EP0642696A1 - Traffic accident detecting sensor for a passenger protection system in a vehicle. - Google Patents
Traffic accident detecting sensor for a passenger protection system in a vehicle.Info
- Publication number
- EP0642696A1 EP0642696A1 EP93909793A EP93909793A EP0642696A1 EP 0642696 A1 EP0642696 A1 EP 0642696A1 EP 93909793 A EP93909793 A EP 93909793A EP 93909793 A EP93909793 A EP 93909793A EP 0642696 A1 EP0642696 A1 EP 0642696A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- seismic mass
- contact
- magnet
- magnetic field
- contacts
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B24—GRINDING; POLISHING
- B24B—MACHINES, DEVICES, OR PROCESSES FOR GRINDING OR POLISHING; DRESSING OR CONDITIONING OF ABRADING SURFACES; FEEDING OF GRINDING, POLISHING, OR LAPPING AGENTS
- B24B49/00—Measuring or gauging equipment for controlling the feed movement of the grinding tool or work; Arrangements of indicating or measuring equipment, e.g. for indicating the start of the grinding operation
- B24B49/10—Measuring or gauging equipment for controlling the feed movement of the grinding tool or work; Arrangements of indicating or measuring equipment, e.g. for indicating the start of the grinding operation involving electrical means
- B24B49/105—Measuring or gauging equipment for controlling the feed movement of the grinding tool or work; Arrangements of indicating or measuring equipment, e.g. for indicating the start of the grinding operation involving electrical means using eddy currents
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H35/00—Switches operated by change of a physical condition
- H01H35/14—Switches operated by change of acceleration, e.g. by shock or vibration, inertia switch
- H01H35/147—Switches operated by change of acceleration, e.g. by shock or vibration, inertia switch the switch being of the reed switch type
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H36/00—Switches actuated by change of magnetic field or of electric field, e.g. by change of relative position of magnet and switch, by shielding
- H01H36/0006—Permanent magnet actuating reed switches
- H01H36/0013—Permanent magnet actuating reed switches characterised by the co-operation between reed switch and permanent magnet; Magnetic circuits
- H01H36/002—Actuation by moving ferromagnetic material, switch and magnet being fixed
Definitions
- the invention relates to a sensor which is suitable for detecting traffic accidents and which, in the event of a traffic accident, reliably provides an occupant protection system, for example can trigger an airbag system, belt tensioner system and / or roll bar system.
- the concept of the sensor according to the invention should e.g. can be used for front sensors and safety sensors.
- acceleration or deceleration values to be recognized in such an accident are on the one hand mostly small compared to those values which result from a hard impact a hammer on a hard object.
- the acceleration or deceleration values that can be detected in such an accident are mostly large compared to those values that occur in the vehicle during normal braking or normal acceleration processes, as long as no accident has yet occurred.
- the invention relates to a special type that uses a deformation of the magnetic field triggered by the traffic accident in a certain way. This is because the invention is based on the special sensor defined in the preamble of patent claim 1, which by itself is characterized by the
- the object of the invention - to provide a particularly space-saving, compact, reliable, robust arrangement of the sensor components and, in addition, to enable a particularly uncomplicated, easy manufacture of the sensor is achieved according to the invention by the subject-matter defined in claim 1 solved.
- the invention therefore offers a new one
- Type of sensor that can also be used in the smallest of spaces, e.g. can even be placed in a gap in the steering wheel together with an airbag and its control, the sensor according to the invention also using the magnetic field of a magnet to control a switch.
- the additional measures according to claim 2 allow the seismic mass to act at any point between its two end positions with a restoring force which pulls the seismic mass back to its first end position in the absence of acceleration and deceleration, 3 , the contact / the contacts by the sudden change in strength of the magnetic flux flowing through them suddenly and precisely at the relevant point of the moved to control seismic mass instead of in a less defined way, namely such a jump in the magnetization intensity of the guide body causes the magnetic flux through the contact / contacts to change abruptly when the seismic mass moves past this point,
- 13 and 14 are sectional views through a sixth example of the invention, 15 and 16 sectional views through a seventh example of the invention, 17 to 20 diagrams for the dependence of the magnetic flux through the contacts on the position of the seismic mass and on tolerances, and
- All shown examples of the sensor designed according to the invention including the diagrams shown in FIGS. 1, 8 and 21, have at least one electrical contact 1, which can be magnetically controlled between its switching states, e.g. one or more reed contacts 1.
- the actual electrical switching path of contact 1 can be attached directly to the sensor itself, as is the case, for example, with the examples shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 and 8 to 16.
- a magnetically controllable component of this contact 1 can be attached to the sensor according to the invention, e.g. a HALL element, in which this component then switches the remaining components of this contact 1 which are then located at a greater distance, namely e.g. a transistor as the actual electrical switching path of this contact 1.
- seismic mass 2 which according to the invention consists of a soft magnetic mass or at least contains such a mass. So this seismic mass 2 consists e.g. made of ferromagnetic or ferromagnetic material.
- the seismic mass 2 is in each case along the guide axis of a guide body 5 guiding the seismic mass 2. leads and movable between two end positions, cf. FIGS. 1 to 5 and 8 to 16 and 21.
- the guide body 5 is formed, for example, by inner surfaces of an outer casing of the sensor, cf. 7 in FIGS. 2, 8 in FIGS. 9 and 10, 11 in FIGS. 11 and 12, 9 in FIGS. 13 and 14 and 13 in FIGS. 15 and 16 - for the sake of clarity, this cover is not shown in all of the figures , see. 1, 3 to 5 and 8 and 21.
- the guide body 5 can also have a completely different shape.
- the seismic mass 2 - additionally or exclusively or partially - also through a surface, e.g. Outer surface of the magnet 4 attached in the sensor or through a non-magnetic extension 5 of the magnet 4 attached inside the sensor, on which the seismic mass 2 can slide, cf. 5 in FIGS. 1 to 5, and 8 to 16 and 21.
- the seismic mass 2 can be moved between two end positions in the sensor. As long as there is no traffic accident, the seismic mass 2 is normally pressed into its first end position by a contact pressure, that is to say into its rest position. In the examples shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, this contact pressure is generated entirely or partially by a spiral spring 3, which fixes the seismic mass 2 in its first end position, its rest position, as long as no traffic accident occurs. In the examples of the invention shown in the remaining figures, however, the contact pressure is generated exclusively magnetically, as will be explained later.
- This contact force has such an amount that in a traffic accident, after the sensor has been installed correctly in the vehicle in the correct orientation, it gives way or is overcome when the acceleration or deceleration acts more or less in the direction of the guide axis can then that the seismic Mass 2 moved more or less quickly to its second end position.
- FIGS. 2 and 3 show the same sensor with the seismic mass 2 in the rest position, but rotated by 90 °.
- the pairs of figures 3 and 4, further 9 and 10, 11 and 12, 13 and 5 as well as 15 and 16 each differ in that in the first figure of these pairs of figures the seismic mass 2 is in its rest position, in the other figure these pairs of figures but apart from it, because a traffic accident has just occurred.
- Each sensor has a magnet 4 which differs from the seismic mass 2, for example a permanent magnet or an electromagnet.
- the two contacts 1 are attached to the magnet 4 in such a way that these contacts 1 are magnetically in series and the component of the magnetic field of the magnet 4 flows through them, which also promotes the simultaneous switching of the two contacts 1 .
- the magnet 4 is coupled to the contacts 1 in such a way that its magnetic field controls the contacts 1 in that its magnetic field is deformed to different extents by the seismic mass 2, depending on the position of this soft magnetic seismic mass 2 , see. FIGS. 1 to 5 and 8 to 16 and 21.
- the deformation of the magnetic field of the magnet 4 has different effects on the magnetically controllable contact 1 / Contacts 1, cf. Figures 1 to 5 and 8 to 16 and 21.
- the contact 1 / the contacts 1 is / are so arranged and the shape of the guide body 5 and the shape of the seismic mass 2 selected so that the seismic mass 2 in one of its two end positions - for example in its first end position, that is to say in the rest position of the seismic mass 2 - largely one which represents field from contact 1 away from seismic mass 2 towards magnetic shunt. Apart from this end position, for example in the other end position, the seismic mass 2 then no longer represents such a strong magnetic shunt, so that the magnetic field of the magnet 4 then acts more strongly on the contact 1 / the contacts 1 in the examples shown .
- the guide body 5 can be designed differently, as has already been shown.
- the magnet 4 can also be designed very differently in the invention.
- the magnet 4 can itself directly form the guide body 5 or at least a very substantial part of this guide body 5, cf. 5 and 15 and 16.
- the magnet 5 can, for example, also only be rigidly connected to the essentially non-magnetic guide body 5, that is to say, for example, one at one end of the guide body.
- FIGS. 8 to 16 and 21 show examples in which a spring 3 has been omitted, cf. also Figures 2 to 5.
- a restoring force which replaces the spring force, can be achieved by a corresponding design of the magnetic field of the magnet 4, - in addition to the spring 3, the magnetic field can also be designed such that it has the effect of the spring 3 supports, so allows to use a comparatively weak spring 3.
- the magnet 4 can be designed such that when the seismic mass 2 moves along the path 1 from its first to the second end position, the magnetic field component flowing through the seismic mass 2 continuously decreases and thus the magnetic flux flowing through the contact 1 / the contacts 1 constantly increases, cf. FIGS. 6 and 7. It is initially assumed that, in the example of the invention shown in FIG. 5, an uneven magnetization H of the magnet 4/5 used as the guide body 5 has been applied, the magnet 4 covering the entire length between the contacts 1 and an end plate 6 of the outer sensor housing. According to FIG.
- the strength H of the magnetic field N / S along path 1 is approximately linear, for example.
- the decrease can also be strongly non-linear, cf. the example shown in Figure 7.
- the soft magnetic seismic mass 2 is magnetically always attracted to that end position in which the magnetic flow through the seismic mass 2 is at a maximum, ie in FIGS. 6 and 7 and 2 and 3 to the left towards contacts 1 . If the sensor according to the invention is dimensioned in such a way that this HI characteristic is considerably non-linear, then the seismic mass 2 is pulled back into its rest position in a corresponding manner, depending on the location, with a restoring force F which can be determined in advance by the manufacturer Restoring force with springs 3 hardly could be realized in the same way.
- the invention also relates to variants in which a spring presses the seismic mass 2 into its "second end position" as the rest position, in which the seismic mass 2 forms no or only a weakly acting magnetic shunt .
- FIG. 6 shows that a largely constant restoring force F arises in the case of linearity, in that the seismic mass 2 is pressed back to its rest position with a more or less constant force F at each point 1. If, on the other hand, a non-linear magnetization has been applied along path 1, then correspondingly different characteristic curves for the dependence of the restoring force on position 1 can be achieved, cf. FIG. 7. As can be seen from FIGS. 6 and 7, it can also be achieved that the restoring force F is maximum as long as the seismic mass 2 is in its rest position, whereas the rest at other points force decreases.
- the characteristic curve shown in FIG. 7 can also be easily achieved, cf. FIG. 5 when the magnetizable space 4 within the guide body 5 has a constant cross section and identical material everywhere along the path 1 of seismic mass 2.
- the different magnetization H can essentially be achieved by differently impressing the magnetic field in the magnets 4.
- the magnet 4 was thus embossed differently, viewed along the direction of movement of the seismic mass 2.
- the magnet 4 can even be embossed with constant magnetizations if the shape of the - e.g. used as guide body 5 - magnets 4 along path 1 through bores and / or external bevels and / or through the choice of different hard magnetic materials for a layered magnet 4.
- an adaptation of the sensor to different types of motor vehicle and different installation locations in the motor vehicle can therefore be achieved relatively easily, even if the guide body 4/5 represents a magnet 4 along its entire length, cf. FIGS. 9 to 16.
- a spring 3 can also be dispensed with entirely because the vortex current braking in the area of the rest position is high enough that a fluttering of the seismic mass 2 is suppressed near the rest position.
- a particularly simple construction of the sensor is thus achieved if the contact force acting in the rest position of the seismic mass 2 - apart from i. negligible side effects such as gravity - is formed solely by the magnetically generated restoring force F.
- a relatively large force is required to move the seismic mass 2 out of its rest position when the magnetic see restoring force F, possibly increased by the restoring force of an additionally attached spring 3, which holds the seismic mass 2 in its rest position with considerable contact pressure. Even if no additional spring 3 is attached, relatively large forces are needed to move the seismic mass 2 out of its rest position, because not only the magnetic restoring force F but also frictional forces have to be overcome.
- the contact pressure / restoring force F effective in the rest position should be optimized, depending on the deceleration values at which the sensor in question is to trigger the occupant protection system there.
- a low-friction material can be used for the latter - at least for its surfaces in question.
- the non-linearity of the characteristic curves can also be achieved by not magnetizing the entire guide body 5 shown in FIG. 5, but according to e.g. Figures 2 to 4 and 8 to 10 and 21 only a more or less small - e.g. beveled - section 4 of it.
- the rest of the guide body 5 then consists e.g. made of non-magnetic plastic. The invention thus allows many ways to influence the characteristic curves.
- the dependence of the magnetization H on the path 1 also has an influence on the switching behavior of the contact 1 / of the contacts 1. Characteristic curve can also influence the reliability of the switching of these contacts:
- This tolerance X is superimposed on that further tolerance Y, which is caused by sample variations (production, aging and temperature, also material properties, etc.) of the contact 1 itself and is illustrated in FIG. 18.
- B1 denotes the minimum value and B12 the maximum value of the magnetic flux B1 at which the relevant contact 1 switches due to its specimen scatter.
- the strength of the magnetization H of the guide body 5 or of the magnet 4 is removed locally in these examples
- the path 1 of the seismic mass 2 to the sudden closing of the contact 1 is therefore less due to the absolute magnitude of the local strength B of the magnetic field in the contact 1, and also not due to other variables / factors with considerable tolerances, such as temperature, Hysteresis and aging fixed, but primarily by the geometrically graded shape of the magnet 4, cf.
- FIG. 12 according to which the seismic mass 2 has just left the step in the event of an accident. The same also applies to the examples shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 and to the examples shown in FIGS. 15 and 16.
- the magnet 4 has a pronounced geometric gradation / corner, which allows the contacts 1 to be switched abruptly.
- FIGS. 11 and 12 with a gradation of the magnet 4/5 geometrically generated near the rest position has the advantage that the gradation achieves the particularly stable response threshold particularly close to the rest position of the seismic mass 2.
- the magnet 4 in FIGS. 11 to 16 each has a relatively small, short extension in the direction of the contacts 1, via which that magnetic flux B preferably flows through the contacts 1.
- the sensor always works without a return spring.
- the magnetic field of the magnet 4 is designed such that it itself generates a sufficient magnetic restoring force on the seismic mass 2, so that in times when no accident occurred, the seismic mass 2 also without one
- the spring is pulled back into its rest position and is held there steadily by the magnetically generated contact force F.
- the value of the magnetic flux flowing through the seismic mass 2 along the path 1 likewise has at least one step in each case.
- the contact 1 / the contacts 1 are suddenly and precisely switched by a sudden change in strength of the magnetic flux B flowing through them in that the magnetization of the magnet 4 acting on the seismic mass 2 changes abruptly at this point on the path 1, by arranging the geometric shape of the guide body 5 and / or the magnet 4 and / or the magnetization of the magnet 4 at the corresponding location 1, effective for the moved seismic mass 2, a local jump in the magnetization intensity H.
- the magnetic flux B through the contact 1 / the contacts 1 also changes abruptly when the seismic mass 2 moves past this point 1, which is abruptly stepped in magnetic terms.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Switches Operated By Changes In Physical Conditions (AREA)
- Measurement Of Mechanical Vibrations Or Ultrasonic Waves (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
DE9207070 | 1992-05-25 | ||
DE9207070U | 1992-05-25 | ||
PCT/DE1993/000458 WO1993024948A1 (en) | 1992-05-25 | 1993-05-25 | Traffic accident detecting sensor for a passenger protection system in a vehicle |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0642696A1 true EP0642696A1 (en) | 1995-03-15 |
EP0642696B1 EP0642696B1 (en) | 1996-01-24 |
Family
ID=6879864
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP93909793A Expired - Lifetime EP0642696B1 (en) | 1992-05-25 | 1993-05-25 | Traffic accident detecting sensor for a passenger protection system in a vehicle |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0642696B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JPH07507018A (en) |
DE (1) | DE59301516D1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO1993024948A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE4443419C1 (en) * | 1994-12-06 | 1996-03-07 | Siemens Ag | Acceleration sensor for vehicle safety system |
Family Cites Families (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3737599A (en) * | 1971-10-26 | 1973-06-05 | Gulton Ind Inc | Acceleration switch with magnetic permeable metal sleeve for shunting magnetic field |
US4414518A (en) * | 1980-10-16 | 1983-11-08 | Abex Corporation | Vertical descent rate detector switch |
DE3830782C1 (en) * | 1988-09-09 | 1990-06-07 | Audi Ag, 8070 Ingolstadt, De |
-
1993
- 1993-05-25 WO PCT/DE1993/000458 patent/WO1993024948A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 1993-05-25 JP JP6500082A patent/JPH07507018A/en active Pending
- 1993-05-25 EP EP93909793A patent/EP0642696B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1993-05-25 DE DE59301516T patent/DE59301516D1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
See references of WO9324948A1 * |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP0642696B1 (en) | 1996-01-24 |
DE59301516D1 (en) | 1996-03-07 |
WO1993024948A1 (en) | 1993-12-09 |
JPH07507018A (en) | 1995-08-03 |
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