Magnetic sensor
First Claim
1. A magnetic sensor, comprising:
- a. at least one first coil at an associated at least one first location of a body of a vehicle, wherein said at least one first coil is operatively coupled to a ferromagnetic element of said vehicle body;
b. at least one magnetic sensing element operatively connected to at least one second location of said body of said vehicle, wherein said at least one first and at least one second locations are in magnetic communication through a first portion of said vehicle, and said first portion of said vehicle comprises a portion of said body that is susceptible to deformation by a crash;
c. a sinusoidal signal operatively connected to said at least one first coil, wherein said sinusoidal signal comprises a plurality of frequencies;
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 a coupling of a magnetic field generated by said at least one first coil responsive to said sinusoidal signal through said first portion of said vehicle; and
e. a means for discriminating said crash from said at least one second signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A magnetic sensor comprises at least one first coil and at least one magnetic sensing element, operatively connected to respective first and second locations of a body of a vehicle and to a ferromagnetic element of the body. The first and second locations are distinct from one another and are in magnetic communication through a first portion of the vehicle, wherein the first portion of the vehicle comprises a portion of the body that is susceptible to deformation by a crash. A sinusoidal signal comprising a plurality of frequencies is applied to the at least one first coil, and the at least one magnetic sensing element generates a second signal responsive thereto, from which a magnetic disturbance is localized or a crash is discriminated.
68 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A magnetic sensor, comprising:
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a. at least one first coil at an associated at least one first location of a body of a vehicle, wherein said at least one first coil is operatively coupled to a ferromagnetic element of said vehicle body;
b. at least one magnetic sensing element operatively connected to at least one second location of said body of said vehicle, wherein said at least one first and at least one second locations are in magnetic communication through a first portion of said vehicle, and said first portion of said vehicle comprises a portion of said body that is susceptible to deformation by a crash;
c. a sinusoidal signal operatively connected to said at least one first coil, wherein said sinusoidal signal comprises a plurality of frequencies;
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 a coupling of a magnetic field generated by said at least one first coil responsive to said sinusoidal signal through said first portion of said vehicle; and
e. a means for discriminating said crash from said at least one second signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18)
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17. A magnetic sensor, comprising:
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a. at least one first coil at an associated at least one first location of a body of a vehicle, wherein said at least one first coil is operatively coupled to a ferromagnetic element of said vehicle body;
b. at least one magnetic sensing element operatively connected to at least one second location of said body of said vehicle, wherein said at least one first and at least one second locations are in magnetic communication through a first portion of said vehicle, and said first portion of said vehicle comprises a portion of said body that is susceptible to deformation by a crash;
c. a sinusoidal signal operatively connected to said at least one first coil, wherein said sinusoidal signal comprises a plurality of frequencies;
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 a coupling of a magnetic field generated by said at least one first coil responsive to said sinusoidal signal through said first portion of said vehicle; and
e. a means for localizing a magnetic disturbance of said first portion of said vehicle from said at least one second signal.
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Specification