System and method for sensing loads
First Claim
1. An optical sensing system for detecting pressure exerted by a mass through attenuation of light in an optical fiber comprising:
- a first plurality of optical fibers;
a second plurality of optical fibers that is approximately parallel to the first plurality of optical fibers;
a support element against which the first and second plurality of optical fibers can move, such that a bend is created in at least one of the optical fibers in either the first or second plurality of optical fibers as a result of the pressure exerted by an object pressing against one or more of the fibers;
a first light source for sending light beams through the first plurality of optical fibers;
a second light source for sending light beams through the second plurality of optical fibers;
a first detector for measuring any attenuation in the light beams sent through at the first plurality of optical fibers; and
a second detector for measuring any attenuation in the light beams sent through the second plurality of optical fibers;
such that at least one of the first detector and the second detector measure attenuation in the at least one of the optical fibers in which a bend is created.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical sensing system detects pressure through attenuation of light in an optical fiber. The weight and position of a load on a mat including multiple optical fibers may be determined; for example, such a mat may be used in an automobile seat to determine theses parameters for a passenger in the seat. This information can be presented to an airbag deployment system to easily enable the airbag to be deployed or suppressed in a manner sensitive to the weight and position of the occupant. This methodology allows loads, load movement, and load position to be detected in vehicles. In applications for vehicles such as aircraft or boats, sensing weight, position and movement of cargo can warn an operator or pilot in sufficient time to correct dangerous shifts in weight within the cargo portion of the vehicle or to modify the operation of the vehicle to compensate for such shifts.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. An optical sensing system for detecting pressure exerted by a mass through attenuation of light in an optical fiber comprising:
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a first plurality of optical fibers; a second plurality of optical fibers that is approximately parallel to the first plurality of optical fibers; a support element against which the first and second plurality of optical fibers can move, such that a bend is created in at least one of the optical fibers in either the first or second plurality of optical fibers as a result of the pressure exerted by an object pressing against one or more of the fibers; a first light source for sending light beams through the first plurality of optical fibers; a second light source for sending light beams through the second plurality of optical fibers; a first detector for measuring any attenuation in the light beams sent through at the first plurality of optical fibers; and a second detector for measuring any attenuation in the light beams sent through the second plurality of optical fibers; such that at least one of the first detector and the second detector measure attenuation in the at least one of the optical fibers in which a bend is created. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for measuring the weight of a mass resting on an object, comprising:
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providing in the object a first plurality of optical fibers and a second plurality of optical fibers which is approximately parallel to the first plurality of optical fibers such that a change in pressure on the object causes deformation of one or more of the optical fibers in either the first or second plurality of optical fibers; providing a first light source for sending a first light beam through the first plurality of optical fibers and a second light source for sending a second light beam through the second plurality optical fibers; measuring any attenuation of the light beam in the first plurality of optical fibers with a first detector and any attenuation of the light beam in the second plurality of optical fibers with a second detector such that the attenuation of light in the one or more deformed optical fibers is measured by at least one of the first detector and the second detector; and deriving the weight of the mass located on the object from the attenuation of the light in the one or more deformed optical fibers. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification