At least one time-varying signal is applied to a plurality of coil elements in cooperative relationship with and spanning different portions of a vehicle. The coil elements generate an associated plurality of magnetic field components that interact with the vehicle. At least one detection circuit ge
At least one time-varying signal is applied to a plurality of coil elements in cooperative relationship with and spanning different portions of a vehicle. The coil elements generate an associated plurality of magnetic field components that interact with the vehicle. At least one detection circuit generates a detected signal responsive to signal components from the coil elements so as to provide for detecting a change in a magnetic condition of the vehicle.
대표청구항▼
What is claimed is: 1. A magnetic sensor, comprising: a. a plurality of coil elements; b. at least one time-varying signal source of at least one time-varying signal operatively coupled to said plurality of coil elements, wherein a first coil element of said plurality of coil elements is adapted to
What is claimed is: 1. A magnetic sensor, comprising: a. a plurality of coil elements; b. at least one time-varying signal source of at least one time-varying signal operatively coupled to said plurality of coil elements, wherein a first coil element of said plurality of coil elements is adapted to generate a first magnetic field component responsive to said at least one time-varying signal, at least a second coil element of said plurality of coil elements is adapted to generate at least a second magnetic field component responsive to said at least one time-varying signal, said first coil element and said at least said second coil element are adapted so that said first magnetic field component and said at least said second magnetic field component interact with different first and at least second portions of a vehicle when said plurality of coil elements are in a cooperative relationship with said vehicle, and said first coil element and said at least said second coil element are each proximally adjacent to corresponding separate conductive portions of a common surface of said vehicle; and c. at least one detection circuit operatively coupled to said plurality of coil elements, wherein said at least one detection circuit generates a detected signal responsive to a first sensed signal component from said first coil element responsive to said first magnetic field component and responsive to at least a second sensed signal component from said at least said second coil element responsive to said at least said second magnetic field component, and said detected signal provides for detecting a change in a magnetic condition of or associated with said vehicle. 2. A magnetic sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of coil elements span a substantial region of a body or structural element of said vehicle, wherein said body or structural element of said vehicle is susceptible to deformation responsive to a crash. 3. A magnetic sensor as recited in claim 1, further comprising a conductive element adapted to cooperate with at least one of said plurality of coil elements so as to provide for shaping, controlling or limiting at least one of said first magnetic field component and said at least said second magnetic field component. 4. A magnetic sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of coil elements are mounted on a front or rear frame member of said vehicle are adapted to provide for detecting a deformation of an associated bumper of said vehicle. 5. A magnetic sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of coil elements are encapsulated. 6. A magnetic sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one time-varying signal source comprises either a time-varying voltage source or a time-varying current source, and said at least one detection circuit is responsive either to at least one current signal through at least one of said plurality of coil elements or to at least one voltage signal across at least one of said plurality of coil elements. 7. A magnetic sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one time-varying signal comprises an oscillatory waveform selected from a sinusoid waveform, a triangular ramped waveform, a triangular saw tooth waveform, and a square waveform. 8. A magnetic sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one time-varying signal comprises an oscillatory waveform comprising a plurality of different frequencies. 9. A magnetic sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one time-varying signal comprises a pulsed waveform. 10. A magnetic sensor as recited in claim 9, wherein said pulsed waveform has a shape of either a ramp, a saw tooth, an impulse or a rectangle. 11. A magnetic sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of coil elements is driven by a first time-varying signal from a first time-varying signal source, at least another of said plurality of coil elements is driven by at least a second time-varying signal from at least a second time-varying signal source, and said first time-varying signal is different from at least one said second time-varying signal. 12. A magnetic sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one detection circuit provides for detecting different signals from different subsets of said plurality of coil elements. 13. A magnetic sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one detection circuit provides for detecting a complex impedance of at least one of said plurality of coil elements. 14. A magnetic sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of coil elements are adapted so as to provide for shaping an associated magnetic field responsive to at least one magnetic-field influencing property of at least one portion of said vehicle in proximity to said plurality of coil elements. 15. A magnetic sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one detection circuit provides for sampling in-phase and quadrature-phase signal components. 16. A magnetic sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein at least two coil elements of said plurality of coil elements each comprise substantially at least one turn. 17. A magnetic sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of coil elements comprises a plurality of turns. 18. A magnetic sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and at least second portions of said vehicle is adapted to cooperate with said at least one of said plurality of coil elements. 19. A magnetic sensor as recited in claim 18, further comprising a conductive element operatively associated with, a part of, or a portion of at least one of said first and at least second portions of said vehicle so as to cooperate with said at least one of said plurality of coil elements. 20. A magnetic sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of coil elements are adapted so as to provide for sensing a deformation of a body portion of said vehicle. 21. A magnetic sensor as recited in claim 20, wherein said body portion comprises either a door, a quarter-panel, a hood, a roof, a trunk, or a bumper of said vehicle. 22. A magnetic sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of coil elements are mounted inside a door of said vehicle and are adapted to provide for detecting a deformation of a door beam of said door. 23. A magnetic sensor, comprising: a. a plurality of coil elements; b. at least one time-varying signal source of at least one time-varying signal operatively coupled to said plurality of coil elements, wherein a first coil element of said plurality of coil elements is adapted to generate a first magnetic field component responsive to said at least one time-varying signal, at least a second coil element of said plurality of coil elements is adapted to generate at least a second magnetic field component responsive to said at least one time-varying signal, said first coil element and said at least said second coil element are adapted so that said first magnetic field component and said at least said second magnetic field component interact with different first and at least second portions of a vehicle when said plurality of coil elements are in a cooperative relationship with said vehicle; c. a conductive element adapted to cooperate with at least one of said plurality of coil elements so as to provide for shaping, controlling or limiting at least one of said first magnetic field component and said at least said second magnetic field component, wherein at least a portion of said conductive element is adapted to control or mitigate against eddy currents therein; and d. at least one detection circuit operatively coupled to said plurality of coil elements, wherein said at least one detection circuit generates a detected signal responsive to a first sensed signal component from said first coil element responsive to said first magnetic field component and responsive to at least a second sensed signal component from said at least said second coil element responsive to said at least said second magnetic field component, and said detected signal provides for detecting a change in a magnetic condition of or associated with said vehicle. 24. A magnetic sensor, comprising: a. a plurality of coil elements; b. at least one time-varying signal source of at least one time-varying signal operatively coupled to said plurality of coil elements, wherein a first coil element of said plurality of coil elements is adapted to generate a first magnetic field component responsive to said at least one time-varying signal, at least a second coil element of said plurality of coil elements is adapted to generate at least a second magnetic field component responsive to said at least one time-varying signal, said first coil element and said at least said second coil element are adapted so that said first magnetic field component and said at least said second magnetic field component interact with different first and at least second portions of a vehicle when said plurality of coil elements are in a cooperative relationship with said vehicle, and at least one of said first and at least second portions of said vehicle is adapted to cooperate with said at least one of said plurality of coil elements; and c. a conductive element operatively associated with, a part of, or a portion of at least one of said first and at least second portions of said vehicle so as to cooperate with said at least one of said plurality of coil elements, wherein either said conductive element, or said part of or said portion of said at least one of said first and at least second portions of said vehicle, comprises a pattern adapted to control associated eddy currents therein; and d. at least one detection circuit operatively coupled to said plurality of coil elements, wherein said at least one detection circuit generates a detected signal responsive to a first sensed signal component from said first coil element responsive to said first magnetic field component and responsive to at least a second sensed signal component from said at least said second coil element responsive to said at least said second magnetic field component, and said detected signal provides for detecting a change in a magnetic condition of or associated with said vehicle. 25. A magnetic sensor as recited in claim 24, wherein said conductive element, or said part of or said portion of said at least one of said first and at least second portions of said vehicle, is adapted by either etching, forming or coating said pattern in or on a surface thereof so as to control said eddy currents.
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