| US 7,497,491 B2 | ||
| Multi-function motor-vehicle bumper | ||
| Alessandro Zanella, Torino (Italy); and Francesco Butera, Torino (Italy) | ||
| Assigned to C.R.F. Societa Consortile per Azioni, Orbassano (Torino) (Italy) | ||
| Filed on Apr. 28, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/116,433. | ||
| Claims priority of application No. 04425312 (EP), filed on May 03, 2004. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2005/0242596 A1, Nov. 03, 2005 | ||
| Int. Cl. B60R 19/02 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 293—102 [293/117; 180/274; 340/436; 701/301] | 5 Claims |
| 1. A motor-vehicle comprising a motor-vehicle body and a bumper mounted on the motor-vehicle body, said bumper including a
bumper body with a shell structure of plastic material including a wall,
wherein said bumper is provided with a number of piezoelectric elements positioned and controlled to serve the function of
impact detectors, for detecting an impact with a pedestrian,
wherein said piezoelectric elements are positioned and controlled to serve also the function of emitters and/or receivers,
wherein said piezoelectric elements are selected from the group of piezoelectric polymers in the form of piezoelectric flexible
elements, piezoelectric elements in the form of flexible laminas, and purely ceramic “Bulk” piezoelectric elements,
wherein said piezoelectric elements are distributed on the surface of said wall of the bumper body, and
wherein said piezoelectric elements are controlled so that, in addition to said impact detector function, they also operate
as emitters or receivers for performing an ultrasound detection function of proximity of an obstacle.
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