Weight classification system
First Claim
1. A vehicle weight classification system comprising:
- a seat assembly having a seat frame for supporting a seat bottom;
a seat belt assembly for securing a seat occupant to said seat assembly;
a plurality of weight sensors mounted to said seat frame for generating a plurality of weight signals in response to a weight force applied to said seat bottom;
at least one seat belt force sensor for generating a seat belt force signal;
an electronic control unit for receiving said weight signals and seat belt force signals to determine occupant weight and center of gravity, generating an occupant classification based on said occupant weight and center of gravity, and transmitting an output control signal based on said occupant classification; and
an airbag module for receiving said output control signal to control airbag deployment based on said occupant classification.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus is provided that classifies a seat occupant into one of several different weight classes based on an estimated value of the seat occupant weight. An occupant'"'"'s measured weight varies when the occupant'"'"'s seating position changes or when the vehicle travels over adverse road conditions. A plurality of weight sensors are used to measure the weight exerted by a seat occupant against a seat bottom and are used to determine center of gravity for the seat occupant. A seat belt force sensor is also used to assist in classifying the seat occupant. Compensation factors using the seat belt force and center of gravity information are used to generate an estimated weight value. The estimated value of the occupant weight is compared to a series of upper and lower weight thresholds assigned to each of the weight classes to generate an occupant weight sample class. Over a period of time, several estimated weight values are compared to the weight class thresholds. Once a predetermined number of consistent and consecutive occupant weight sample classes is achieved, the occupant is locked into a specific occupant weight class. When the weight class is locked, the separation value between the upper and lower thresholds is increased to account for minor weight variations due to adverse road conditions and changes in occupant position.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A vehicle weight classification system comprising:
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a seat assembly having a seat frame for supporting a seat bottom;
a seat belt assembly for securing a seat occupant to said seat assembly;
a plurality of weight sensors mounted to said seat frame for generating a plurality of weight signals in response to a weight force applied to said seat bottom;
at least one seat belt force sensor for generating a seat belt force signal;
an electronic control unit for receiving said weight signals and seat belt force signals to determine occupant weight and center of gravity, generating an occupant classification based on said occupant weight and center of gravity, and transmitting an output control signal based on said occupant classification; and
an airbag module for receiving said output control signal to control airbag deployment based on said occupant classification. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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16. A method for classifying a seat occupant into a weight class comprising the steps of:
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(a) measuring a weight force of a seat occupant exerted against a seat bottom to generate a weight signal;
(b) measuring a seat belt force generated by securing the seat occupant to a vehicle seat with a seat belt assembly to generate a seat belt force signal;
(c) determining center of gravity of the seat occupant based on said weight signal;
(d) classifying the seat occupant into a predetermined weight classification based on said weight and seat belt force signals;
(e) generating an output control signal based on seat occupant classification; and
(f) controlling deployment of a safety device based via the output control signal.
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Specification