Apparatus and method for monitoring vehicular impacts using magnetostrictive sensors
First Claim
1. An apparatus for monitoring impacts on a vehicle comprising:
- at least one magnetostrictive sensor positioned in proximity to a ferromagnetic structural component of said vehicle;
a magnetostrictive sensor signal processor, said signal processor comprising;
an input for receiving an unprocessed signal from said magnetostrictive sensor;
a signal analyzer for identifying signal amplitudes, frequencies, and timing characteristics of said unprocessed signal which are indicative of an impact event on said vehicle;
an output for generating an output signal responsive to said impact event identified by said signal analyzer;
a passenger restraint system triggering circuit, said triggering circuit receiving said output signal from said signal processor; and
at least one passenger restraint system, said passenger restraint system activated by said passenger restraint system triggering circuit.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides an apparatus and method for monitoring vehicular impacts using magnetostrictive sensors. The apparatus includes at least one and sometimes a plurality of magnetostrictive sensors positioned about a motor vehicle at locations appropriate for detecting and measuring stress waves in the structure of the vehicle caused by a vehicular collision or crash. Signals from the magnetostrictive sensors are collected and analyzed in a signal processing system that identifies a severe crash condition and commands a restraint trigger control system to activate one of a number of vehicle occupant restraint systems. The magnetostrictive sensors are structurally simple and mounted to integral elements of the vehicle by adhesive or mechanical attachment. Use of such magnetostrictive sensors in place of more conventional sensors (e.g. accelerometers) provides the opportunity to recognize and react to impact conditions within a significantly reduced time-frame.
153 Citations
15 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for monitoring impacts on a vehicle comprising:
- at least one magnetostrictive sensor positioned in proximity to a ferromagnetic structural component of said vehicle;
a magnetostrictive sensor signal processor, said signal processor comprising; an input for receiving an unprocessed signal from said magnetostrictive sensor; a signal analyzer for identifying signal amplitudes, frequencies, and timing characteristics of said unprocessed signal which are indicative of an impact event on said vehicle; an output for generating an output signal responsive to said impact event identified by said signal analyzer; a passenger restraint system triggering circuit, said triggering circuit receiving said output signal from said signal processor; and at least one passenger restraint system, said passenger restraint system activated by said passenger restraint system triggering circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
- at least one magnetostrictive sensor positioned in proximity to a ferromagnetic structural component of said vehicle;
-
11. A method for monitoring impacts on a vehicle using magnetostrictive sensors comprising the steps of:
-
positioning at least one magnetostrictive sensor in mechanical contact with a ferromagnetic structural component of said vehicle; sensing mechanical waves generated by said impacts on said vehicle; generating a sensor signal representative of said mechanical waves from said impacts on said vehicle; programming an impact event algorithm in a signal analyzer, said algorithm for identifying signal characteristics indicative of an occurrence of said impacts on said vehicle; analyzing said sensor signal for characteristics indicative of an occurrence of said impacts; generating an output signal responsive to an identified impact event; and triggering at least one vehicle passenger restraint system in response to said output signal. - View Dependent Claims (12)
-
-
13. An apparatus for monitoring impacts on a vehicle comprising:
-
at least one magnetostrictive sensor positioned in proximity to a non-ferrous structural component of said vehicle; a ferromagnetic waveguide positioned in mechanical contact with said non-ferrous structural component and in proximity to said at least one of the magnetostrictive sensors; a magnetostrictive sensor signal processor, said signal processor comprising; an input for receiving an unprocessed signal from said magnetostrictive sensor; a signal analyzer for identifying signal amplitudes, frequencies, and timing characteristics of said unprocessed signal which are indicative of an impact event on said vehicle; an output for generating an output signal responsive to said impact event identified by said signal analyzer; a passenger restraint system triggering circuit, said triggering circuit receiving said output signal from said signal processor; and at least one passenger restraint system, said passenger restraint system activated by said passenger restraint system triggering circuit. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
-
Specification