Provided is a pedestrian protection apparatus. An image capturer captures a far infrared (FIR) image of an object in front of a vehicle. A sensor is mounted on a bumper of the vehicle and senses at least one of a change in acceleration and a change in pressure of the bumper caused by a collision between the vehicle and an object located in front of the vehicle. A controller determines whether or not the object is a pedestrian candidate in accordance with the FIR image captured by the image capturer, determines whether or not the pedestrian candidate is a pedestrian in accordance with at least one of the change in the acceleration and the change in the pressure sensed by the sensor, and operates a protector for pedestrian protection in response to the pedestrian candidate being identified as the pedestrian.

Provided is a pedestrian protection apparatus. An image capturer captures a far infrared (FIR) image of an object in front of a vehicle. A sensor is mounted on a bumper of the vehicle and senses at least one of a change in acceleration and a change in pressure of the bumper caused by a collision between the vehicle and an object located in front of the vehicle. A controller determines whether or not the object is a pedestrian candidate in accordance with the FIR image captured by the image capturer, determines whether or not the pedestrian candidate is a pedestrian in accordance with at least one of the change in the acceleration and the change in the pressure sensed by the sensor, and operates a protector for pedestrian protection in response to the pedestrian candidate being identified as the pedestrian.

A pedestrian protection apparatus may include: an active sensor configured to sense a forward obstacle of a vehicle; a passive sensor configured to sense a collision of the vehicle; a storage unit configured to store a collision threshold value which is set according to the passive sensor and a protection subject; a protection module driving unit configured to drive a protection module for protecting the protection subject in case of a collision with the vehicle; and a control unit configured to identify the protection subject based on the sensing result of the active sensor, adjust the collision threshold value according to the protection subject, compare the sensing result of the passive sensor to the collision threshold value, and operate the protection module driving unit.

A pedestrian protection apparatus may include: an active sensor configured to sense a forward obstacle of a vehicle; a passive sensor configured to sense a collision of the vehicle; a storage unit configured to store a collision threshold value which is set according to the passive sensor and a protection subject; a protection module driving unit configured to drive a protection module for protecting the protection subject in case of a collision with the vehicle; and a control unit configured to identify the protection subject based on the sensing result of the active sensor, adjust the collision threshold value according to the protection subject, compare the sensing result of the passive sensor to the collision threshold value, and operate the protection module driving unit.

Disclosed are lock mechanisms for latch assemblies of vehicle compartment hoods, methods for making or using such lock mechanisms, and motor vehicles equipped with a multi-pull latch and lock system for releasably locking a hood assembly. A lock mechanism includes a gear that couples a closure latch to a latch release mechanism. The gear moves between a latched position, whereat the closure latch secures the closure in a closed position, and an unlatched position, whereat the gear transfers activation forces from the release mechanism to disengage the closure latch from the closure. A pawl is movable between a locked position, whereat the pawl engages and locks the gear in the latched position, and an unlocked position, whereat the pawl disengages the gear. An actuator is operatively engaged with a vehicle door to automatically move the pawl to the unlocked position responsive to movement of the door to an open position.

Disclosed are lock mechanisms for latch assemblies of vehicle compartment hoods, methods for making or using such lock mechanisms, and motor vehicles equipped with a multi-pull latch and lock system for releasably locking a hood assembly. A lock mechanism includes a gear that couples a closure latch to a latch release mechanism. The gear moves between a latched position, whereat the closure latch secures the closure in a closed position, and an unlatched position, whereat the gear transfers activation forces from the release mechanism to disengage the closure latch from the closure. A pawl is movable between a locked position, whereat the pawl engages and locks the gear in the latched position, and an unlocked position, whereat the pawl disengages the gear. An actuator is operatively engaged with a vehicle door to automatically move the pawl to the unlocked position responsive to movement of the door to an open position.

A vehicular protection system for protecting a protection target colliding with a vehicle is provided, which includes: a bulkhead having a bulkhead upper which extends in a vehicle widthwise direction and is arranged at an upper portion thereof; a hood arranged over the bulkhead upper; a bulkhead pop-up device configured to lift up the bulkhead upper and the hood; and a hood-moving device configured to be able to move forward the bulkhead upper and the hood. When the protection target colliding with the vehicle is protected, the bulkhead pop-up device is used to lift up the bulkhead upper and the hood and the hood-moving device is then used to move forward the bulkhead upper and the hood.

A vehicular protection system for protecting a protection target colliding with a vehicle is provided, which includes: a bulkhead having a bulkhead upper which extends in a vehicle widthwise direction and is arranged at an upper portion thereof; a hood arranged over the bulkhead upper; a bulkhead pop-up device configured to lift up the bulkhead upper and the hood; and a hood-moving device configured to be able to move forward the bulkhead upper and the hood. When the protection target colliding with the vehicle is protected, the bulkhead pop-up device is used to lift up the bulkhead upper and the hood and the hood-moving device is then used to move forward the bulkhead upper and the hood.

A method for operating an automobile vehicle pedestrian sensing system includes: embedding multiple piezoelectric sensors in a vehicle bumper fascia, each generating a voltage in response to an impact of an object with the fascia; retrieving multiple threshold values from a memory, each assigned to one of the sensors; reading the voltage from each of the sensors; grouping individual sensors into multiple different logic circuits, each including at least two of the sensors; determining for each sensor in each of the logic circuits if the voltage is greater than the assigned threshold value; creating a positive signal following any one of the logic circuits when the voltage is determined to be greater than the assigned threshold value for the sensors grouped into the one of the logic circuits; and generating a hood deployment system deployment signal when the positive signal is output from all of the logic circuits.

A method for operating an automobile vehicle pedestrian sensing system includes: embedding multiple piezoelectric sensors in a vehicle bumper fascia, each generating a voltage in response to an impact of an object with the fascia; retrieving multiple threshold values from a memory, each assigned to one of the sensors; reading the voltage from each of the sensors; grouping individual sensors into multiple different logic circuits, each including at least two of the sensors; determining for each sensor in each of the logic circuits if the voltage is greater than the assigned threshold value; creating a positive signal following any one of the logic circuits when the voltage is determined to be greater than the assigned threshold value for the sensors grouped into the one of the logic circuits; and generating a hood deployment system deployment signal when the positive signal is output from all of the logic circuits.