Capacitance-based vehicular component protection systems and configurations
US9631541B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 24, 2015 |
| Grant date | Apr 25, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 31, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF01N2560/12
- WIPO fieldEnvironmental technology
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A vehicular component protection system is provided that includes: a controller and a vehicular component; two electrodes electrically coupled to the controller and near the component; a shorting element coupled to the component; and a resistor electrically coupled to the element and controller. The controller activates an alarm upon detecting a change in capacitance between the electrodes or continuity between the element and the resistor. Further, the controller may activate the alarm upon detecting a change in capacitance between the electrodes that exceeds the predetermined capacitance over a predetermined time threshold. In addition, the predetermined capacitance and time threshold can be set to filter false positives caused by one or more of weather conditions, wind-driven objects, and animals.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.