Sensor, which can be mounted on a vehicle, for detecting a mechanical change in shape

摘要

Sensor, which can be mounted on a vehicle, and is suitable for the early diagnosis of the consequences of accidents. For the detection of a mechanical change in shape, the sensor contains a plurality of electrically conductive strips which run in parallel over a longitudinal extent which is large in comparison with the width of the strip. A first strip (W) has a clearly measurable ohmic longitudinal resistance (Rx) and when deformation takes place it comes into galvanic contact with a second strip (W) so that in the case of an accident the location (O) of the contact can be at least approximately measured by measuring the ohmic resistance (Rx) between terminals (A) of the first and of the second strip (W). A third strip (C) interacts capacitively with another one of the strips (C) in the case of deformation of the sensor, so that in the case of an accident the size of the surface of the third strip (C) affected by the deformation can be at least approximately measured by measuring the change in capacitance between the third strip and the other strip (C). <IMAGE>