrieved from the medium. Operating in conjunction with the data storage medium is an antenna or coil which serves to receive a signal, generally a field of a reading device, and over which data from the identification element may be transmitted to a scanning unit. About five billion combinations may be programmed by use of commercially available transponders and so the correct def
Hollasch Christian
Jantzen Frank
Audi AG
La Anh V
Stevens Davis Miller & Mosher LLP
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