Pedestrian protection system and method of activation of such a system according to the impact

摘要

Pedestrian protection system for a motor vehicle comprises a number of deformation sensors (14) for detecting the impact of an object with a motor vehicle and means for evaluation of the sensor signals in order to derive information relating to the nature of the impact. The evaluation means determine the impingement speed of an object from sensor time information and also determine the deformation work done. From the two values the mass of an object is determined. An independent claim is made for a method for activating a pedestrian protection system based on the mass of an impacting object determined from sensor measurements.