Magnetic crash sensing method
First Claim
1. A method of sensing a condition of a magnetic circuit, comprising:
- a. generating at least one signal responsive to at least one magnetic field in at least one magnetic circuit, wherein said at least one magnetic field is generated within a vehicle, and said at least one magnetic circuit comprises at least a portion of said vehicle;
b. filtering said at least one signal with at least one first filter so as to generate a corresponding at least one first filtered signal;
c. filtering said at least one signal with at least one second filter so as to generate a corresponding at least one second filtered signal, wherein said at least one first filter and said at least one second filter are adapted so that a magnitude of a component of said at least one first filtered signal at at least one first frequency is greater than a magnitude of a component of said at least one second filtered signal at said at least one first frequency, and a magnitude of a component of said at least one second filtered signal at at least one second frequency is greater than a magnitude of a component of said at least one first filtered signal at said at least one second frequency, wherein said is at least one second frequency is greater than said at least one first frequency; and
d. sensing a condition of said at least one magnetic circuit responsive to said at least one first filtered signal and responsive to said at least one second filtered signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A signal generated responsive to a magnetic field in a magnetic circuit is decomposed into first and second filtered signals, wherein, at at least one first frequency, a magnitude of a component of the first filtered signal is greater than that of the second filtered signal, and at at least one second frequency greater than the at least one first frequency, a magnitude of a component of the second filtered signal is greater than that of the first filtered signal. A condition of a magnetic circuit is sensed responsive to the first and second filtered signals. In one embodiment, actuation of a safety restraint actuator of a vehicle is controlled responsive to the sensed condition of the magnetic circuit that includes a portion of the vehicle susceptible to a crash. A deployment threshold is adjusted responsive to a door opening state.
99 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method of sensing a condition of a magnetic circuit, comprising:
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a. generating at least one signal responsive to at least one magnetic field in at least one magnetic circuit, wherein said at least one magnetic field is generated within a vehicle, and said at least one magnetic circuit comprises at least a portion of said vehicle; b. filtering said at least one signal with at least one first filter so as to generate a corresponding at least one first filtered signal; c. filtering said at least one signal with at least one second filter so as to generate a corresponding at least one second filtered signal, wherein said at least one first filter and said at least one second filter are adapted so that a magnitude of a component of said at least one first filtered signal at at least one first frequency is greater than a magnitude of a component of said at least one second filtered signal at said at least one first frequency, and a magnitude of a component of said at least one second filtered signal at at least one second frequency is greater than a magnitude of a component of said at least one first filtered signal at said at least one second frequency, wherein said is at least one second frequency is greater than said at least one first frequency; and d. sensing a condition of said at least one magnetic circuit responsive to said at least one first filtered signal and responsive to said at least one second filtered signal. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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2. A method of sensing a condition of a magnetic circuit, comprising:
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a. generating at least one signal responsive to at least one magnetic field in at least one megnetic circuit, wherein said at least one signal is generated by at least one magnetic sensor operatively associated with at least one first location of said at least one magnetic circuit, and at least a portion of said at least one magnetic field is generated by at least one first coil operatively associated with a second location of said at least one magnetic circuit; b. filtering said at least one signal with at least one first filter so as to generate a corresponding at least one first filtered signal; c. filtering said at least one signal with at least one second filter so as to generate a corresponding at least one second filtered signal, wherein said at least one first filter and said at least one second filter are adapted so that a magnitude of a component of said at least one first filtered signal at at least one first frequency is greater than a magnitude of a component of said at least one second filtered signal at said at least one first frequency, and a magnitude of a component of said at least one second filtered signal at at least one second frequency is greater than a magnitude of a component of said at least one first filtered signal at said at least one second frequency, wherein said at least one second frequency is greater than said at least one first frequency; and d. sensing a condition of said at least one magnetic circuit responsive to said at least one first filtered signal and responsive to said at least one second filtered signal.
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3. A method of sensing a condition of a magnetic circuit, comprising:
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a. generating at least one signal responsive to at least one magnetic field in at least one magnetic circuit, wherein said at least one signal is responsive to a self-inductance of at least one first coil operatively associated with said at least one magnetic circuit; b. filtering said at least one signal with at least one first filter so as to generate a corresponding at least one first filtered signal; c. filtering said at least one signal with at least one second filter so as to generate a corresponding at least one second filtered signal, wherein said at least one first filter and said at least one second filter are adapted so that a magnitude of a component of said at least one first filtered signal at at least one first frequency is greater than a magnitude of a component of said at least one second filtered signal at said at least one first frequency, and a magnitude of a component of said at least one second filtered signal at at least one second frequency is greater than a magnitude of a component of said at least one first filtered signal at said at least one second frequency, wherein said at least one second frequency is greater than said at least one first frequency; and d. sensing a condition of said at least one magnetic circuit responsive to said at least one first filtered signal and responsive to said at least one second filtered signal.
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4. A method of sensing a condition of a magnetic circuit, comprising:
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a. generating at least one signal responsive to at least one magnetic field in at least one magnetic circuit, wherein said at least one signal is responsive to at least one time-varying magnetic field, and at least a portion of said at least one time-varying magnetic field is generated in said at least one magnetic circuit by at least one first coil operatively associated with said at least one magnetic circuit responsive to at least one time-varying signal operatively associated with said at least one first coil; b. filtering said at least one signal with at least one first filter so as to generate a corresponding at least one first filtered signal; c. filtering said at least one signal with at least one second filter so as to generate a corresponding at least one second filtered signal, wherein said at least one first filter and said at least one second filter are adapted so that a magnitude of a component of said at least one first filtered signal at at least one first frequency is greater than a magnitude of a component of said at least one second filtered signal at said at least one first frequency, and a magnitude of a component of said at least one second filtered signal at at least one second frequency is greater than a magnitude of a component of said at least one first filtered signal at said at least one second frequency, wherein said at least one second frequency is greater than said at least one first frequency; and d. sensing a condition of said at least one magnetic circuit responsive to said at least one first filtered signal and responsive to said at least one second filtered signal. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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11. A method of sensing a condition of a magnetic circuit, comprising:
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a. generating at least one signal responsive to at least one magnetic field in at least one magnetic circuit; b. filtering said at least one signal with at least one first filter so as to generate a corresponding at least one first filtered signal; c. filtering said at least one signal with at least one second filter so as to generate a corresponding at least one second filtered signal, wherein said at least one first filter and said at least one second filter are adapted so that a magnitude of a component of said at least one first filtered signal at at least one first frequency is greater than a magnitude of a component of said at least one second filtered signal at said at least one first frequency, and a magnitude of a component of said at least one second filtered signal at at least one second frequency is greater than a magnitude of a component of said at least one first filtered signal at said at least one second frequency, wherein said at least one second frequency is greater than said at least one first frequency, and the operation of filtering said at least one signal with at least one second filter commences after said entrance criteria is satisfied; and d. sensing a condition of said at least one magnetic circuit responsive to said at least one first filtered signal and responsive to said at least one second filtered signal, wherein the operation of sensing a condition of said at least one magnetic circuit comprises a sensing algorithm with an entrance criteria and an exit criteria, upon or after satisfaction of said entrance criteria, said sensing algorithm is entered, and upon or after satisfaction of said exit criteria, said sensing algorithm is exited.
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12. A method of sensing a condition of a magnetic circuit, comprising:
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a. generating at least one signal responsive to at least one magnetic field in at least one magnetic circuit; b. filtering said at least one signal with at least one first filter so as to generate a corresponding at least one first filtered signal; c. filtering said at least one signal with at least one second filter so as to generate a corresponding at least one second filtered signal, wherein said at least one first filter and said at least one second filter are adapted so that a magnitude of a component of said at least one first filtered signal at at least one first frequency is greater than a magnitude of a component of said at least one second filtered signal at said at least one first frequency, and a magnitude of a component of said at least one second filtered signal at at least one second frequency is greater than a magnitude of a component of said at least one first filtered signal at said at least one second frequency, wherein said at least one second frequency is treater than said at least one first frequency; d. sensing a condition of said at least one magnetic circuit responsive to said at least one first filtered signal and responsive to said at least one second filtered signal, wherein the operation of sensing a condition of said at least one magnetic circuit comprises a sensing algorithm with an entrance criteria and an exit criteria, upon or after satisfaction of said entrance criteria, said sensing algorithm is entered, and upon or after satisfaction of said exit criteria, said sensing algorithm is exited; and e. detecting an opening state of at least one door of a vehicle from said at least one first filtered signal, and not entering said sensing algorithm if said opening state of said at least one door comprises either an open said at least one door or a recent forceful closure of said at least one door.
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13. A method of sensing a condition of a magnetic circuit, comprising;
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a. generating at least one signal responsive to at least one magnetic field in at least one magnetic circuit; b. filtering said at least one signal with at least one first filter so as to generate a corresponding at least one first filtered signal; c. filtering said at least one signal with at least one second filter so as to generate a corresponding at least one second filtered signal, wherein said at least one first filter and said at least one second filter are adapted so that a magnitude of a component of said at least one first filtered signal at at least one first frequency is greater than a magnitude of a component of said at least one second filtered signal at said at least one first frequency, and a magnitude of a component of said at least one second filtered signal at at least one second frequency is greater than a magnitude of a component of said at least one first filtered signal at said at least one second frequency, wherein said at least one second frequency is greater than said at least one first frequency; d. sensing a condition of said at least one magnetic circuit responsive to said at least one first filtered signal and responsive to said at least one second filtered signal; and e. generating at least one AC measure, wherein said at least one AC measure is responsive to said at least one signal prior to said filtering said at least one signal, said at least one AC measure is responsive to said at least one second filtered signal, and the operation of sensing said condition of said at least one magnetic circuit is responsive to said at least one AC measure.
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14. A method of sensing a condition of a magnetic circuit, comprising:
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a. generating at least one signal responsive to at least one magnetic field in at least one magnetic circuit; b. filtering said at least one signal with at least one first filter so as to generate a corresponding at least one first filtered signal; c. filtering said at least one signal with at least one second filter so as to generate a corresponding at least one second filtered signal, wherein said at least one first filter and said at least one second filter are adapted so that a magnitude of a component of said at least one first filtered signal at at least one first frequency is greater than a magnitude of a component of said at least one second filtered signal at said at least one first frequency, and a magnitude of a component of said at least one second filtered signal at at least one second frequency is greater than a magnitude of a component of said at least one first filtered signal at said at least one second frequency, wherein said at least one second frequency is greater than said at least one first frequency; d. sensing a condition of said at least one magnetic circuit responsive to said at least one first filtered signal and responsive to said at least one second filtered signal; and e. generating at least one AC measure responsive to said at least one signal and to said at least one second filtered signal, wherein the operation of sensing said condition of said at least one magnetic circuit is responsive to said at least one AC measure, and said at least one AC measure comprises a summation of an absolute value of a difference between said at least one signal and said at least one second filtered signal, and said summation extends over a recent period of time.
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15. A method of sensing a condition of a magnetic circuit, comprising:
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a. generating at least one signal responsive to at least one magnetic field in at least one magnetic circuit; b. filtering said at least one signal with at least one first filter so as to generate a corresponding at least one first filtered signal; c. filtering said at least one signal with at least one second filter so as to generate a corresponding at least one second filtered signal, wherein said at least one first filter and said at least one second filter are adapted so that a magnitude of a component of said at least one first filtered signal at at least one first frequency is greater than a magnitude of a component of said at least one second filtered signal at said at least one first frequency, and a magnitude of a component of said at least one second filtered signal at at least one second frequency is greater than a magnitude of a component of said at least one first filtered signal at said at least one second frequency, wherein said at least one second frequency is greater than said at least one first frequency; d. sensing a condition of said at least one magnetic circuit responsive to said at least one first filtered signal and responsive to said at least one second filtered signal; e. generating at least one AC measure responsive to said at least one signal and to said at least one second filtered signal, wherein the operation of sensing said condition of said at least one magnetic circuit is responsive to said at least one AC measure; and f. generating at least one first metric as a corresponding at least one combination of said at least one first filtered signal and said at least one AC measure, wherein the operation of sensing said condition of said at least one magnetic circuit is responsive to said at least one first metric. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of sensing a condition of a magnetic circuit, comprising:
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a. generating at least one signal responsive to at least one magnetic field in at least one magnetic circuit; b. filtering said at least one signal with at least one first filter so as to generate a corresponding at least one first filtered signal; c. filtering said at least one signal with at least one second filter so as to generate a corresponding at least one second filtered signal, wherein said at least one first filter and said at least one second filter are adapted so that a magnitude of a component of said at least one first filtered signal at at least one first frequency is greater than a magnitude of a component of said at least one second filtered signal at said at least one first frequency, and a magnitude of a component of said at least one second filtered signal at at least one second frequency is greater than a magnitude of a component of said at least one first filtered signal at said at least one second frequency, wherein said at least one second frequency is treater than said at least one first frequency; d. sensing a condition of said at least one magnetic circuit responsive to said at least one first filtered signal and responsive to said at least one second filtered signal; and e. generating a second metric, wherein said second metric is a combination of a first said first metric and a second said first metric, wherein said first said first metric is responsive to a condition of a first door of a vehicle, and a second said first metric is responsive to a condition of a second door of said vehicle, wherein said first and second doors are on a same side of said vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. A method of sensing a condition of a magnetic circuit, comprising:
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a. generating at least one signal responsive to at least one magnetic field in at least one magnetic circuit, wherein said at least one magnetic circuit comprises at least a portion of a vehicle susceptible to a crash, further comprising determining whether or not to actuate a safety restraint actuator responsive to the operation of sensing a condition of said at least one magnetic circuit; b. filtering said at least one signal with at least one first filter so as to generate a corresponding at least one first filtered signal; c. filtering said at least one signal with at least one second filter so as to generate a corresponding at least one second filtered signal, wherein said at least one first filter and said at least one second filter are adapted so that a magnitude of a component of said at least one first filtered signal at at least one first frequency is greater than a magnitude of a component of said at least one second filtered signal at said at least one first frequency, and a magnitude or a component of said at least one second filtered signal at at least one second frequency is greater than a magnitude of a component of said at least one first filtered signal at said at least one second frequency, wherein said at least one second frequency is greater than said at least one first frequency; and d. sensing a condition of said at least one magnetic circuit responsive to said at least one first filtered signal and responsive to said at least one second filtered signal. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method of providing for sensing a condition of a magnetic circuit, comprising:
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a. providing for generating at least one signal responsive to at least one magnetic field in at least one magnetic circuit, wherein said at least one magnetic field is generated within a vehicle, and said at least one magnetic circuit comprises at least a portion of said vehicle; b. providing for filtering said at least one signal with at least one first filter so as to generate a corresponding at least one first filtered signal; c. providing for filtering said at least one signal with at least one second filter so as to generate a corresponding at least one second filtered signal, wherein said at least one first filter and said at least one second filter are adapted so that a magnitude of a component of said at least one first filtered signal at at least one first frequency is greater than a magnitude of a component of said at least one second filtered signal at said at least one first frequency, and a magnitude of a component of said at least one second filtered signal at at least one second frequency is greater than a magnitude of a component of said at least one first filtered signal at said at least one second frequency; and d. providing for sensing a condition of said at least one magnetic circuit responsive to said at least one first filtered signal and responsive to said at least one second filtered signal.
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Specification