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:
Apr. 24, 2007
Filed:
Sep. 20, 2004
William D. Merrick, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
William Todd Watson, Belleville, MI (US);
Timothy J. Bomya, Westland, MI (US);
Leonard S. Cech, Brighton, MI (US);
William D. Merrick, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
William Todd Watson, Belleville, MI (US);
Timothy J. Bomya, Westland, MI (US);
Leonard S. Cech, Brighton, MI (US);
Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc., Farmington Hills, MI (US);
Abstract
A first magnetic field generated by a first coil operatively associated with a first portion of a vehicle interacts with at least one conductive element operatively associated with or at least a part of a second portion of the vehicle so as to generate an eddy current in the conductive element, which affects the magnetic field sensed by a magnetic sensor. A conductive element operatively coupled to a portion of the vehicle susceptible to a crash, e.g. a bumper or a door, provides for sensing a crash with the signal from the magnetic sensor. In another aspect, a second magnetic field is generated in the frame of a vehicle by a second coil wherein the frame is adapted so that the reluctance of the associated magnetic circuit is responsive to a crash. Signals from the first or second coils may be used to sense the associated magnetic fields.