Description And Operation: Description
Remote or satellite impact sensors are mounted in various strategic locations of the vehicle. These sensors are mounted remotely from the impact sensor that is internal to the Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC). Sensors at the front of the vehicle provide an additional logic input for use by the ORC to control the front airbags, the seat belt tensioners and the Knee AirBags (KAB). Sensors on each side of the vehicle provide an additional logic input for use by the ORC to control the side curtain airbags, seat airbags and the seat belt tensioners. Two types of sensors are used in this vehicle. They are the acceleration-type and the pressure-type, which are described elsewhere within this service information.
- 4 impact sensors (2 accelerometer sensors, 2 pressure sensors)
- 2 front impact sensors or ECS (Early Crash Sensor)
Front impact sensors
The front impact sensors (1) contain an accelerometer that measures the rate of vehicle deceleration in the event of an impact. The sensors are located on each side attached to the corresponding front fender supports (2).
In head-on collisions, the impact sensor in the ORC acts as the primary sensor and the front impact sensors (1) provide confirmation of the event.
Side pressure sensors
One pressure sensor is located in each of the front doors to protect front row passengers in the event of side crashes.
The pressure sensors can detect a sudden change in air pressure within the door which is consistent with a direct impact to the door. The sensor signal alone cannot command the deployment of the airbag. The ORC or a second sensor must detect a crash event simultaneously to deploy the side airbags.
B-pillar side impact sensor
Two accelerometric impact sensors are used, one on each side of the vehicle, to detect a side impact and support the side curtain airbags, the seat-mounted thorax airbags, and the seat belt tensioners.
An accelerometer crash sensor (2) for each side is located behind the B-pillar trim cover (1) above the front seatbelt retractor (3). All sensors in the passive restraints system relay information to the ORC using the Peripheral Sensor Interface 5 (PSI5) network architecture.
During side impacts, the first sensor detects the impact and the other sensors confirm the event.