Vehicle occupant sensing system having enclosed sensor assembly
First Claim
1. A vehicle occupant sensing system adapted for detecting a condition of a vehicle seat assembly, said vehicle occupant sensing system comprising:
- at least one emitter;
at least one sensor disposed in spaced relationship to said emitter and operable to detect relative distance to said emitter to thereby detect the condition of the vehicle seat assembly; and
at least one sensor assembly with a base and an upper slide member slidingly supported for movement toward and away from said base, wherein said upper slide member includes an exterior surface that is continuous to thereby block contaminants from entering said sensor assembly, and wherein at least one of said emitter and said sensor is supported by said upper slide member.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle occupant sensing system adapted for detecting a condition of a vehicle seat assembly that includes at least one emitter and at least one sensor disposed in spaced relationship to the emitter. The sensor is operable to detect relative distance to the emitter to thereby detect the condition of the vehicle seat assembly. The vehicle occupant sensing system also includes at least one sensor assembly with a base and an upper slide member slidingly supported for movement toward and away from the base. The upper slide member includes an exterior surface that is continuous to thereby block contaminants from entering the sensor assembly. Also, at least one of the emitter and the sensor is supported by the upper slide member. The vehicle occupant sensing system may be employed in a vehicle seat to detect a condition of the vehicle seat.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A vehicle occupant sensing system adapted for detecting a condition of a vehicle seat assembly, said vehicle occupant sensing system comprising:
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at least one emitter;
at least one sensor disposed in spaced relationship to said emitter and operable to detect relative distance to said emitter to thereby detect the condition of the vehicle seat assembly; and
at least one sensor assembly with a base and an upper slide member slidingly supported for movement toward and away from said base, wherein said upper slide member includes an exterior surface that is continuous to thereby block contaminants from entering said sensor assembly, and wherein at least one of said emitter and said sensor is supported by said upper slide member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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7. A vehicle seat assembly comprising:
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a seat cushion with a lower surface; and
a vehicle occupant sensing system disposed adjacent said lower surface of said seat cushion, said vehicle occupant sensing system including at least one emitter, at least one sensor disposed in spaced relationship to said emitter and operable to detect relative distance to said emitter to thereby detect the condition of the vehicle seat assembly, and at least one sensor assembly with a base and an upper slide member slidingly supported for movement toward and away from said base, wherein said upper slide member includes an exterior surface that is continuous to thereby block contaminants from entering said sensor assembly, and wherein at least one of said emitter and said sensor is supported by said upper slide member.
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13. A vehicle occupant sensing system adapted for detecting a condition of a vehicle seat assembly, said vehicle occupant sensing system comprising:
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at least one emitter;
at least one sensor disposed in spaced relationship to said emitter and operable to detect relative distance to said emitter to thereby detect the condition of the vehicle seat assembly; and
at least one sensor assembly with a base and an upper slide member slidingly supported for movement toward and away from said base, said sensor assembly defining an interior cavity and said upper slide member including a retainer open to said interior cavity, wherein at least one of said emitter and said sensor is supported by said retainer and is supported for movement toward and away from the other of said emitter and said sensor. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification