Traffic accident detecting sensor for a passenger protection system in a vehicle

US5675134A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Siemens Aktiengesellschaft · DE

Inventors

• Martin Swart · Obertraubling, DE
• Josef Dirmeyer · Pfarrkirchen, DE
• Gerhard Mader · Thalmässing, DE
• Helmut Bresgen · Hersbruck, DE
• Gunter Dissen · Taufkirchen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 1, 1996
• Grant date: Oct 7, 1997
• Expiry date: Oct 1, 2016

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H01H36/002
• WIPO field: Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A traffic accident detecting sensor for a passenger protection system in a vehicle includes a low-retentivity seismic mass which can move along a guide member between two extreme positions and is normally held in a first extreme position by a contact pressure. The contact pressure is overcome in the event of deceleration in such a way that the seismic mass then moves toward a second extreme position. A magnet being distinct from the seismic mass has a magnetic field which is deformed to a varying degree by the seismic mass depending on the position of the seismic mass. At least one contact can be controlled by the magnetic field of the magnet. The contact and the seismic mass have such a configuration that in the first extreme position the latter to a large extent constitutes a magnetic shunt diverting the magnetic field away from the contact toward the seismic mass so that the contact is then in its first contact state. The seismic mass does not constitute a magnetic shunt at points distant from the extreme position, so that the contact is then controlled in its other contact state under the effect of the magnetic field. The magnet forms the guide member or is rigidly connected to…