Frame-based occupant weight estimation apparatus having compliant linkage assembly
First Claim
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1. Apparatus for estimating the weight of an occupant of a vehicle seat supported by a floor bracket mounted on a vehicle floor, the apparatus comprising:
- a force sensor; and
a compliant linkage assembly interposed between said floor bracket and a mounting bracket of said seat, including linkage arms rotatably coupled to said floor bracket and said mounting bracket, a slider member supported for linear movement substantially parallel to said vehicle floor, and means for biasing said slider member into engagement with said force sensor, said linkage arms being coupled to said slider member such that occupant weight applied to said seat produces linear movement of said slider member that increases an engagement force between said slider member and said force sensor, whereby said force sensor produces an output signal indicative of said occupant weight.
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Abstract
A frame-based occupant weight estimation apparatus for a vehicle seat includes a compliant linkage assembly that translates vertically applied seat loads to a horizontal plane, where the horizontal forces are measured by a set of force sensors. A compliant member, which may be a spring or a linkage arm, preloads the force sensors to enable off-loading detection, and an overload device securely anchors the seat to the vehicle floor without interfering with normal load measurement.
29 Citations
12 Claims
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1. Apparatus for estimating the weight of an occupant of a vehicle seat supported by a floor bracket mounted on a vehicle floor, the apparatus comprising:
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a force sensor; and
a compliant linkage assembly interposed between said floor bracket and a mounting bracket of said seat, including linkage arms rotatably coupled to said floor bracket and said mounting bracket, a slider member supported for linear movement substantially parallel to said vehicle floor, and means for biasing said slider member into engagement with said force sensor, said linkage arms being coupled to said slider member such that occupant weight applied to said seat produces linear movement of said slider member that increases an engagement force between said slider member and said force sensor, whereby said force sensor produces an output signal indicative of said occupant weight. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification