Magnetic sensor
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A magnetic sensor, comprising:
- a. at least one coil operatively coupled to a ferromagnetic element of a vehicle body;
b. at least one signal operatively connected to said at least one coil, wherein said at least one signal comprises an oscillating signal;
c. a means for sensing a measure corresponding to a self-inductance of said at least one coil; and
d. a means for discriminating a crash from said measure.
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Abstract
A magnetic sensor comprises at least one coil operatively coupled to a ferromagnetic element of a vehicle body, at least one oscillating signal operatively connected to the at least one coil, a circuit for sensing a measure responsive to a self-inductance of the at least one coil, and a circuit for discriminating a crash from the measure.
74 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A magnetic sensor, comprising:
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a. at least one coil operatively coupled to a ferromagnetic element of a vehicle body;
b. at least one signal operatively connected to said at least one coil, wherein said at least one signal comprises an oscillating signal;
c. a means for sensing a measure corresponding to a self-inductance of said at least one coil; and
d. a means for discriminating a crash from said measure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of sensing a vehicle crash, comprising:
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a. generating a first magnetic flux at a first location of a vehicle in a ferromagnetic element of a vehicle body with a coil, wherein said first magnetic flux is oscillating and said first magnetic flux is responsive to a crash of said vehicle;
b. generating a signal corresponding to a self-inductance of said coil; and
c. discriminating said vehicle crash responsive to said signal. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of sensing a vehicle crash, comprising:
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a. generating a first magnetic flux at a first location of a vehicle in a ferromagnetic element of a vehicle body with at least one coil, wherein said first magnetic flux is oscillating said first magnetic flux is responsive to a crash of said vehicle, said first location comprises a plurality of distinct first locations and at least one coil comprises a plurality of said coils;
b. generating a signal corresponding to a self-inductance of said at least one coil;
c. discriminating said vehicle crash responsive to said signal;
d. determining a measure of power applied to said at least one coil and determining a proximity of an object to said vehicle body from said measure of power; and
e. determining a plurality of measures of power applied to a respective plurality of said plurality of coils and estimating a direction of said proximate object from said plurality of measures of power. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification