Seat occupant weight detection system having compensation for seat aging and usage
First Claim
1. A system for detecting the weight of an occupant of a seat in a motor vehicle, the seat having a foam cushion bottom, the apparatus comprising:
- a pressure sensing mechanism disposed in or under the foam cushion bottom for providing a pressure signal output in response to the occupant weight;
a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature in proximity to said foam cushion bottom, and providing a temperature signal output; and
a controller for estimating the occupant weight based on the pressure signal output, the temperature signal output, and a calibrated value corresponding to a pressure signal output associated with a predetermined occupant weight, the controller including means for determining an indication of aging and wear of the foam cushion bottom, and for adjusting the calibrated value upward based on such indication, to thereby compensate the occupant weight estimate for aging and wear of said foam cushion bottom.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved occupant weight detection system measures the pressure in a fluid-filled bladder disposed in or under a foam seat cushion as an indication of occupant weight, and periodically adjusts the pressure vs. occupant weight relationship to compensate for changes due to aging and usage of the foam seat cushion. The system controller develops an aging adjustment value based on a measure of the cumulative aging and usage of the seat, and uses the developed adjustment value to compensate the operation of the system. The aging adjustment value is determined primarily as a function of occupant weight and time of seat occupancy, and the compensation is achieved by using the aging adjustment value to adjust either the estimated weight, or a threshold to which the measured pressure is compared for purposes of deciding if restraint deployment should be enabled.
9 Citations
6 Claims
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1. A system for detecting the weight of an occupant of a seat in a motor vehicle, the seat having a foam cushion bottom, the apparatus comprising:
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a pressure sensing mechanism disposed in or under the foam cushion bottom for providing a pressure signal output in response to the occupant weight;
a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature in proximity to said foam cushion bottom, and providing a temperature signal output; and
a controller for estimating the occupant weight based on the pressure signal output, the temperature signal output, and a calibrated value corresponding to a pressure signal output associated with a predetermined occupant weight, the controller including means for determining an indication of aging and wear of the foam cushion bottom, and for adjusting the calibrated value upward based on such indication, to thereby compensate the occupant weight estimate for aging and wear of said foam cushion bottom. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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Specification