SEAT POSITION SENSING DEVICE FOR USE IN OCCUPANT RESTRAINT

• US 20040130176A1
• Filed: 01/03/2003
• Published: 07/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Nathan, John F., Hein, David Anthony, Reichert, Adam, Sims, John R
• Granted Patent: US 6,854,782 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/65.13
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0272 using sensors or detectors for detecting the position of seat parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/06 slidable B60N2/12 , B60N2/2209 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0152 using strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01554 Seat position sensors

Abstract

A seat position sensing device for use in a deployable passenger restraint system for an automotive vehicle has a Hall Effect sensor and a magnetic actuator sensor target facing each other and mounted in corresponding rails used to mount the vehicle seat to the vehicle said rails in moveable relationship to each other. Said seat position sensing device not requiring special hardware to be mounted in external to said seat rails

Claims

1. A deployable passenger restraint system for an automotive vehicle comprising:

an occupant seat mounted on a substantially parallel pair of seat tracks for adjustable movement in at least a longitudinal direction, the seat tracks each comprising a movable guide rail having a plastic slide attached thereto, attached in a slidable relationship with a stationary support rail mounted to the vehicle floor;

a deployable restraint;

a deployable mechanism for deploying the restraint;

a deployable restraint processor means for receiving and processing a plurality of restraint deployment signals and for controlling the deployment mechanism; and

a seat position sensor comprising;

a pair of movable guide rails each having a plastic slide mounted thereon;

a Hall Effect sensor mounted on at least one of said plastic slides mounted on said guide rails for sensing the presence of a magnetic sensor target and relaying a signal representative of seat position to the deployable restraint processor means, and said Hall Effect sensor pointing downward toward;

a magnetic sensor target mounted along a predetermined length of at least one of said stationary rails corresponding to the guide rail having the Hall Effect sensor mounted thereon, and pointing upward toward said Hall Effect sensor, said stationary rail fixedly mounted to the automotive vehicle.

2. A deployable passenger restraint system as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the magnetic sensor target is mounted on the front end of said stationary rail and extends toward the middle of the stationary rail.

3. A deployable passenger restraint system as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the predetermined length represents that seat travel distance placing the occupant closer than eight inches from the deployable restraint.

4. A deployable passenger restraint system as claimed in claim 1 wherein, there is a single Hall Effect sensor and corresponding magnetic sensor target mounted on a single seat track.

5. A deployable passenger restraint system as claimed in claim 1 wherein, there is more than one Hall Effect sensor and one corresponding magnetic sensor target mounted on a single seat track.

6. A deployable passenger restraint system as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said magnetic sensor target is the ferromagnetic metal of said stationary rail.

7. A deployable passenger restraint system as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said magnetic sensor target is a magnet.

8. A deployable passenger restraint system as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said magnetic sensor target is a magnetic field creating composition.

9. A deployable passenger restraint system as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said substantially parallel pair of seat tracks is mounted in a substantially horizontal position.

10. A deployable passenger restraint system as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said substantially parallel pair of seat tracks is mounted in a substantially vertical position.

11. A deployable passenger restraint system for an automotive vehicle comprising:

an occupant seat mounted on a substantially parallel pair of seat tracks for adjustable movement in at least a longitudinal direction, the seat tracks each comprising a movable guide rail having a plastic slide attached thereto, attached in a slidable relationship with a stationary support rail mounted to the vehicle floor;

a deployable restraint;

a deployable mechanism for deploying the restraint;

a deployable restraint processor means for receiving and processing a plurality of restraint deployment signals and for controlling the deployment mechanism; and

a seat position sensor comprising;

a pair of stationary support rails fixedly attached to the vehicle floor;

a magnetic sensor target mounted along a predetermined length of at least one of said stationary rails pointing upward toward;

a Hall Effect sensor mounted on at least one of said plastic slides mounted in said moveable guide rails for sensing the presence of a magnetic sensor target and relaying a signal representative of seat position to the deployable restraint processor means, and said Hall Effect sensor pointing downward toward said magnetic sensor target mounted on said corresponding stationary rail.

12. A deployable passenger restraint system as claimed in claim 11 wherein, the magnetic sensor target is mounted on the front end of said stationary rail and extends toward the middle of the stationary rail.

13. A deployable passenger restraint system as claimed in claim 11 wherein, the predetermined length represents that seat travel distance placing the occupant closer than eight inches from the deployable restraint.

14. A deployable passenger restraint system as claimed in claim 11 wherein, there is a single Hall Effect sensor and corresponding magnetic sensor target mounted on a single seat track.

15. A deployable passenger restraint system as claimed in claim 11 wherein, there is more than one Hall Effect sensor and one corresponding magnetic sensor target mounted on a single seat track.

16. A deployable passenger restraint system as claimed in claim 11 wherein, said magnetic sensor target is the ferromagnetic metal of said stationary rail.

17. A deployable passenger restraint system as claimed in claim 11 wherein, said magnetic sensor target is a magnet.

18. A deployable passenger restraint system as claimed in claim 11 wherein, said magnetic sensor target is a magnetic field creating composition.

19. A deployable passenger restraint system as claimed in claim 11 wherein, said substantially parallel pair of seat tracks is mounted in a substantially horizontal position.

20. A deployable passenger restraint system as claimed in claim 11 wherein, said substantially parallel pair of seat tracks is mounted in a substantially vertical position.