US6203060B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for sensing vehicle door edge movement
Assignee: Automotive Systems Laboratory Inc
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Filing: 2000-01-12
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Granted: 2001-03-20
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Expires: 2020-01-12
Abstract
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.
Inventors
- 👤 Leonard S. Cech
- 👤 Michael R. Sewell
- 👤 Edward J. Gillis
- 👤 David B. Talley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 19:20
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/01; B60R21/013; B60R21/0136; G; G01; G01P; G01P13/00; G01P15/00; G01P15/02; G01P15/08; G01P15/11; B60R2021/0002; B60R2021/0006
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
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.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
100 words
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.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method of controlling the activation of a motor vehicle safety restraint system responsive to a side impact crash as recited in claim 1 , wherein said motion is sensed at a location proximate to a relatively rigid structural element for transferring a crash signal from a point of crash impact to said location.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method of controlling the activation of a motor vehicle safety restraint system responsive to a side impact crash as recited in claim 2 , wherein said relatively rigid structural element is a reinforcing beam of said vehicle door.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method of controlling the activation of a motor vehicle safety restraint system responsive to a side impact crash as recited in claim 1 , wherein said motion comprises an acceleration of said edge wall.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method of controlling the activation of a motor vehicle safety restraint system responsive to a side impact crash as recited in claim 1 , wherein said motion comprises a velocity of said edge wall.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method of controlling the activation of a motor vehicle safety restraint system responsive to a side impact crash as recited in claim 1 , wherein said motion comprises a motion of said edge wall relative to a fixed portion of the vehicle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method of controlling the activation of a motor vehicle safety restraint system responsive to a side impact crash as recited in claim 6 , wherein said relative motion comprises a relative velocity.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of sensing a side impact crash in a motor vehicle, 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; and b. generating a signal responsive to said motion.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of sensing a side impact crash in a motor vehicle, 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; and b. generating a signal responsive to said motion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method of sensing a side impact crash in a motor vehicle as recited in claim 8 , wherein said motion comprises an acceleration of said edge wall.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method of sensing a side impact crash in a motor vehicle as recited in claim 8 , wherein said motion comprises a velocity of said edge wall.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method of sensing a side impact crash in a motor vehicle as recited in claim 8 , wherein said motion comprises a motion of said edge wall relative to a fixed portion of the vehicle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method of sensing a side impact crash in a motor vehicle as recited in claim 11 , wherein said relative motion comprises a relative velocity.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method of sensing a side impact crash in a motor vehicle as recited in claim 8 , further comprising the operation of creating a magnetic field between said edge wall and said fixed portion of the vehicle, wherein said signal is responsive to said magnetic field.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
251 words
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.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
251 words
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.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus for controlling the activation of a motor vehicle safety restraint system responsive to a crash as recited in claim 14 , wherein said at least one coil consists of a single coil.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus for controlling the activation of a motor vehicle safety restraint system responsive to a crash as recited in claim 14 , wherein said relative motion is in a direction and said at least one second axis is substantially perpendicular to said direction of said relative motion.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-03-19 | 2004-09-18 | 2005-03-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-03-19 | 2008-09-18 | 2009-03-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-03-19 | 2012-09-18 | 2013-03-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |