Sensor pad for controlling airbag deployment and associated support
First Claim
1. A weight sensing pad for controlling activation of an automobile airbag, said weight sensing pad comprising:
- a bladder member having an interior volume defined by first and second sheets perimetrically bonded together, wherein said interior volume of said bladder member is subdivided into a plurality of cells in fluid communication with each other by a plurality of small, substantially circular regions of bonding between said first and second sheets; and
a fluid contained within said interior volume of said bladder member.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sensor pad for controlling the deployment of an automobile airbag. Weight sensing pad 10 is used in the seat 54 of an automobile, (not illustrated), to detect the presence of an occupant on the seat. Weight sensing pad 10 is used in conjunction with the vehicle'"'"'s airbag control module in order to allow deployment of the airbag, in the event of a collision, only if the seat is occupied by a person of a preselected weight. Weight sensing pad 10 is defined by a bladder member 15 having an interior volume subdivided into a plurality of individual cells 42 in fluid communication with each other and that is filled with a non-compressible fluid 18, such as silicon or a silica gel of medium viscosity. A pressure tube 22 is in fluid communication with bladder 15 and is in further fluid communication with a pressure activated electronic transducer 26 which in turn is in electronic communication with the airbag controller 30. When a person sits upon weight sensing pad 10, there is a volumetric displacement of fluid 18 that provides a pressure change in the bladder member. If there is a sufficient pressure change due to the volumetric displacement of fluid to activate transducer 26, transducer 26 sends a signal to air bag controller 30. Electronic transducer 26 is selected to generate a signal upon detection of pressure resultant from the volumetric displacement of fluid 18 from bladder 15 expected from the average size adult of approximately one hundred pounds or heavier.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A weight sensing pad for controlling activation of an automobile airbag, said weight sensing pad comprising:
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a bladder member having an interior volume defined by first and second sheets perimetrically bonded together, wherein said interior volume of said bladder member is subdivided into a plurality of cells in fluid communication with each other by a plurality of small, substantially circular regions of bonding between said first and second sheets; and
a fluid contained within said interior volume of said bladder member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A weight sensing pad for controlling activation of an automobile airbag, said weight sensing pad comprising:
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a bladder member having an interior volume defined by first and second sheets perimetrically bonded together, wherein said bladder member is subdivided into a plurality of uniformly shaped cells in fluid communication with each other by a plurality of small, substantially circular regions of bonding between said first and second sheets; and
a fluid contained within said interior volume of said bladder member, wherein said fluid is non-compressible and has a low freezing point. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A weight sensing pad for controlling activation of an automobile airbag, said weight sensing pad comprising:
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a bladder member having an interior volume defined by first and second sheets perimetrically bonded together by a plurality of randomly spaced small, substantially circular regions of bonding between said first and second sheets, said bladder member including at least one securement region; and
a fluid contained within said interior volume of said bladder member, wherein said fluid is non-compressible and has a low freezing point. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification