Single point acceleration sensor
First Claim
1. A sensor system for use in combination with vehicle restraint devices, comprising:
- (A) a sensor housing comprising a base having a sloped top side, a cover having a sloped bottom side, a receptacle and a channel for communication;
(B) a sensor mass contained within said sensor housing, said sensor mass resting on said sloped top side of said base, and said sloped bottom side of said cover resisting the upward motion of said sensor mass;
(C) a detector in communication with said sensor mass, said receptacle adapted to receive said detector; and
(D) a mount fixed to said sensor housing for mounting said sensor system to an electronics assembly.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sensor designed and adapted to operate with vehicle restraints whose primary purpose is to sense low "g" accelerations and vehicle tilting, the results of which lead to the activation or deactivation of the primary occupant restraints through a control module. This invention specifically addresses the reliability of vehicle acceleration and tilt sensors. By employing fewer numbers of components and by having a fewer number of failure mechanisms this invention provides a sensor of increased reliability and lower manufacturing cost. Furthermore, this sensor invention restrains effect z-axis accelerations often encountered when a vehicle is merely traveling over rough roads. This invention employs innovative detector technology, alternatively using an IR detector or a Hall Effect Device detector.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A sensor system for use in combination with vehicle restraint devices, comprising:
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(A) a sensor housing comprising a base having a sloped top side, a cover having a sloped bottom side, a receptacle and a channel for communication; (B) a sensor mass contained within said sensor housing, said sensor mass resting on said sloped top side of said base, and said sloped bottom side of said cover resisting the upward motion of said sensor mass; (C) a detector in communication with said sensor mass, said receptacle adapted to receive said detector; and (D) a mount fixed to said sensor housing for mounting said sensor system to an electronics assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A vehicle restraint system comprising:
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a sensor system comprising a sensor housing adapted to be mounted in an electronic circuit, a sensor mass held within said sensor housing adapted to move to an infinite number of positions within said sensor housing responsive to an external force, a detector held within said sensor housing and in communication with said sensor mass for detecting said position of said sensor mass within said sensor housing, and an electronic communication channel; a vehicle restraint; and a control module receiving an input from said sensor system and communicating a control signal to said vehicle restraint. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A vehicle acceleration and tilt sensor comprising:
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(A) a sensor mass held within a sensor housing such that said sensor mass is permitted to move to an infinite number of positions within said sensor housing when a force is exerted upon said sensor mass, wherein said sensor housing further comprises a generally upwardly sloped base having a nadir at a generally central point in said base, and a cover having a z-axis restriction; (B) a detector having a means for communicating said position of said sensor mass to an electronic control means; and (C) a means for communicating said sensor mass position to said detector.
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Specification