Airbag deployment monitor and sensing electronics
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An airbag deployment sensor has a cartridge containing a quantity of tape one end of which is attached to the inside surface of an airbag cushion. Deployment of the cushion pulls tape from the cartridge at a rate that is monitored by transmitting light through the tape, or by detecting the presence of metalized, or magnetic shielding portions, of the tape.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. (canceled)
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2. (canceled)
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3. (canceled)
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4. (canceled)
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5. (canceled)
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6. An airbag deployment monitor comprising:
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a cartridge containing a length of tape, the tape having a first end attached to an inside surface of an airbag cushion, wherein the tape has first portions which conduct electricity, and second portions which are substantially non-conductive, and wherein the first portions alternate with second portions;
a sensor assembled with the cartridge so that as the tape is drawn from the cartridge, the sensor forming a capacitor with the first portions that conduct electricity a first portion is positioned opposite the sensor, followed by a second portion, wherein the sensor provides an output which varies depending on whether the first portion, or the second portion is positioned opposite the sensor, so that as the tape is drawn from the cartridge and conductive portions are successively brought opposite the sensor the oscillator circuit produces either a frequency modulated output or an amplitude modulated output. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 14)
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7. (canceled)
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13. (canceled)
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15. (canceled)
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16. (canceled)
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17. (canceled).
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18. (canceled)
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19. A method for detecting the rate at which an airbag cushion is deploying comprising the steps of:
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inflating an airbag cushion;
drawing a tape by a first end connected to the airbag cushion from a tape cartridge, wherein the tape has first portions which conduct electricity, and second portions which are substantially non-conductive, and wherein the first portions alternate with second portions; and
monitoring the rate at which the tape is withdrawn from the cartridge with a sensor comprising a capacitor employing the first portions of the tape, the sensor monitoring the changing capacitance as the first portions of the tape move past the sensor, and forming an oscillator with the capacitor, wherein the frequency of the oscillator changes as the capacitance of the capacitor changes so that a frequency modulated signal is produced by the withdrawing tape.
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20. (canceled)
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21. (canceled)
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22. (cancelled)
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23. (canceled)
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24. A method for detecting the rate at which an airbag cushion is deploying comprising the steps of:
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inflating an airbag cushion;
drawing a tape by a first end connected to the airbag cushion from a tape cartridge, wherein the tape has first portions which conduct electricity, and second portions which are substantially non-conductive, and wherein the first portions alternate with second portions; and
monitoring the rate at which the tape is withdrawn from the cartridge with a sensor comprising a capacitor employing the first portions of the tape, the sensor monitoring the changing capacitance as the first portions of the tape move past the sensor so that output of the sensor is an amplitude modulated signal.
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Specification