US 11,865,986 B1
Low impact detection techniques
Da Liu, Milpitas, CA (US); Mackenzie Cunningham, San Mateo, CA (US); and Moritz Boecker, Millbrae, CA (US)
Assigned to Zoox, Inc., Foster City, CA (US)
Filed by Zoox, Inc., Foster City, CA (US)
Filed on Oct. 11, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/498,516.
Int. Cl. B60R 21/0136 (2006.01); G07C 5/00 (2006.01); G01L 1/22 (2006.01); B60R 21/017 (2006.01); B60R 16/03 (2006.01)
CPC B60R 21/0136 (2013.01) [B60R 16/03 (2013.01); B60R 21/0173 (2013.01); G01L 1/22 (2013.01); G07C 5/008 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vehicle comprising:
at least one exterior panel formed of a flexible material;
a main power source;
an auxiliary power source;
a main controller connected to the main power source, the main controller configured to operate in an operational state, in which power is drawn from the main power source, and in a sleep state, in which less power is drawn from the main power source; and
a low-level interaction detection device connected to the auxiliary power source and comprising a circuit that includes at least one flex sensor coupled to the at least one exterior panel and at least one comparator, wherein:
the flex sensor comprises a variable resistor configured to vary an output voltage relative to an amount of bending of the flex sensor; and
the comparator is configured to receive the output voltage from the flex sensor, as a first input voltage and a limit voltage as a second input voltage, and wherein the comparator is configured to:
compare the output voltage and the limit voltage; and
output a logic signal to the main power source based on the result of the comparison, wherein if the logic signal indicates that the output voltage exceeded the limit voltage, the main controller is configured to operate in the operational state based at least in part on the logic signal indicating that the output voltage exceeded the limit voltage.