Detecting occupant presence on a vehicle seat

• US 10,137,802 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2016
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Cuddihy, Mark A., Rao, Manoharprasad K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brindley, Timothy J
• Application Number:
  US15/067,470
• Publication Number:
  US 20170259698A1
• Time in Patent Office: 991 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/003 characterised by the sensor mounting location in or on the seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0035 characterised by the sensor data transmission, e.g. wired connections or wireless transmitters therefor; characterised by the sensor data processing, e.g. seat sensor signal amplification or electric circuits for providing seat sensor information
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/914 Hydro-pneumatic adjustments of the shape
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/40 Force or pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2230/20 Wireless data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/4142 for controlling activation of safety devices, e.g. airbag systems electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements in case of vehicle accidents B60R21/015

Abstract

A system for detecting that an occupant is present in a vehicle seat. The system includes a bladder disposed in the vehicle seat, a pressure sensor, and a fluid pump. A conduit provides a single line into the bladder, a first branch of the single line connected to the fluid pump, and a second branch connected to the pressure sensor. The pressure sensor is communicatively coupled to a computing device. The computing device is programmed to detect that the occupant is present in the vehicle seat according to two or more data, including a first pressure value and a second pressure value that is detected at a time following detection of the first pressure value.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a bladder disposed in a vehicle seat;

a pump;

a pressure sensor;

a conduit that connects the pump to the bladder;

a T-section that connects the conduit to the pressure sensor;

a switch to actuate the pump to at least one of inflate and deflate the bladder with fluid; and

a controller having a processor and a memory, the memory having stored instructions executable by the processor to detect that the pump has been actuated, and then, if actuation of the pump was detected, determine that an occupant is present in a vehicle seat according to two or more data received from the pressure sensor.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to store a first pressure value upon an initiating event.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the initiating event is one of when a vehicle door is opened and unlocked.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the data include a first pressure value and a second pressure value.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the memory storing instructions executable by the processor further determines that the occupant is present in the vehicle seat when the second pressure value is greater than the first pressure value.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the memory storing instructions executable by the processor further determines the second pressure value from an average of an aggregate of pressure values detected by the pressure sensor over a predetermined period of time.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the memory storing instructions executable by the processor further determines that an occupant is present in the seat when the second pressure value differs from the first pressure value by more than a predetermined threshold.

8. The system of claim 4, wherein the memory storing instructions executable by the processor further determines that an occupant is not present in the vehicle seat when the second pressure value is substantially equal to or less than the first pressure value.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the memory storing instructions executable by the processor further determines the second pressure value from an average of an aggregate of pressure values detected by the pressure sensor over a specified period of time.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the memory storing instructions executable by the processor determines that an occupant is present in the seat when the second pressure value differs from the first pressure value by more than a predetermined threshold.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory storing instructions executable by the processor further actuates the vehicle seat to move from a rearward position to a forward position when the computing device determines that the occupant is present in the vehicle seat.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory storing instructions executable by the processor further actuates a steering wheel to move from a first position to a second position when the controller determines the occupant is present in the vehicle seat.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the switch is occupant-selectable.

14. A system, comprising:

a bladder disposed in a vehicle seat;

a pump;

a pressure sensor;

a conduit that connects the pump to the bladder;

a T-section that connects the conduit to the pressure sensor;

a switch to actuate the pump to at least one of inflate and deflate the bladder with fluid; and

a means for detecting that the pump has been actuated, and then, if actuation of the pump was detected, determining that an occupant is present in a vehicle seat according to two or more data received from the pressure sensor.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising a means for storing a first pressure value upon an initiating event.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the initiating event is one of when a vehicle door is opened and unlocked.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the data include a first pressure value and a second pressure value.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising means for determining the second pressure value from an average of an aggregate of pressure values detected by the pressure sensor over a predetermined period of time.

19. The system of claim 17, further comprising means for determining that an occupant is not present in the vehicle seat when the second pressure value is substantially equal to or less than the first pressure value.

20. The system of claim 14, further comprising means for actuating a steering wheel to move from a first position to a second position when the controller determines the occupant is present in the vehicle seat.