Magnetic sensor
First Claim
1. A method of sensing a pedestrian in a region of space external to a vehicle, comprising:
- a. generating a first magnetic flux at a first location on said vehicle so that said first magnetic flux extends into a region of space external of said vehicle;
b. conducting said first magnetic flux through said region of space external to said vehicle to a second location on said vehicle;
c. sensing said first magnetic flux at said second location;
d. generating a signal responsive to said magnetic flux sensed at said second location; and
e. discriminating a pedestrian when said pedestrian is located within said first magnetic flux, wherein the operation of discriminating is responsive to said signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A pedestrian is sensed in a region of space external to a vehicle by generating a first magnetic flux at a first location on the vehicle so that the first magnetic flux extends into a region of space external of the vehicle, conducting the first magnetic flux through the region of space external to the vehicle to a second location on the vehicle, sensing the first magnetic flux at the second location, generating a signal responsive to the magnetic flux sensed at the second location, and discriminating a pedestrian when the pedestrian is located within the first magnetic flux, wherein the operation of discriminating is responsive to the signal.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method of sensing a pedestrian in a region of space external to a vehicle, comprising:
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a. generating a first magnetic flux at a first location on said vehicle so that said first magnetic flux extends into a region of space external of said vehicle;
b. conducting said first magnetic flux through said region of space external to said vehicle to a second location on said vehicle;
c. sensing said first magnetic flux at said second location;
d. generating a signal responsive to said magnetic flux sensed at said second location; and
e. discriminating a pedestrian when said pedestrian is located within said first magnetic flux, wherein the operation of discriminating is responsive to said signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A magnetic sensor, comprising:
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a. a first coil at a first location of a body of a vehicle, wherein said 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 first location and said at least one second location are in magnetic communication through a first portion of said vehicle and through a region of space external of said vehicle;
c. a first signal operatively applied to said first coil;
d. a means for sensing at least one second signal from said at least one magnetic sensing element;
e. a means for discriminating a pedestrian from said at least one second signal. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30)
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27. A magnetic sensor as recited in claim 27, wherein a frequency of said first signal is modulated.
Specification