Apparatus and method for testing an occupant position sensing system of a vehicle

• US 20050056104A1
• Filed: 09/01/2004
• Published: 03/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Automotive USLLC (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen), TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: David, Raymond J., Steffens, Charles E. Jr., Wallace, Jon K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,216,557 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/865.300
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01554 Seat position sensors

Abstract

A method and apparatus (40) for testing an occupant position sensing system (12) of a vehicle (10) includes a motor (42) having a stationary portion (44) and a movable portion (46). A test object (90) is fixed relative to the movable portion (46) of the motor (42). A motor position sensor (64) senses a position of the movable portion (46) of the motor (42) relative to the stationary portion (44) and for providing a motor position signal indicative thereof. Motor drive electronics (58) are responsive to the motor position signal for controlling the motor (42) for moving the test object (90). A data recorder (80) is adapted to receive and record data from the occupant position sensing system (12) and is adapted to receive and record the motor position signal provided by the motor position sensor (64).

Claims

1. An apparatus for testing an occupant position sensing system of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a motor having a stationary portion and a movable portion;

a test object fixed relative to the movable portion of the motor and configured to be monitored by the occupant position sensing system;

a motor position sensor for sensing a position of the movable portion of the motor relative to the stationary portion and for providing a motor position signal indicative thereof;

motor drive electronics that are responsive to the motor position signal for controlling the motor for moving the test object; and

a data recorder adapted to receive and record data from the occupant position sensing system and adapted to receive and record the motor position signal provided by the motor position sensor, the motor position signal providing a reference position of the test object against which the data from the occupant position sensing system may be compared.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said test object is made of light-weight foam material and includes an outer covering that is configured to be sensed by the occupant position sensing system.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the outer covering includes skin pieces adapted for use in an anthropomorphic test dummy constructed in accordance with 49 C.F.R. Part 572.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the motor is a linear motor that includes a plurality of electromagnets and a plurality of permanent magnets, one of the stationary portion and the movable portion of the motor including the plurality of electromagnets and another of the stationary portion and the movable portion including the plurality of permanent magnets.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the motor position sensor includes an optical sensor that provides high-resolution position information via the motor position signal.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the optical sensor is fixed to the movable portion of the motor, the stationary portion of the motor including markings that are read by the optical sensor.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further including means for positioning the test object in the vehicle and in front of a backrest portion of a seat associated with a location of the vehicle to be tested by the occupant position sensing system.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the means for positioning the test object includes a rod having first and second ends, the test object being fixed to the first end of the rod and the second end of the rod being fixed to the movable portion of the motor.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the motor is adapted to be positioned in the vehicle behind the backrest portion of the seat, the rod extending through the backrest portion of the seat to position the test object in front of the backrest portion of the seat.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the means for positioning the test object includes a support structure that enables the motor to be positioned in the vehicle in front of the backrest portion of the seat.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the support structure includes legs, the legs supporting a portion of the motor above a cushion portion of the seat.

12. An apparatus for testing an occupant position sensing system that is adapted to monitor a position of an occupant of a seat of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a test object configured to be monitored by the occupant position sensing system;

a motor for moving the test object so that the test object may be monitored by the occupant position sensing system; and

means for positioning the test object in front of a backrest portion of the seat of the vehicle at a location for which the position of the occupant is to be determined.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the motor is adapted to move the test object in a prescribed manner toward an instrument panel of the vehicle and to stop movement of the test object prior to the test object contacting the instrument panel.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the test object is formed from a light weight material and includes a covering that is configured to be monitored by the occupant position sensing system.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the covering includes skin pieces adapted for use in an anthropomorphic test dummy constructed in accordance with 49 C.F.R. Part 572.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 further including a motor position sensor for monitoring a position of the motor and providing a motor position signal indicative thereof, motor drive electronics being responsive to the motor position signal for controlling the motor.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 further including a data recorder adapted to receive and record data from the occupant position sensing system and adapted to receive and record the motor position signal provided by the motor position sensor, the motor position signal providing a reference position of the test object against which the data from the occupant position sensing system may be compared.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the motor position sensor includes a sensor that provides high-resolution position information via the motor position signal.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the motor position sensor includes an optical sensor that provides high-resolution position information via the motor position signal.

20. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the means for positioning the test object includes a rod having first and second ends, the test object being fixed to the first end of the rod and the second end of the rod being fixed to the movable portion of the motor.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the motor is adapted to be positioned in the vehicle behind the backrest portion of the seat, the rod extending through the backrest portion of the seat to position the test object in front of the backrest portion of the seat.

22. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the means for positioning the test object includes a support structure that enables the motor to be positioned in the vehicle in front of the backrest portion of the seat.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the support structure includes a tripod, the tripod supporting a portion of the motor above a cushion portion of the seat.

24. A method for testing an occupant position sensing system of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

fixing a test object that is configured to be monitored by the occupant position sensing system to a movable portion of a motor that includes a stationary portion and the movable portion;

positioning the test object in the vehicle;

controlling the motor to move the movable portion of the motor and the test object, which is fixed to the movable portion, within the vehicle and relative to the stationary portion of motor;

sensing a position of the movable portion of the motor relative to the stationary portion;

providing a motor position signal indicative of the sensed position;

sensing a position of the test object with the occupant position sensing system of the vehicle;

providing an occupant position signal indicative of the sensed occupant position; and

recording the motor position signal and the occupant position signal, the motor position signal providing a reference position of the test object against which the data from the occupant position sensing system may be compared.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the step of positioning the test object in the vehicle further includes the steps of mounting the motor on a support structure;

and positioning the support structure in the vehicle in a location in front of a backrest portion of a seat associated with a location of the vehicle to be tested by the occupant position sensing system.