Seat belt force or tension sensor with programmable hall effect sensor
First Claim
1. A seat belt force or tension sensor comprising relatively movable first and second pieces, the pieces movable between a first position to a second position, at least one of the pieces operatively connected to a seat belt;
- spring means for biasing the first and second pieces to the first position;
at least one magnet located on and movable with one of the first and second pieces, the magnet generating a magnetic field;
sensor means responsive to changes in the magnetic field resulting from the relative motion of the pieces for generating an output signal indicative thereof;
compensating means for compensating for variances, from a nominal condition, of the component parts of the force sensor including variances in the spring means and magnet from respective nominal operating parameters for causing the output signal to follow a desired signature irrespective of the variances of the spring means and magnet.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A tension sensor comprising:
relatively movable first and second pieces, the pieces movable between a first position to a second position, at least one of the pieces operatively connected to a seat belt;
a spring for biasing the first and second pieces to the first position;
a magnet located on and movable with one of the first and second pieces, the magnet generating a magnetic field;
a magnetic means responsive to changes in the magnetic field resulting from the relative motion of the pieces for generating an output signal indicative thereof;
a compensator or programmable element for compensating for variances in the spring and magnet from respective nominal operating parameters for causing the output signal to follow a desired signature irrespective of the variances of the spring and magnet.
17 Citations
7 Claims
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1. A seat belt force or tension sensor comprising
relatively movable first and second pieces, the pieces movable between a first position to a second position, at least one of the pieces operatively connected to a seat belt; -
spring means for biasing the first and second pieces to the first position;
at least one magnet located on and movable with one of the first and second pieces, the magnet generating a magnetic field;
sensor means responsive to changes in the magnetic field resulting from the relative motion of the pieces for generating an output signal indicative thereof;
compensating means for compensating for variances, from a nominal condition, of the component parts of the force sensor including variances in the spring means and magnet from respective nominal operating parameters for causing the output signal to follow a desired signature irrespective of the variances of the spring means and magnet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification