METHOD OF DETECTING ACCELERATION IN VEHICLES
First Claim
1. A method of detecting acceleration in a vehicle, the method comprising:
- placing at least one conductive pickup on a structural member of the vehicle, wherein the structural member includes a continuous structural material, and a plurality of piezoelectric, piezomagnetic, magneto-strictive, and/or electro-strictive material particles in the continuous structural material; and
receiving electrical signals from the at least one conductive pickup, wherein the signals are indicative of electrical fields in the structural member caused by stresses induced in the structural member by acceleration of the vehicle.
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Abstract
Piezomagnetic, magneto-strictive, or electro-strictive material particles may also be distributed throughout the structural material of the structural member, which serve to amplify and otherwise enhance the signals from the piezoelectric material particles. The piezoelectric, electro-strictive, magneto-strictive, and/or piezomagnetic material particles may allow the structural member to exhibit an electrical and/or magnetic response to forces on the structural member, such as accelerations. This may allow the structural member to function as a force sensor or an accelerometer. Signals induced by such external forces or accelerations may be taken from the conductive pickups and used for various operations, for example, for arming a warhead of a missile or for triggering passenger safety features such as air bags in automobiles.
15 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of detecting acceleration in a vehicle, the method comprising:
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placing at least one conductive pickup on a structural member of the vehicle, wherein the structural member includes a continuous structural material, and a plurality of piezoelectric, piezomagnetic, magneto-strictive, and/or electro-strictive material particles in the continuous structural material; and receiving electrical signals from the at least one conductive pickup, wherein the signals are indicative of electrical fields in the structural member caused by stresses induced in the structural member by acceleration of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification