Fiber optic sensors and control systems for automobile occupant protection apparatus
First Claim
1. A fiber optic sensor for the sensing of forces imposed thereon in a predetermined direction, said sensor comprising a housing and an optical fiber of a type which is self-deformable in response to forces imposed on said sensor, said housing retentively engaging first and second opposed ends of said fiber and placing said fiber in tangential contiguity with an interior surface of said housing, said housing defining a cavity aside said fiber, permitting movement of said fiber therein distal from said tangential contiguity of said fiber with said housing interior surface, said cavity and said fiber being successive to said housing interior surface and the cavity being successive to the fiber in said predetermined force imposition direction.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A fiber optic sensor for the sensing of forces imposed on the sensor in a predetermined direction comprises a housing and an optical fiber of a type which is self-deformable in response to forces imposed on the sensor. The housing retentively engages first and second opposed ends of the fiber and places the fiber in tangential contiguity with an interior surface of the housing. The housing defines a cavity aside the fiber permitting movement of the fiber therein and distal from the tangential contiguity thereof with the interior surface. In the predetermined force imposition direction, the cavity is successive to the interior surface of the housing. A system is provided for generating an input signal for control of automobile occupant protection apparatus of an automobile having a preselected forward travelling direction, the system comprising first apparatus, inclusive of a first fiber optic sensor responsive to first forces imposed thereon in a first direction opposite the preselected forward travelling direction, for providing a first output indicative of characteristics of the first forces, second apparatus, inclusive of a second fiber optic sensor responsive to second forces imposed thereon in a second direction different from the direction opposite the preselected forward travelling direction, for providing a second output indicative of characteristics of the second forces and third apparatus responsive to the first and second outputs for selectively generating the input signal.
26 Citations
23 Claims
- 1. A fiber optic sensor for the sensing of forces imposed thereon in a predetermined direction, said sensor comprising a housing and an optical fiber of a type which is self-deformable in response to forces imposed on said sensor, said housing retentively engaging first and second opposed ends of said fiber and placing said fiber in tangential contiguity with an interior surface of said housing, said housing defining a cavity aside said fiber, permitting movement of said fiber therein distal from said tangential contiguity of said fiber with said housing interior surface, said cavity and said fiber being successive to said housing interior surface and the cavity being successive to the fiber in said predetermined force imposition direction.
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10. A system generating an input signal for control of a triggering component of an automobile occupant protection apparatus of an automobile having a forward travelling direction, said system comprising:
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(a) a fiber optic sensor for the sensing of forces imposed thereon in a predetermined direction opposite said forward travelling direction, said sensor comprising a housing and an optical fiber of a type which is self-deformable in response to forces imposed on said sensor, said housing retentively engaging first and second opposed ends of said fiber and placing said fiber in tangential contiguity with an interior surface of said housing, said housing defining a cavity aside said fiber permitting movement of said fiber therein and distal from said tangential contiguity of said fiber with said housing interior surface, said cavity being successive to said housing interior surface and the fiber in said predetermined force imposition direction; (b) first and second light couplers respectively disposed at said optical fiber first and second ends; (c) light generating means in communication with said first light coupler and transmitting light therethrough into said optical fiber; (d) light receiving means in communication with said second light coupler and generating an output signal indicative of characteristics of light received thereby from said second light coupler; and (e) comparator means for receiving said output signal generated by said light receiving means and generating said input signal selectively in accordance with said characteristics indicated in said output signal. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system generating an input signal for control of a triggering component of an automobile occupant protection apparatus of an automobile having a preselected forward travelling direction, said system comprising:
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(a) first means, inclusive of a first fiber optic sensor responsive to first forces imposed thereon in a first direction opposite said preselected forward travelling direction, for providing a first output signal indicative of characteristics of said first forces; (b) second means, inclusive of a second fiber optic sensor responsive to second forces imposed thereon in a second direction different from said first direction for providing a second output signal indicative of characteristics of said second forces; and (c) comparator means responsive to said first and second outputs for selectively generating said input signal. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. A system generating an input signal for control of a triggering component of an automobile occupant protection apparatus of an automobile, said system comprising:
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(a) first means, inclusive of a first fiber optic sensor responsive to first forces imposed thereon in a first direction for providing a first output indicative of characteristics of said first forces; (b) second means, inclusive of a second fiber optic sensor responsive to second forces imposed thereon in a second direction different from said first direction for providing a second output indicative of characteristics of said second forces; and (c) comparator means responsive to said first and second outputs for selectively generating said input signal.
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Specification