Magnetic sensor
First Claim
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1. A magnetic sensor, comprising:
- a. at least one first coil operatively coupled to a first portion of a vehicle seat;
b. at least one magnetic sensing element operatively coupled to an interior portion of said vehicle;
c. at least one first signal operatively connected to said at least one first coil, wherein said at least one first signal is an oscillating signal;
d. a means for sensing at least one second signal from said at least one magnetic sensing element, wherein said at least one second signal is responsive to said at least one first signal; and
e. a means for discriminating an occupant on said vehicle seat, wherein said means for discriminating is responsive to said second signal, and said second signal is responsive to an interaction of an occupant on said vehicle seat with a magnetic field generated by said at least one first coil responsive to said at least one first signal, when said occupant is seated on said vehicle seat.
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Abstract
A magnetic sensor comprises at least one first coil operatively coupled to a first portion of a vehicle seat and at least one magnetic sensing element operatively coupled to an interior portion. At least one first signal is operatively connected to the at least one first coil, wherein the at least one first signal is an oscillating signal. At least one second signal responsive to the at least one first signal is sensed from the at least one magnetic sensing element, and an occupant is discriminated an occupant on the vehicle seat responsive to the second signal.
72 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A magnetic sensor, comprising:
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a. at least one first coil operatively coupled to a first portion of a vehicle seat;
b. at least one magnetic sensing element operatively coupled to an interior portion of said vehicle;
c. at least one first signal operatively connected to said at least one first coil, wherein said at least one first signal is an oscillating signal;
d. a means for sensing at least one second signal from said at least one magnetic sensing element, wherein said at least one second signal is responsive to said at least one first signal; and
e. a means for discriminating an occupant on said vehicle seat, wherein said means for discriminating is responsive to said second signal, and said second signal is responsive to an interaction of an occupant on said vehicle seat with a magnetic field generated by said at least one first coil responsive to said at least one first signal, when said occupant is seated on said vehicle seat. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of sensing an occupant in a vehicle seat of a vehicle, comprising:
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a. generating a magnetic flux at at least one first location in an interior of the vehicle so that said magnetic flux extends into a region of space bounded by a seat bottom and a seat back of the vehicle seat, wherein said region of space is at least partially occupied by an occupant on the vehicle seat when said occupant is seated on said vehicle seat;
b. conducting said magnetic flux to at least one second location in said interior of the vehicle;
c. sensing said magnetic flux at said at least one second location;
d. generating at least one signal responsive to said magnetic flux sensed at said at least one second location, wherein said at least one signal is responsive to an interaction of an occupant on said vehicle seat with said magnetic field, when said occupant is seated on said vehicle seat; and
e. discriminating an occupant when said occupant is seated on said vehicle seat wherein said operation of discriminating is responsive to said at least one signal. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification