Apparatus and method for controlling a vehicular component

• US 20050156457A1
• Filed: 12/13/2004
• Published: 07/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Vehicular Sciences LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Automotive Technologies International Incorporated
• Inventors: Johnson, Wendell C., Breed, David S., DuVall, Wilbur E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,387,183 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/467
• 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: B60N 2/015 Attaching seats directly to vehicle chassis
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02246 Electric motors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0244 with logic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0248 with memory of positions
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0252 with relations between different adjustments, e.g. height of headrest following longitudinal position of seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0268 using sensors or detectors for adapting the seat or seat part, e.g. to the position of an occupant
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0272 using sensors or detectors for detecting the position of seat parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0276 reaction to emergency situations, e.g. crash
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/067 by linear actuators, e.g. linear screw mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/28 Seats readily mountable on, and dismountable from, existing seats or other parts of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2806 for securing the child seat to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2863 backward facing
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/66 Lumbar supports
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/829 characterised by their adjusting mechanisms, e.g. electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/853 characterised by their adjusting mechanisms, e.g. electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/888 with arrangements for protecting against abnormal g-forces, e.g. by displacement of the head-rest
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/26094 characterised by fluid flow controlling valves
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2765 comprising means to control the venting
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/288 with means to adjust or regulate the amount of energy to be absorbed
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4685 : with means to adjust or regulate the tensioning force in relation to external parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/015 : including means for detecting the presence or position of passengers, passenger seats or child seats , and the related safety parameters therefor, e.g. speed or timing of airbag inflation in relation to occupant position or seat belt use
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 : using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01526 : using piezoelectric elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0153 : using field detection presence sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01536 : using ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01542 : detecting passenger motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01554 : Seat position sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/203 : in steering wheels or steering columns
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/201 : with the belt anchor connected to a slider movable in a vehicle-mounted track for passive restraint systems B60R22/06
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/3728 : with wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/06 : Systems determining the position data of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/87 : Combinations of sonar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/88 : Sonar systems specially adapted for specific applications seismic or acoustic prospecting or detecting G01V1/00

Abstract

Method for determining the position of the occupant in a seat having a bottom portion on which the occupant sits and a back portion situated at an angle to the bottom portion including arranging a bladder having at least one chamber in the bottom portion, measuring the pressure in each chamber, and determining the position of the occupant based at least on part on the measured pressure. Pressure may be measured by arranging at least one transducer in association with each chamber. If the bladder comprises a plurality of chambers, each chamber can be arranged at a different location in the bottom portion and the weight distribution of the occupant determined based on the measured pressure in the chambers. In this case, a respective transducer may be arranged in association with each chamber.

Claims

1. In an automotive vehicle, a method for determining the position of the occupant in a seat having a bottom portion on which the occupant sits and a back portion situated at an angle to the bottom portion, comprising:

arranging a bladder having at least one chamber in the bottom portion;

measuring the pressure in the at least one chamber; and

determining the position of the occupant based at least on part on the measured pressure.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the bladder comprises a plurality of chambers, further comprising arranging each of the chambers at a different location in the bottom portion.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising determining tire weight distribution of the occupant based on the measured pressure in the chambers.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the pressure measuring step comprises arranging at least one transducer in association with each of the at least one chamber.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the bladder comprises a plurality of chambers, the pressure measuring step comprising arranging a respective transducer in association with each of the chambers.

6. A method for deploying an occupant protection device in an automotive vehicle to protect an occupant during a crash involving the vehicle, comprising:

determining the position of the occupant as claimed in claim 1;

and

deploying the occupant protection device based at least in part on the determined position of the occupant.

7. A method for determining weight distribution of an occupant in a seat having a bottom portion on which the occupant sits and a back portion situated at an angle to the bottom portion, comprising the steps of:

arranging a bladder having a plurality of chambers in a seat portion of the seat;

measuring the pressure in each of the chambers;

determining the weight distribution of the occupant from the measured pressure in each of the chambers; and

determining the center of force of the occupant on the seat based on the weight distribution.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of:

determining the position of the occupant based on the weight distribution.

9. A vehicular occupant position arrangement for determining the position of an occupant in a seat of the vehicle having a bottom portion on which the occupant sits and a back -portion situated at an angle to the bottom portion, comprising:

a sensor for determining the force applied by the occupant to the seat, said sensor comprising a bladder having at least one chamber adapted to be arranged in the bottom portion of the seat, and at least one transducer for measuring the pressure in a respective one of said at least one chamber; and

a microprocessor coupled to said sensor and arranged to receive the determined force applied by the occupant to the seat from said sensor and determine the position of the occupant based at least on part on the determined force applied by the occupant.

10. The arrangement of claim 9, wherein said bladder comprises a plurality of chambers, each of said chambers being adapted to be arranged at a different location in the bottom portion of the seat.

11. A vehicle, comprising:

the arrangement of claim 9;

and

a seat including a bottom portion having an upper surface on which an occupant sits and a back portion arranged at an angle to said bottom portion, said sensor being arranged in said bottom portion to determine the force applied by the occupant to said bottom portion, said microprocessor being arranged to receive the determined force applied by the occupant to said bottom portion from said sensor and determine the position of the occupant based at least on part on the determined force applied by the occupant, whereby the determined position of the occupant is used to affect or control a component in the vehicle.

12. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein said bladder comprises a plurality of chambers, each of said chambers being arranged at a different location in said bottom portion.

13. The vehicle of claim 11, further comprising an occupant protection device coupled to said microprocessor, said microprocessor being arranged to control said occupant protection device in consideration of the determined position of the occupant in said seat.

14. In an automotive vehicle, a method for determining the classification of the occupant in a seat having a bottom portion on which the occupant sits and a back portion situated at an angle to the bottom portion, comprising:

arranging a bladder having at least one chamber in the bottom portion;

measuring the pressure in the at least one chamber; and

determining the classification of the occupant based at least on part on the measured pressure.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the bladder comprises a plurality of chambers, further comprising arranging each of the chambers at a different location in the bottom portion.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising determining the weight distribution of the occupant based on the measured pressure in the chambers.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the pressure measuring step comprises arranging at least one transducer in association with each of the at least one chamber.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the bladder comprises a plurality of chambers, the pressure measuring step comprising arranging a respective transducer in association with each of the chambers.

19. A method for deploying an occupant protection device in an automotive vehicle to protect an occupant during a crash involving the vehicle, comprising:

determining the classification of the occupant as claimed in claim 14;

and

deploying the occupant protection device based in part on the determined classification of the occupant.

20. A vehicular occupant classification system for determining the classification of an occupant in a seat of the vehicle having a bottom portion on which the occupant sits and a back portion situated at an angle to the bottom portion, comprising:

a sensor for determining the force applied by the occupant to the seat, said sensor comprising a bladder having at least one chamber adapted to be arranged in the bottom portion of the seat, and at least one transducer for measuring the pressure in a respective one of said at least one chamber; and

a microprocessor coupled to said sensor and arranged to receive the determined force applied by the occupant to the seat from said sensor and determine the classification of the occupant based at least on part on the determined force applied by the occupant.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein said bladder comprises a plurality of chambers, each of said chambers being adapted to be arranged at a different location in the bottom portion of the seat.

22. A vehicle, comprising:

the system of claim 20;

and

a seat including a bottom portion having an upper surface on which an occupant sits and a back portion arranged at an angle to said bottom portion, said sensor being arranged in said bottom portion to determine the force applied by the occupant to said bottom portion,

said microprocessor being arranged to receive the determined force applied by the occupant to said bottom portion from said sensor and determine the classification of the occupant based at least on part on the determined force applied by the occupant, whereby the determined classification of the occupant is used to affect or control a component in the vehicle.

23. The vehicle of claim 22, wherein said bladder comprises a plurality of chambers, each of said chambers being arranged at a different location in said bottom portion.

24. The vehicle of claim 22, further comprising an occupant protection device coupled to said microprocessor, said microprocessor being arranged to control said occupant protection device in consideration of the determined classification of the occupant in said seat.