MAGNETIC SENSOR

摘要

A magnetic flux (50) is sensed within a gap (54) at a first location (20.1, 20.2) between two portions (26-60; 26-40; 38-42) of a vehicle body/structure and a signal generated responsive thereto controls an element (62) of the vehicle (12), wherein the magnetic flux (50) is responsive to a disturbance of the vehicle body/structure (26, 38). In one embodiment, the first location is proximate to the A-pillar (60), B-pillar (40) or C-pillar (42). In another embodiment, at least a portion of the magnetic flux (50) is generated by a coil (14, 66, 14') at a different second location (16, 16'). A gap coil (74) is located within a gap (54) between portions (26, 60; 26, 40; 38, 42) of the vehicle body/structure for generating or sensing magnetic flux (50). A plurality of gap coils (74, 100) of various orientations provide for multi-axis sensitivity. In another aspect, a magnetic crash sensing system (10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4) comprises a first coil (14, 14', 66) at a first location (16, 16'), and a plurality of magnetic sensors (18.1, 18.2, 18.3, 18.3', 18.3'') at a plurality of corresponding second locations (20.1, 20.2, 20.1', 20.1'', 20.1''', 20.1'''', 20.2'''').