초록 ▼

A dynamically deployed device shield ("DDDS") including a cover, a loop shield, and a means for attaching the cover and loop shield to a vehicle structure. A dynamically deployed device ("DDD") is contained in the loop shield and the loop shield is in turn contained in the cover. Upon deployment, a

A dynamically deployed device shield ("DDDS") including a cover, a loop shield, and a means for attaching the cover and loop shield to a vehicle structure. A dynamically deployed device ("DDD") is contained in the loop shield and the loop shield is in turn contained in the cover. Upon deployment, a tear section in the cover separates and releases the loop shield and DDD. As the DDD expands and moves towards its location, the loop shield unfolds, guides the deployment of the DDD, and prevents the DDD from overshooting its final location. The shield also prevents the DDD from becoming caught on interior vehicle components and supplements the DDD with a larger protective impact surface. Optionally, a fabric shield is attached to the bottom of the DDDS to cover the area of a vehicle window below the deployed DDD and further increase the protective impact surface of the system.

대표청구항 ▼

A dynamically deployed device shield ("DDDS") including a cover, a loop shield, and a means for attaching the cover and loop shield to a vehicle structure. A dynamically deployed device ("DDD") is contained in the loop shield and the loop shield is in turn contained in the cover. Upon deployment, a

A dynamically deployed device shield ("DDDS") including a cover, a loop shield, and a means for attaching the cover and loop shield to a vehicle structure. A dynamically deployed device ("DDD") is contained in the loop shield and the loop shield is in turn contained in the cover. Upon deployment, a tear section in the cover separates and releases the loop shield and DDD. As the DDD expands and moves towards its location, the loop shield unfolds, guides the deployment of the DDD, and prevents the DDD from overshooting its final location. The shield also prevents the DDD from becoming caught on interior vehicle components and supplements the DDD with a larger protective impact surface. Optionally, a fabric shield is attached to the bottom of the DDDS to cover the area of a vehicle window below the deployed DDD and further increase the protective impact surface of the system. g compression amplifier by controlling the resistance of the resistors. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least a portion of the passenger compartment is irradiated by a transducer, further comprising the step of: starting the amplifier only after the transducer is driven to emit waves. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least a portion of the passenger compartment is irradiated by a first transducer, further comprising the step of: electronically reducing motion of a vibrating element of the first transducer to reduce ringing of the transducer. 7. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of electronically reducing the motion of the vibrating element of the transducer comprises the steps of: determining a natural frequency of the first transducer, tuning drive circuitry of the first transducer to drive the first transducer at the determined natural frequency, and deriving a sequence of pulses to be fed into the drive circuitry with reversed polarity to counteract the motion of the first transducer and diminish oscillations of the first transducer. 8. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of electronically reducing the motion of the vibrating element of the first transducer comprises the steps of arranging a second transducer for measuring output of the first transducer and obtaining information from the second transducer to enable electronic circuitry to reduce the motion of the vibrating element of the first transducer. 9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of: directing the first transducer vibrating element to move opposite to its measured motion after a driving phase with a view toward stopping motion of the first transducer. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiver is a transducer which irradiates the at least a portion of the passenger compartment, further comprising the step of: arranging the transducer in a tube having an opening. 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of: determining a length of the tube based on the distance required for ringing of the transducer to subside and a predetermined minimum target sensing distance defined as a distance between the opening of the tube and a position closest to the tube in which the at least one occupying item may be sensed. 12. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of: selecting a size of the opening of the tube and a diameter of the tube to avoid excessive signal loss and ensure reception of the reflected waves by the transducer. 13. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of: recessing the tube within a surface defining the passenger compartment. 14. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of: selecting a size of a diameter of the tube to avoid excessive signal loss. 15. The method of claim 10, wherein the tube includes a shaped horn adjacent the opening of the tube. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the opening of the tube is elliptical. 17. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of processing the received radiation comprises the steps of: conducting a plurality of data generation steps, each of the data generating steps comprising the steps of placing an object in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, irradiating at least a portion of the passenger compartment in which the object is situated, receiving reflected radiation from the object at a receiver, forming a data set of a signal representative of the reflected radiation from the object, the distance from the object to the receiver and the temperature of the passenger compartment between the object and the receiver, changing the temperature of the air between the object and the receiver, and performing the irradiation step, radiation receiving step and data set forming step for the object at different temperatures between the object and the receiver; and generating a pattern recognition algorithm from the data sets such that upon operational input of a signal representative of the received radiation, the algorithm provides the at least one electronic signal containing information of the distance from at least one of the surfaces of the at least one occupying item to the receiver. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the algorithm is a neural network. 19. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of conducting a plurality of data generation steps further comprises the step of placing different objects in the passenger compartment and then performing the irradiation step, the radiation receiving step and temperature changing step for different objects, the identity of the object being included in the data set such that upon operational input of the signal representative of the received radiation, the algorithm provides an approximation of the identity of the object. 20. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of conducting a plurality of data generation steps further comprises the step of placing the different objects in different positions in the passenger compartment and then performing the irradiation step, the radiation receiving step and temperature changing step for the different objects in the different positions, the identity and position of the object being included in the data set such that upon operational input of the signal representative of the received radiation, the algorithm provides an approximation of the identity and position of the object. 21. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of conducting a plurality of data generation steps further comprises the step of placing the object in different positions in the passenger compartment and then performing the irradiation step, the radiation receiving step and temperature changing step for the object in the different positions, the position of the object being included in the data set such that upon operational input of the signal representative of the received radiation, the algorithm provides an approximation of the position of the object. 22. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of changing the temperature of the air comprises the step of dynamically changed the temperature of the air by introducing a flow of blowing air at a different temperature than the ambient temperature of the passenger compartment. 23. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of creating the blowing air flow by operating a vehicle heater or air conditioner of the vehicle. 24. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of changing the temperature of the air comprises the step of changing the temperature of the air by creating a temperature gradient between a top and a bottom of the passenger compartment. 25. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least a portion of the passenger compartment is irradiated by and the reflected radiation is received by a plurality of wave-emitting and receiving transducers mounted on the vehicle, each transducer being arranged to transmit and receive waves at a different frequency, further comprising the steps of: controlling the transducers to simultaneously transmit waves at the different frequencies into the passenger compartment, and identifying the occupying item based on the waves received by at least some of the transducers after being modified by passing through the passenger compartment, the system in the vehicle being controlled based on the identification of the occupying item. 26. The method of claim 25, further comprising the step of determining the spacing between the frequencies of the waves transmitted and received by the transducers to reduce the possibility of each transducer receiving waves transmitted by another transducer. 27. The method of claim 25, further comprising the step of determining the position of the occupying item based on the waves received by at least some of the transducers after being modified by passing through the passenger compartment. 28. The method of claim 25, wherein the transducers are ultrasonic transducers. 29. The method of claim