US 6,203,060 B1 · System and method for sensing vehicle door edge movement

Abstract

A side impact crash is sensed from the motion of an edge wall of a vehicle door at a location distal to the door hinge in a direction of swing of the door. The rotation of the door about the hinge responsive to a side impact of the door magnifies the measured motion for a point of impact between the hinge and the sensing location. The motion may comprise acceleration, velocity or a relative motion such as relative velocity. The activation of safety restraint system is responsive to the sensed motion. In another embodiment, a side impact crash is sensed with a magnetic circuit comprising at least one coil and at least one permanent magnet, wherein an axis between the north and south poles of the magnet is substantially perpendicular to an axis about which at least one coil is wound. The relative motion is in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis about which at least one coil is wound.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A method of controlling the activation of a motor vehicle safety restraint system responsive to a side impact crash, comprising:

a. sensing the motion of an edge wall of a vehicle door, wherein said edge wall is distal to a hinge of said vehicle door, said edge wall moves in a direction of swing responsive to the operation of said vehicle door, and said motion is sensed in said direction of swing of said vehicle door;
b. generating a signal responsive to said motion;
and
c. controlling the activation of the motor vehicle safety restraint system responsive to said signal.

1 more element

An apparatus for controlling the activation of a motor vehicle safety restraint system responsive to a crash comprising:

a. a magnetic circuit spanning between proximal portions of two proximal elements of a motor vehicle which undergo relative motion responsive to the crash, wherein said magnetic circuit comprises:
i). at least one coil responsive to a magnetic field of said magnetic circuit, wherein said at least one coil is operatively connected to the first of said two proximal elements and said at least one coil comprises at least one first axis about which said at least one coil is wound;
ii). at least one permanent magnet as the source of magnetomotive force for said magnetic circuit, wherein said at least one permanent magnet is operatively connected to the second of said two proximal elements, said at least one permanent magnet comprises at least one second axis extending between a north pole and a south pole of said at least one permanent magnet, and said at least one second axis is substantially perpendicular to said at least one first axis;
and
b. a processor operatively connected to said plurality of coils, wherein said magnetic field of said magnetic circuit is responsive to said relative motion of said two proximal elements of said motor vehicle, each of said at least one coils generates a signal responsive to the changes in said magnetic field of said magnetic circuit, and said processor controls the activation of the motor vehicle safety restraint system responsive to said signal.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method for sensing vehicle door edge movement

Life of this patent

System and method for sensing vehicle door edge movement

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16