MAGNETIC CRASH SENSOR
First Claim
1. A magnetic crash sensor, comprising:
- a. at least one coil operatively associated with a first tion of a vehicle;
b. a signal source operatively associated with said at least one coil, wherein a first signal from said signal source is operatively coupled to said at least one coil so as to cause said at least one coil to generate a magnetic field;
c. at least one conductive element operatively associated with or at least a part of a second portion of said vehicle, wherein said at least one conductive element is located so that said magnetic field generated by said at least one coil induces at least one eddy current in said at least one conductive element; and
d. at least one circuit, wherein said at least one circuit is operatively coupled to said at least one coil, said at least one circuit is adapted to generate a second signal responsive to a self-impedance of said at least one coil, wherein said second signal is at least partially in-phase with said first signal.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A magnetic field generated by at least one coil operatively associated with a first portion of a vehicle responsive to a first signal from a signal source causes an eddy current in at least one conductive element operatively associated with or at least a part of a second portion of the vehicle. In one aspect, a circuit operatively coupled to the at least one coil generates a second signal responsive to a self-impedance of the at least one coil, wherein the second signal is at least partially in-phase with the first signal. In another aspect, a magnetic sensor is responsive to an eddy current in the at least one conductive element. In yet another aspect, the at least one conductive element comprises a metal sheet, film or coating of paramagnetic or diamagnetic material that is relatively highly conductive.
109 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A magnetic crash sensor, comprising:
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a. at least one coil operatively associated with a first tion of a vehicle;
b. a signal source operatively associated with said at least one coil, wherein a first signal from said signal source is operatively coupled to said at least one coil so as to cause said at least one coil to generate a magnetic field;
c. at least one conductive element operatively associated with or at least a part of a second portion of said vehicle, wherein said at least one conductive element is located so that said magnetic field generated by said at least one coil induces at least one eddy current in said at least one conductive element; and
d. at least one circuit, wherein said at least one circuit is operatively coupled to said at least one coil, said at least one circuit is adapted to generate a second signal responsive to a self-impedance of said at least one coil, wherein said second signal is at least partially in-phase with said first signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A magnetic crash sensor, comprising:
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a. at least one coil operatively associated with a first portion of a vehicle;
b. a signal source operatively associated with said at least one coil, wherein a first signal from said signal source is operatively coupled to said at least one coil so as to cause said at least one coil to generate a magnetic field;
c. at least one conductive element operatively associated with or at least a part of a second portion of said vehicle, wherein said at least one conductive element is located so that said magnetic field generated by said at least one coil induces at least one eddy current in said at least one conductive element;
d. at least one magnetic sensor adapted to generate a second signal responsive to said magnetic field from said at least one coil responsive to an influence by said at least one eddy current induced in said at least one conductive element by said magnetic field; and
e. at least one circuit adapted to generate a third signal from said second signal, wherein said third signal is at least partially in-phase with said first signal. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A magnetic crash sensor, comprising:
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a. at least one coil operatively associated with a first portion of a vehicle;
b. a signal source operatively associated with said at least one coil, wherein a first signal from said signal source is operatively coupled to said at least one coil so as to cause said at least one coil to generate a magnetic field;
c. at least one conductive element operatively associated with or at least a part of a second portion of said vehicle, wherein said at least one conductive element is located so that said magnetic field generated by said at least one coil induces at least one eddy current in said at least one conductive element, and said at least one conductive element comprises a metal sheet, film or coating of paramagnetic or diamagnetic material that is relatively highly conductive; and
d. at least one magnetic sensor adapted to generate a second signal responsive to said magnetic field from said at least one coil responsive to an influence by said at least one eddy current induced in said at least one conductive element by said magnetic field.
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21. A magnetic crash sensor, comprising:
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a. at least one coil operatively associated with a first portion of a vehicle;
b. a signal source operatively associated with said at least one coil, wherein a first signal from said signal source is operatively coupled to said at least one coil so as to cause said at least one coil to generate a magnetic field;
c. at least one conductive element operatively associated with or at least a part of a second portion of said vehicle, wherein said at least one conductive element is located so that said magnetic field generated by said at least one coil induces at least one eddy current in said at least one conductive element; and
d. at least one magnetic sensor adapted to generate a second signal responsive to said magnetic field from said at least one coil responsive to an influence by said at least one eddy current induced in said at least one conductive element by said magnetic field, wherein said at least one magnetic sensor is displaced from said at least one coil. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification