Cantilevered deflection sensing system
US6236301A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 4, 1996 |
| Grant date | May 22, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 4, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01C10/10
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A deflection sensing system for detecting deflection includes one or more deflection sensors between opposing sets of extensions. When one set of extensions is moved toward an opposing set of extensions, the deflection sensors are deflected. A preferred deflection sensor is a flexible potentiometer, which has a resistance that changes as the flexible potentiometer is deflected A flexible potentiometer includes a variable resistance material on a substrate. In a preferred system, the flexible potentiometer includes a cantilevered section, which is deflected about an extension with respect to the remainder of the flexible potentiometer, or with respect to a portion of the substrate not including the variable resistance material. A flexible potentiometer experiences less stress when in cantilevered form than when stretched between two extensions. In either case, the extensions may be joined to first and second corrugated plates. A particular application for the system is in a horn activator used in connection with an automobile air bag system. A corrugated plate may be adhered to the inside of a hub cover. Alternatively, the extensions may be adhered directly to the hub cover. Analyzi…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.