Air bag deployment trigger sensor with sacrificial waveguide
First Claim
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1. An air bag triggering device, which comprises:
- a rigid optical waveguide disposed within the body of a vehicle for carrying optical rays;
sensor means coupled to said optical waveguide, said sensor means triggering an air bag system when said optical waveguide breaks.
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Abstract
An air bag deployment trigger sensor for activating the deployment of an air bag in a vehicle as a result of an impact or collision. The air bag deployment trigger sensor utilizes a sacrificial waveguide which transmits optical signals from an emitter along the waveguide, and which are received by a detector. A sensor circuit attached to the detector senses the optical signal and decodes, measures, or compares the optical signal with a predetermined electrical signal produced by the detector. The sensor'"'"'s detection of an alteration or interruption of the optical signal along the waveguide triggers air bag deployment.
20 Citations
29 Claims
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1. An air bag triggering device, which comprises:
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a rigid optical waveguide disposed within the body of a vehicle for carrying optical rays; sensor means coupled to said optical waveguide, said sensor means triggering an air bag system when said optical waveguide breaks. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of triggering an air bag, said method comprising the steps of:
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emitting optical rays from an optical emitter, transmitting said optical rays along a rigid waveguide; detecting said optical rays; sensing the breakage of said waveguide; and triggering deployment of an air bag in response to said breakage. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification