Motion sensor unit

• US 4,684,928 A
• Filed: 12/03/1985
• Issued: 08/04/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alpine Electronics Incorporated 1-7 Yukigaya Otsuka-Cho Ota-Ku Tokyo Japan
• Original Assignee: Alpine Electronics Incorporated (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Takahashi, Toshiaki, Suzuki, Tokio
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US06/804,157
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 340/52 H, 340/61, 340/63, 340/665, 340/671, 340/65, 340/683, 340/686, 340/689, 340/521, 200/61.45 R, 200/61.52, 200/52 A
• US Class Current: 340/521
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1007 comprising associated circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1436 with motion detection

Abstract

A motion sensor unit which includes a sensor assembly for monitoring whether or not the inclination of a mobile member is in excess of a predetermined reference angle and outputting a pulse signal in case the inclination is greater than the reference angle; a detector for monitoring whether or not the duration of the pulse signal is in excess of a predetermined reference time and, in the case of any excess, outputtting a signal representing that the inclination of the mobile member is greater than the reference angle and is continuous for more than the reference time; a sensor assembly for outputting a pulse signal inverted in accordance with the value of a shock given to the mobile member; and a detector for monitoring whether or not the cycle of the pulse signal is shorter than a predetermined reference time and outputting a shock detection signal when the cycle is shorter than the reference time. Due to the above constitution, the motion sensor unit is capable of controlling the shock detection sensitivity continuously and independently without altering the detection sensitivity for any jolt or inclination.

Claims

1. A motion sensor unit for monitoring a mobile member such as a vehicle comprising:

a sensor assembly for outputting an inclination pulse signal indicating an inclination angle of the mobile member and a shock pulse signal indicating a shock applied to the mobile member;

a jolt detection circuit responsive to the output of an inclination pulse signal from said sensor assembly for detecting whether or not the duration of the inclination pulse signal exceeds a predetermined reference time and for outputting an inclination detection signal in response to such detection; and

a shock detection circuit responsive to the output of a shock pulse signal from said sensor assembly for detecting whether or not the frequency cycle of the shock pulse signal exceeds a predetermined reference frequency and for outputting a shock detection signal in response to such detection.

2. A mobile sensor unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sensor assembly includes a housing mounted to the mobile member, a pendulum pivotably suspended by one end from an upper part of said housing and having a magnet disposed at its other, free end, a magnetic reluctance detector including a magnetic reluctance element disposed at a lower part of said housing below the free end of the pendulum for outputting a sensor signal in response to the detected motion of the free end of the pendulum upon an inclination of the mobile member and upon a shock applied to the mobile member, and a sensor circuit for outputting said inclination pulse signal and said shock pulse signal in response to said sensor signal.

3. A mobile sensor unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein said sensor assembly includes a circuit for adjusting a desired reference level signal indicating a predetermined reference level which is compared to said sensor signal, wherein said sensor circuit provides an output when said sensor signal exceeds said predetermined reference level.

4. A mobile sensor unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said jolt detection circuit includes a circuit for adjusting a desired reference time signal to establish said predetermined reference time which is compared to the duration of said inclination pulse signal.

5. A mobile sensor unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said shock detection circuit includes a circuit for adjusting a desired reference frequency signal to establish said predetermined reference frequency which is compared to the frequency cycle of said shock pulse signal.