Acceleration sensor for motor vehicle safety system - assigns movable magnet acting against force of resetting element to magnetically-operated electrical switch

摘要

An acceleration sensor (10) has a magnetically operated electrical switch (23) and a magnet (15) whose position can be varied against the force of a restoring element (20) acting as an inertial wt. When a threshold acceleration value is exceeded the magnet moves so as to operate the switch which activates a deceleration mechanism which decelerates the magnet. The action of the acceleration mechanism is to declerate the movement of the magnet from its rest position to its end position under acceleration less than during the return to the rest position. USE/ADVANTAGE - Esp. for releasing air-bag or tightening safety belt in motor vehicle under sensed collision conditions. Switching time is largely independent of shape of collision curve.