Driver side air bag cover with optical horn switch
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A cover comprising:
- a horn activation area (24) deformable in response to a pushing force thereon;
a thin, flexible signal carrying conduit (40) having flexible walls, operatively disposed on or within the cover within the horn activation area and movable therewith, wherein that flexure of the conduit can modify the strength or signal level of a signal flowing therethrough;
first means (76,90) responsive to a change in signal strength through the conduit for generating an activation signal to energize a horn (102).
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Accused Products
Abstract
An air bag deployment door with a switch to activate a horn, the switch including a thin, flexible optical cable operatively disposed on or within the horn activation area and a sensor responsive to a change in signal strength through the cable for generating an activation signal to energize a horn.
12 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A cover comprising:
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a horn activation area (24) deformable in response to a pushing force thereon; a thin, flexible signal carrying conduit (40) having flexible walls, operatively disposed on or within the cover within the horn activation area and movable therewith, wherein that flexure of the conduit can modify the strength or signal level of a signal flowing therethrough; first means (76,90) responsive to a change in signal strength through the conduit for generating an activation signal to energize a horn (102). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A cover for a driver side air bag comprising:
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a horn activation area (24) deformable in response to a pushing force thereon; a thin, flexible signal carrying conduit (40) operatively disposed on or within the cover within the horn activation area; first means (76,90) responsive to a change in signal strength through the conduit for generating an activation signal to energize a horn (102) including a signal generator for impressing a signal upon the conduit and a signal receiver (76) for receiving the signal as it leaves the conduit and wherein the flexure of the conduit modifies the strength of the signal transmitted therethrough. wherein the signal generator includes a transmitting means for generating light, the signal receiver includes receiving means for receiving the generated light and the conduit is an optical conduit. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13)
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5. An apparatus comprising:
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a horn activation area deformable in response to a pushing force thereon; a thin, flexible signal carrying conduit (40) operatively disposed on or within the apparatus within the horn activation area; first means (76,90) responsive to a change in signal strength through the conduit for generating an activation signal to energize a horn (102) including a signal generator and a signal receiver (76) and wherein the flexure of the conduit modifies the strength of the signal transmitted therethrough; wherein the apparatus is a steering wheel (18) and wherein the conduit is disposed proximate a surface thereof. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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Specification