Hybrid impact sensor
First Claim
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1. A hybrid impact sensor system comprising:
- a control unit; and
a sensor module, the sensor module includinga first sensor with first sensing properties and configured to generate a first output signal, wherein the first sensor includes at least one of a sensor including a semiconductor element containing a plurality of piezoresistors, wherein each piezoresistor has an impedance and input and output terminals, and a circuit configured to be coupled to the input and output terminals of the plurality of piezoresistors and capable of sensing the impedance of the plurality of piezoresistors;
a magnetostrictive sensor; and
an acoustic wave sensor;
a second sensor with second sensing properties, mounted directly to the first sensor, and configured to generate a second output signal, wherein the second sensing properties are different from the first sensing properties and wherein the second sensor includes at least one of an acceleration sensor and a pressure sensor;
an electrical connector coupled to the first sensor, the second sensor, and the control unit and configured to transmit the first output signal and the second output signal to the control unit;
a housing encasing the first sensor and the second sensor and at least a portion of the electrical connector; and
one or more mounts,the control unit positioned outside the housing.
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Abstract
A hybrid impact sensor and method of operating the same. One sensor includes a support containing one or more mounts; a first sensor with first sensing properties and configured to generate a first output signal; a second sensor with second sensing properties and configured to generate a second output signal, wherein the second sensing properties are different from the first sensing properties; and a housing encasing the first sensor and the second sensor.
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Citations
60 Claims
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1. A hybrid impact sensor system comprising:
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a control unit; and a sensor module, the sensor module including a first sensor with first sensing properties and configured to generate a first output signal, wherein the first sensor includes at least one of a sensor including a semiconductor element containing a plurality of piezoresistors, wherein each piezoresistor has an impedance and input and output terminals, and a circuit configured to be coupled to the input and output terminals of the plurality of piezoresistors and capable of sensing the impedance of the plurality of piezoresistors;
a magnetostrictive sensor; and
an acoustic wave sensor;a second sensor with second sensing properties, mounted directly to the first sensor, and configured to generate a second output signal, wherein the second sensing properties are different from the first sensing properties and wherein the second sensor includes at least one of an acceleration sensor and a pressure sensor; an electrical connector coupled to the first sensor, the second sensor, and the control unit and configured to transmit the first output signal and the second output signal to the control unit; a housing encasing the first sensor and the second sensor and at least a portion of the electrical connector; and one or more mounts, the control unit positioned outside the housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of sensing impact to a structure, the method comprising:
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providing a control unit; providing a sensor module, the sensor module including a first sensor of a first sensing type, wherein the first sensor includes at least one of a sensor including a semiconductor element containing a plurality of piezoresistors, wherein each piezoresistor has an impedance and input and output terminals, and a circuit configured to be coupled to the input and output terminals of the plurality of piezoresistors and capable of sensing the impedance of the plurality of piezoresistors;
a magnetostrictive sensor; and
an acoustic wave sensor;a second sensor of a second sensing type mounted directly to the first sensor, wherein the second sensing type is different from the first sensing type and wherein the second sensor includes at least one of an acceleration sensor and a pressure sensor; an electrical connector coupled to the first sensor, the second sensor, and the control unit and configured to transmit the first output signal and the second output signal to the control unit; a housing encasing the first sensor and the second sensor and at least a portion of the electrical connector; and one or more mounts; positioning the control unit outside the housing; generating a first output signal; and generating a second output signal. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A hybrid impact sensor comprising:
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a support containing one or more mounts; a semiconductor element mounted to the support between the one or more mounts and containing a plurality of piezoresistors each piezoresistor having an impedance and input and output terminals, the plurality of piezoresistors including sensing piezoresistors and reference piezoresistors, each of the sensing piezoresistors having a non-strained impedance that is different than a non-strained impedance of each of the reference piezoresistors; a circuit configured to be coupled to the input and output terminals of the plurality of piezoresistors and capable of sensing the impedance of the plurality of piezoresistors; and a pressure sensor configured to generate a pressure signal. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method for sensing impact to a structure, the method comprising:
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providing a support with one or more mounts; attaching a semiconductor element containing a plurality of piezoresistors to the support, each of the semiconductor elements having an impedance and input and output terminals, the plurality of piezoresistors including sensing piezoresistors and reference piezoresistors, each of the sensing piezoresistors having a non-strained impedance that is different than a non-strained impedance of each of the reference piezoresistors; providing a circuit configured to be coupled to the input and output terminals of the plurality of piezoresistors and capable of sensing the impedance of the plurality of piezoresistors; connecting the support to the structure with the one or more mounts of the support; providing a pressure sensor configured to generate a pressure signal; encasing the support and the pressure sensor in a housing; sensing the impedance of the plurality of piezoresistors; and sensing the pressure signal. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A hybrid impact sensor comprising:
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a support containing one or more mounts; a semiconductor element mounted to the support between the one or more mounts and containing a plurality of piezoresistors, each piezoresistor having input and output terminals, the plurality of piezoresistors including sensing piezoresistors and reference piezoresistors, each of the sensing piezoresistors having a non-strained impedance that is different than a non-strained impedance of each of the reference piezoresistors; a circuit configured to be coupled to the input and output terminals of the plurality of piezoresistors and capable of sensing the impedance of the plurality of piezoresistors; and an acceleration sensor configured to generate an acceleration signal. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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55. A method for sensing impact to a structure, the method comprising:
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providing a support with one or more mounts; attaching a semiconductor element containing a plurality of piezoresistors to the support, each piezoresistor having input and output terminals, the plurality of piezoresistors including sensing piezoresistors and reference piezoresistors, each of the sensing piezoresistors having a non-strained impedance that is different than a non-strained impedance of each of the reference piezoresistors; providing a circuit configured to be coupled to the input and output terminals of the plurality of piezoresistors and capable of sensing the impedance of the plurality of piezoresistors; connecting the support to the structure with the one or more mounts of the support; providing an acceleration sensor configured to generate an acceleration signal; encasing the support and the acceleration sensor in a housing; sensing the impedance of the plurality of piezoresistors; and sensing the acceleration signal. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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Specification