Displacement information derivation device, occupant restraint system, vehicle, and displacement information derivation method
First Claim
1. A collision detection device for a vehicle, the collision detection device comprising:
- an electrical power source;
an electronic sensor for detecting displacement of a metallic vehicle component;
a first portion of the sensor driven by the electrical power source to generate a magnetic field in the metallic vehicle component; and
a second portion of the sensor separate and spaced from the first portion, the second portion having a predetermined electrical characteristic that is variably responsive to the displacement of the metallic vehicle component.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A collision detection device is provided which is effective for improving the detection quality for detection of displacement of a vehicle component during a vehicle collision. In one form, the collision detection device to be installed in a vehicle comprises a coil sensor. The coil sensor includes a first coil which is arranged to face a door outer panel and a second coil which is arranged near the first coil and inside the outer diameter of the first coil and centered about a line perpendicular to the coil plane of the first coil. The coil sensor detects information about induced voltage due to magnetovariation via the second coil when the door outer panel is located in a distant region and detects information about variation in impedance via the first coil when the door outer panel is located in an adjacent region.
25 Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A collision detection device for a vehicle, the collision detection device comprising:
-
an electrical power source; an electronic sensor for detecting displacement of a metallic vehicle component; a first portion of the sensor driven by the electrical power source to generate a magnetic field in the metallic vehicle component; and a second portion of the sensor separate and spaced from the first portion, the second portion having a predetermined electrical characteristic that is variably responsive to the displacement of the metallic vehicle component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 7, 8)
-
-
4. A collision detection device for a vehicle, the collision detection device comprising:
-
an electrical power source; an electronic sensor for detecting displacement of a metallic vehicle component; a first portion of the sensor driven by the electrical power source to generate a magnetic field in the metallic vehicle component; and a second portion of the sensor separate and spaced from the first portion, the second portion having a predetermined electrical characteristic that is variably responsive to the displacement of the metallic vehicle component, wherein the first portion has a predetermined electrical characteristic that is variable responsive to the displacement of the metallic vehicle component, with the first and second portions being arranged and configured so that the second portion is operable to have an optimized response to displacement of the metallic vehicle component at distances further from the electronic sensor than at which the first portion has an optimized response to displacement of the metallic vehicle component. - View Dependent Claims (5)
-
-
6. A collision detection device for a vehicle, the collision detection device comprising:
-
an electrical power source; an electronic sensor for detecting displacement of a metallic vehicle component; a first portion of the sensor driven by the electrical power source to generate a magnetic field in the metallic vehicle component; and a second portion of the sensor separate and spaced from the first portion, the second portion having a predetermined electrical characteristic that is variably responsive to the displacement of the metallic vehicle component, wherein the first and second portions comprise first and second coils, respectively, with the second coil having a predetermined impedance that is greater than a predetermined impedance of the first coil.
-
-
9. A method of detecting information relating to displacement of a vehicle component, the method comprising:
-
energizing a first portion of an electronic sensor with an electrical power source that is distinct from the electronic sensor; generating a magnetic field in a predetermined metallic vehicle component; arranging a second portion of the electronic sensor in a predetermined spaced position relative to the first portion; detecting variation in a predetermined electrical characteristic of the second portion responsive to displacement of the predetermined metallic vehicle component; and deriving information regarding displacement of the predetermined metallic vehicle component based on the detected variation. - View Dependent Claims (10, 13)
-
-
11. A method of detecting information relating to displacement of a vehicle component, the method comprising:
-
energizing a first portion of an electronic sensor; generating a magnetic field in a predetermined metallic vehicle component; arranging a second portion of the electronic sensor in a predetermined spaced position relative to the first portion; detecting variation in a predetermined electrical characteristic of the second portion responsive to displacement of the predetermined metallic vehicle component; deriving information regarding displacement of the predetermined metallic vehicle component based on the detected variation; detecting variation in a predetermined electrical characteristic of the first portion responsive to displacement of the predetermined metallic vehicle component; and optimizing responsiveness of the variation in the predetermined electrical characteristic of the second sensor portion at distances of the vehicle component from the sensor that are greater than distances at which the responsiveness to the variation in the predetermined electrical characteristic of the first portion is optimized. - View Dependent Claims (12)
-
-
14. A method of detecting information relating to displacement of a vehicle component, the method comprising:
-
energizing a first portion of an electronic sensor; generating a magnetic field in a predetermined metallic vehicle component; arranging a second portion of the electronic sensor in a predetermined spaced position relative to the first portion; detecting variation in a predetermined electrical characteristic of the second portion responsive to displacement of the predetermined metallic vehicle component; deriving information regarding displacement of the predetermined metallic vehicle component based on the detected variation; and arranging the first portion to extend in a generally annular configuration, and the second portion is arranged to extend in a generally annular configuration within the annular configuration of the first portion. - View Dependent Claims (15)
-
Specification