Occupant weight detecting device

• US 20030216886A1
• Filed: 03/07/2003
• Published: 11/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Suzumura, Yoshikazu, Sakai, Morio, Mori, Masaki, Yamamoto, Yukihiro, Hattori, Katsu
• Granted Patent: US 6,871,159 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/173
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0152 using strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01544 detecting seat belt parameters, e.g. length, tension or height-adjustment
• 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

An occupant weight detecting device includes a load detecting means equipped to a seat body for detecting a load applied to the seat body, a calculating means for calculating an initial load value during the seat body under an initial condition based upon a detected load value by the load detecting means and for calculating a value of an occupant load applied to the seat body by subtracting the initial load value from the detected load value, and a filter housed in the calculating means and possessing a cutoff frequency so as to attenuate a fluctuation of the detected load value generated due to an element other than a deterioration inherent to the load detecting means.

Claims

1. An occupant weight detecting device comprising;

a load detecting means for detecting a load applied to a seat body;

a calculating means for calculating an initial load value based upon a detected load value by the load detecting means and for calculating an occupant load value applied to the seat body by subtracting the initial load value from the detected load value; and

a filter means with a cutoff frequency so as to attenuate a fluctuation of the detected load value due to elements except a deterioration inherent to the load detecting means.

2. An occupant weight detecting device according to claim 1, wherein the calculating means sets a first threshold value including a first range and the detected load value is filtered by the filter means when the detected load value is within the first range.

3. An occupant weight detecting device according to claim 2, wherein the calculating means sets a second threshold value including a second range in the first range and corresponds to a fluctuation of the detected load value due to the deterioration inherent to the load detecting means, and the detected load value is filtered when the detected load value is within the second range.

4. An occupant weight detecting device according to claim 3, wherein the filter means filters the detected load value when an output value from the filter reaches within the second range after the detected load value is within the first range and deviates from the second range.

5. An occupant weight detecting device according to claim 3, wherein the deterioration inherent to the load detecting means includes a secular deterioration of the load detecting means, and the fluctuation of the detected load value due to the secular deterioration is within the second range.

6. An occupant weight detecting device according to claim 1, wherein the cutoff frequency is set so as to attenuate a fluctuation of the detected load value due to an external environment.

7. An occupant weight detecting device according to claim 6, wherein the external environment includes a mechanical stress of the load detecting means, heat and moisture of the load detecting means, acid adherence to the load detecting means, lading or contact of an object with the seat body, temperature fluctuation of the load detecting means, a position fluctuation of a seat sliding mechanism, and a vehicle parking condition on a slope.

8. An occupant weight detecting device according to claim 1, wherein the initial load value is calculated under the initial condition when there is nothing on the seat body.

9. An occupant weight detecting device according to claim 1, wherein the load detecting means is a load sensor for detecting the load applied to the seat body.

10. An occupant weight detecting device according to claim 9, wherein the load sensor is provided with a distortion detecting element for electrically detecting a distorted amount which is applied to the seat cushion.

11. A method for detecting an occupant weight comprising:

a load detecting means for detecting a load applied to a seat body;

a correction amount calculating means for calculating an original point correction amount based on a passed time of which the original point correction amount is calculated;

an occupant load calculating means for calculating an occupant load applied to a seat body by subtracting the original point correction amount calculated by the correction amount calculating means from the detected load by the load detecting means; and

a filter means with a cutoff frequency so as to attenuate a fluctuation of the detected load value due to elements except a deterioration inherent to the load detecting means.

12. A method for detecting an occupant weight according to claim 11, wherein the original point correction amount is calculated based upon the detected load by the load detecting means when there is nothing on the seat body.

13. A method for detecting an occupant weight according to claim 11, further comprising:

a seat belt condition judging means for judging whether a seat belt is fastened; and

a first judging means for judging whether the detected load is within a range when the seat belt is judged to be fastened,

wherein the detected load value is filtered by the filter means when the detected load value is judged to be within the range.

14. A method for detecting an occupant weight according to claim 13, further comprising:

an output value judging means for judging whether an output value from the filter reaches within the range after the detected load value is judged to deviate from the range,

wherein the detected load value is filtered by the filter when the output value from the filter is judged to be within the range after the detected load value is judged to deviate from the range.

15. A method for detecting an occupant weight according to claim 13, further comprising:

a sign judging means for judging whether or not a sign of the detected load value is identical to a sign of the output value from the filter when the output value from the filter is judged to deviate from the range,

wherein the detected load value is filtered by the filter means when the sign of the detected load value differs from the sign of the output value from the filter.

16. A method for detecting an occupant weight according to claim 15, further comprising:

a second judging means for judging whether the detected load value is within the range when the seat belt is judged to be fastened,

wherein the original point correction amount is calculated when the detected load value is judged to deviate from the range and the output value from the filter means is judged within the range.

17. A method for detecting an occupant weight according to claim 13, wherein the range corresponds to a fluctuation of the detected load value due to deterioration inherent to the load detecting means.