Patent ID: 7209844

Claim:
A magnetic crash sensor, comprising: a. at least one first coil operatively associated with a first portion of a vehicle; b. a first signal source operatively associated with said at least one first coil, wherein a first signal from said first signal source is operatively coupled to said at least one first coil so as to cause said at least one first coil to generate a first magnetic field; c. at least one conductive element operatively associated with or at least a part of a second portion of said vehicle, wherein said at least one conductive element is located so that said first magnetic field generated by said at least one first coil induces at least one eddy current in said at least one conductive; d. at least one first magnetic sensor adapted to generate a second signal responsive to said first magnetic field from said at least one first coil responsive to an influence by said at least one eddy current induced in said at least one conductive element by said first magnetic field e. at least one second coil operatively associated with a third portion of a vehicle; f. a second signal source operatively associated with said at least one second coil, wherein a second signal from said second signal source is operatively coupled to said at least one second coil so as to cause said at least one second coil to generate a second magnetic field within a frame of said vehicle; and g. at least one second magnetic sensor adapted to generate a second signal responsive to said second magnetic field within said frame of said vehicle.