US 8,079,247 B2 · Impact detection system

Abstract

An impact detection system provides a means of sensing, monitoring and recording impact events on an impact surface using at least one sensor that is incorporated into the impact surface. The sensor(s) can be integral with, attached to or located behind various types of impact surface including various types of garments that can be worn by an individual or on composite materials such as an aircraft fuselage for example. The impact detection system includes a portable impact detection device electrically connected to the sensor(s) and is used to detect ballistic or non-ballistic type impacts on the impact surface. The portable impact detection device processes the impact data detected by the sensor(s) and stores the data for analysis at a later time or outputs the data to a third party system for review and/or analysis.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A garment for wearing by a user and arranged to detect an impact comprising:

at least one capacitive fabric compression sensor integral with said garment being formed by an inner layer and outer layer of conductive fabric having a compressible, non-conductive material between each of said layers of conductive fabric;
said outer layer of conductive fabric enclosing said inner layer of conductive fabric;
said outer layer of conductive fabric including an electrical isolation region;
and
an impact detection device electrically connected to said at least one capacitive fabric compression sensor, at least in part, via said electrical isolation region, and including
a detecting circuit configured to detect a change in the capacitance of the capacitive fabric compression sensor caused by an impact event on said garment, and
a processing circuit for processing the change in capacitance into a digital data format representative of an impact characteristic on said garment.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Impact detection system

Life of this patent

Impact detection system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18