Sensor assembly including a sensing channel having a void and an associated method

摘要

A sensor assembly ( 14 ) for sensing an impact to a vehicle ( 10 ) includes a light source ( 34 ) for emitting light and a sensing channel ( 40 ) for receiving the emitted light. The sensing channel ( 40 ) is configured to deform in response to an impact to the vehicle ( 10 ) and includes at least one void ( 70 ) with dimensions that vary in response to deformation of the sensing channel ( 40 ). A detector ( 36 ) senses an intensity of the light propagating through the sensing channel ( 40 ) and provides a signal indicative of the sensed intensity. The sensed intensity varies as a function of the dimensions of the at least one void ( 70 ). The sensor assembly ( 14 ) also includes a controller ( 94 ) for analyzing the signal from the detector ( 36 ) to determine whether the sensing channel ( 40 ) has been deformed and thereby, whether an impact to the vehicle ( 10 ) has occurred.