Vibration rejecting impact sensor, particularly to trigger a vehicular collision safety system
First Claim
1. For installation in a vehicle having a vehicular collision safety restraint system, a vibration rejection, impact sensing unit comprisinga common housing (10, 11, 12) andthe combination of an impact sensor effectively immune to vibration or concussion, but sensing a collision impact of the vehicle, and providing a sensor signal, with an electric evaluation circuit providing a collision safety restraint output signal;
- wherein the sensor comprisesa resilient spring-mass system including a movable mass (15) and a spring (13) secured in the housing at an attachment portion at a freely movable portion of the spring (13),and at least one strain gauge (16,
17) secured to the spring (13) and providing said sensor signal;
and the electric evaluation circuit is connected to said at least one strain gauge (16,
17) and comprisesmeans rejecting signals having a frequency above a predetermined limit,an amplifier (22),and a threshold circuit (24) providing the collision safety restraint output signal if the threshold level of the threshold circuit is exceeded,the circuit components of said evaluation circuit being located within said common housing for closely adjacent physical association of said circuit components with said at least one strain gauge.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A moveable mass is part of a resilient spring system, in which the spring is a leaf spring restrained in a housing. Strain gauges are applied to the leaf spring, the outputs of which are integrated in a bi-polar integrator. Vibration of the leaf spring will cause sequential integration in reverse direction and, accordingly, a low output signal; deflection of the mass, for example upon on impact, will cause the integrator to provide a strong integrating signal which can trigger a collision safety system. The inherent, or characteristic frequency of the system is so selected that it is above the frequency occurring upon an impact of the sensor, or upon collision, but below the frequency occurring due to concussions to which the vehicle, or the mounting post of the apparatus on the vehicle, is subjected in use, or repair.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. For installation in a vehicle having a vehicular collision safety restraint system, a vibration rejection, impact sensing unit comprising
a common housing (10, 11, 12) and the combination of an impact sensor effectively immune to vibration or concussion, but sensing a collision impact of the vehicle, and providing a sensor signal, with an electric evaluation circuit providing a collision safety restraint output signal; -
wherein the sensor comprises a resilient spring-mass system including a movable mass (15) and a spring (13) secured in the housing at an attachment portion at a freely movable portion of the spring (13), and at least one strain gauge (16,
17) secured to the spring (13) and providing said sensor signal;and the electric evaluation circuit is connected to said at least one strain gauge (16,
17) and comprisesmeans rejecting signals having a frequency above a predetermined limit, an amplifier (22), and a threshold circuit (24) providing the collision safety restraint output signal if the threshold level of the threshold circuit is exceeded, the circuit components of said evaluation circuit being located within said common housing for closely adjacent physical association of said circuit components with said at least one strain gauge. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification