Optical seat occupation sensor network

• US 20040240776A1
• Filed: 07/09/2004
• Published: 12/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chemtron Research LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Company LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Baur, Richard, Huber, Hans-Peter, Zeeb, Eberhard
• Granted Patent: US 7,162,111 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/16
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01095 optical
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0153 using field detection presence sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01538 for image processing, e.g. cameras or sensor arrays

Abstract

The invention relates to a sensor arrangement for seat occupation detection, comprising a fiber-optic sensor network consisting of at least two sensors. The sensor network detest for example local damping modifications in a fiber network that are caused by microbends or modifications of the Bragg wavelength of fiber-optic Bragg grating sensors (FBGS) distributed in the fiber network that are ceased by loads. The optical sensor network is resistant to electromagnetic parasitic inductions. Due to the nature of the optical lass or polymer optical fibers it is for example possible to integrate the network into the textile cover of the seat or into a cushion.

Claims

1-9. -9. (cancelled)

10. A sensor arrangement for detecting seat occupancy, comprising at least one optical sensor, wherein

at least two optical sensors are positioned at various locations on the seat surface, and

wherein an analysis of seat load distribution can be made on the basis of changes in sensor signals.

11. A sensor arrangement according to claim 10, wherein a fiber-optic sensor network is integrated in the seat.

12. A sensor arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the sensors detect micro-curvatures and changes in damping caused thereby.

13. A sensor arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the sensors are Bragg grating sensors, which are operated either in reflection or transmission mode.

14. A sensor arrangement according to claim 10,

wherein the optical sensor network is comprised of sensors S1 through SN,

wherein for each sensor a fiber line F leads to an individual detector in a detector plane E,

wherein light from one or more light sources L is coupled in to the various sensor fiber lines, and

wherein a classifying or reading-out unit resolves the spatial distribution of the seat occupancy by separately reading-out the individual sensor branches.

15. A sensor arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the sensors are arranged in a cascade arrangement and wherein the spatial resolution of the seat occupancy occurs by the cascading of individual sensors.

16. A sensor arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the sensor network is woven into the cover of the seat.

17. A sensor arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the sensor network is integrated in a seat pillow.

18. A sensor arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the load distribution enables a determination of the position of a person seated on the seat.