Seat load sensing apparatus
First Claim
1. An apparatus for use in a vehicle having a vehicle seat for a vehicle occupant and a vehicle floor pan for supporting the vehicle seat, said apparatus comprising:
- a sensor lever for transmitting the load of the vehicle occupant from the vehicle seat to the vehicle floor pan, said sensor lever having a first end portion, a second end portion opposite said first end portion, and a middle portion interposed between said first end portion and said second end portion, said middle portion of said sensor lever being movable with the vehicle seat, said sensor lever having a first sensor portion between said middle portion and said first end portion, said sensor lever having a second sensor portion between said middle portion and said second end portion, said first and second sensor portions bending as the vehicle seat moves vertically relative to the vehicle floor pan; and
a carrier structure rigidly connected to said sensor lever at said first end portion and said second end portion for connection to the vehicle seat, said first and second sensor portions of said sensor lever providing an output signal indicative of the amount of movement of said middle portion of said sensor lever.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus (10) is used with a vehicle seat (2) and a vehicle floor pan (4) for supporting the vehicle seat. A sensor lever (100) transmits the load of the vehicle occupant from the vehicle seat (2) to the vehicle floor pan (4). The sensor lever (100) has a first end portion (102), a second end portion (112), and a middle portion (122) interposed between the first end portion and the second end portion. The middle portion (122) of the sensor lever (100) is movable with the vehicle seat (2). The sensor lever (100) has a first sensor portion (107) disposed between the middle portion (122) and the first end portion (102). The sensor lever (100) has a second sensor portion (109) disposed between the middle portion (122) and the second end portion (112). The first and second sensor portions (107, 109) bend as the vehicle seat (2) moves vertically relative to the vehicle floor pan (4). A carrier structure (160) rigidly connects to the sensor lever (100) at the first end portion (102) and the second end portion (112) for connection to the vehicle seat (2). The first and second sensor portions (107, 109) provide an output signal indicative of the amount of movement of the middle portion (122).
34 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An apparatus for use in a vehicle having a vehicle seat for a vehicle occupant and a vehicle floor pan for supporting the vehicle seat, said apparatus comprising:
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a sensor lever for transmitting the load of the vehicle occupant from the vehicle seat to the vehicle floor pan, said sensor lever having a first end portion, a second end portion opposite said first end portion, and a middle portion interposed between said first end portion and said second end portion, said middle portion of said sensor lever being movable with the vehicle seat, said sensor lever having a first sensor portion between said middle portion and said first end portion, said sensor lever having a second sensor portion between said middle portion and said second end portion, said first and second sensor portions bending as the vehicle seat moves vertically relative to the vehicle floor pan; and
a carrier structure rigidly connected to said sensor lever at said first end portion and said second end portion for connection to the vehicle seat, said first and second sensor portions of said sensor lever providing an output signal indicative of the amount of movement of said middle portion of said sensor lever. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for use in a vehicle having a vehicle seat for a vehicle occupant and a vehicle floor pan for supporting the vehicle seat, said apparatus comprising:
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a vehicle seat frame for supporting a load of the vehicle occupant in the vehicle seat, said vehicle seat frame being movable vertically upon application of a vertical load to said vehicle seat frame;
a sensor for transmitting the load of the vehicle occupant in the vehicle seat from said vehicle seat frame to the vehicle floor pan, said sensor having a first end portion, a second end portion opposite said first end portion, and a middle portion interposed between said first end portion and said second end portion, said middle portion of said sensor being movable with said vehicle seat frame, said sensor bending as said vehicle seat frame moves vertically relative to the vehicle floor pan, said sensor detecting movement of said middle portion of said sensor and providing an output signal indicative of the amount of movement of said middle portion of said sensor. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus for use in a vehicle having a vehicle seat for a vehicle occupant and a vehicle floor pan for supporting the vehicle seat, said apparatus comprising:
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a sensor lever for transmitting the load of the vehicle occupant from the vehicle seat to the vehicle floor pan, said sensor lever having a first end portion, a second end portion opposite said first end portion, and a middle portion interposed between said first end portion and said second end portion, said middle portion of said sensor lever being movable with the vehicle seat, said sensor lever having a first sensor portion between said middle portion and said first end portion, said sensor lever having a second sensor portion between said middle portion and said second end portion, said first and second sensor portions bending as the vehicle seat moves vertically relative to the vehicle floor pan; and
a means for rigidly connecting said first end portion to said second end portion, said first and second sensor portions of said sensor lever providing an output signal indicative of the amount of movement of said middle portion of said sensor. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification