The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 26, 1991
Filed:
Nov. 13, 1989
Thomas A Davenport, Chatham, CA;
Siemens-Bendix Automotive Electronics Limited, Ontario, CA;
Abstract
A magnetically biased velocity change sensor that is designed for mass-production fabrication and ensuing usage in supplemental inflatable restraint systems of automotive vehicles. The sensor is of the type having a metal sphere that is magnetically biased to one axial end of a tube. When the sensor is subjected to a velocity change of suitable magnitude and duration, the sphere travels to the opposite end of the tube to actuate a switch. Damping of the sphere travel is accomplished by sizing the tube to be of just slightly larger inside diameter than the diameter of the sphere. The invention enhances the manufacturability of the sensor by making dimensioning requirements for the tube and sphere less strict and by enabling different models of sensors to be fabricated from commonly dimensioned tubes and spheres. The invention involves manufacturing the sphere as a sintered iron mass and using a mixture of gases within the tube.