Advanced weight responsive supplemental restraint computer system

• US 20070083311A1
• Filed: 10/24/2006
• Published: 04/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TABE, JOSEPH
• Original Assignee: TABE, JOSEPH
• Inventors: Tabe, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 8,251,397 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01068 between different sensors and airbag control unit
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01272 Belt tensioners
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0132 responsive to vehicle motion parameters , e.g. to vehicle longitudinal or transversal deceleration or speed value
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0152 using strain gauges

Abstract

An advanced restraint system for a vehicle comprises a weight-sensing unit mounted to one or more seats positioned between the seat mounting frame and the floor means of the vehicle for sensing the weight of a sitting occupant and classifying the occupant accordingly, a computerized system for calculating an operating weight value corresponding to classified weight value, and an airbag system comprising one or more airbags and a deployment unit configured to inflate the airbags with a deployment force acceleration proportionate to the operating weight value when a sufficient collision force is sensed above a predetermined collision force value by a collision sensor.

Claims

1. A vehicle occupant detection means and weight responsive classification system for controlling the resistance of a restraint device, such that in an accident, an occupant of a vehicle impacts the restraint device without injury;

comprising;

a. at least an airbag device

b. a pressure sensing device comprising at least one weight sensor secured beneath at least one seat configured to measure a weight value of said vehicle occupant and control the airbag'"'"'s deployment force for at least one airbag when said vehicle is involved in at least an accident;

c. a computer system configured to connect to an erasable programmable read only memory “

EPROM”

device, in signal communication with said pressure-sensing device, said computer system calculating a deployment force value based upon the weight value of the occupant and a collision force according to the vehicle speed;

d. a collision force sensor in communication with the computer system;

e. said airbag device comprising at least a canister means in communication with said computer system configured for releasing an igniting gas per weight value;

f. at least one human body temperature sensor associated with said at least one weight sensor configured to distinguish human occupants from other objects; and

g. means for controlling the airbag tension, wherein the airbag is rendered of sufficient deployment force to keep the occupant on a seat when a collision is sensed, but is not rendered of sufficient deployment force to cause impact injury to the occupant.

2. The vehicle seat occupant detection means and weight responsive classification system of claim 1, wherein said pressure sensing device comprises occupant sensing mean in signal communication with said computer system.

3. The vehicle seat occupant detection means and weight responsive classification system of claim 1, wherein said EPROM further comprising means for correcting occupants weight data based on external conditions and/or changing occupants to effectively control detection and classification of said data to enable sufficient and effective airbag deployment.

4. The vehicle seat occupant detection means and weight responsive classification system of claim 1, wherein said occupant sensing means communicatively configured with said computer system to adjusts an air bag deployment speed based on at least a measured parameter;

comprising;

at least one, or a combination of, said occupant'"'"'s weight, a vehicle speed, and a collision force value, further including if the occupant does not have the seatbelt locked.

5. The vehicle seat occupant detection means and weight responsive classification system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of seats each configured with at least one said pressure sensing device, said vehicle speed sensor and said restraint means are configured with said pressure sensing device provided with each of the plurality of seats, said pressure sensing device comprises means for transforming said occupant'"'"'s weight into electrical energy and said collision sensor configured to enable initial signal for deployment of at least a restraint means when said collision severity exceeds a threshold limit.

6. The vehicle seat occupant detection means and weight responsive classification system of claim 1, wherein said collision sensor further comprising means for detecting an imminent rear-end collision.

7. The vehicle seat occupant detection means and weight responsive classification system of claim 1, wherein said pressure sensing device is a load cell comprised of at least a strain gauge, said load cell mounted between a seat frame means and the vehicle floor means.

8. The vehicle seat occupant detection means and weight responsive classification system of claim 1, wherein said airbag device further comprises at least an inner inflatable layer and at least an outer inflatable layer, said inner inflatable layer and said outer inflatable layer comprises at least a cushioning there-between.

9. A vehicle seat occupant detection means and weight responsive classification system for controlling the resistance of a restraint device, such that in an accident, an occupant of a vehicle impacts the restraint device without injury, comprising:

a. An airbag device

b. a pressure sensing device comprising at least one weight sensor secured beneath at least one seat and operatively configured with said detection means for determining a weight value of at least a sitting occupant;

c. a computer means comprising a control means communicatively configured with said pressure-sensing device, said computer means calculating a deployment force value based upon at least the weight value of the sitting occupant and/or at least a collision force value;

d. a collision force sensor communicatively configured with said airbag device and operatively configured with said computer means;

e. said airbag device comprising at least a gas canister means having a vent aperture outlet through which igniting gas flows from a combustion chamber to the ambient atmosphere, said gas canister configured with said collision sensor communicatively connected to said computer means for initiating a variable airbag deployment force;

f. said gas canister means releasing igniting gas into a gas chamber for ignition, enabling a deployment force value for controlling the airbag tension, wherein the airbag is rendered of sufficient tension to keep the occupant on a seat when a collision is sensed, but is not rendered of sufficient tension to cause impact injury to the occupant;

g. said detection means comprises sensors disposed between the floor means and the seat mounting structure means of a vehicle and operatively configured with said control means communicatively connected to said airbag device.

h. said control means further comprises at least an erasable programmable read only memory “

EPROM”

configured for monitoring the weight of seated occupants and for correcting the weight of at least a changing occupants to effectively control the classification data for said vehicle occupant to enable at least said restraining device;

i. said EPROM further comprises a random access memory comprising at least a software program for storing and accessing said weight measurements;

j. at least one human body temperature sensor associated with said at least one weight sensor configured to distinguish human occupants from other objects; and

k. an accelerometer configured to deliver a first signal corresponding to said occupant'"'"'s weight to said gas canister, wherein said gas canister communicatively connected to a processor configured to process said first signal and deliver to at least one gas release valve relay a second signal corresponding to a specific volume of gas to be released from said gas canister into a combustion chamber, wherein said specific volume comprising the amount of said gas required to generate said airbag'"'"'s deployment force and acceleration for airbag inflation that are proportionate to said occupant'"'"'s weight.

10. The vehicle seat occupant detection means and weight responsive classification system of claim 9, wherein said EPROM further comprising at least an address line configured for each seat and communicatively connected to said pressure sensing device, said pressure sensing device comprises a load cell operatively configured with a strain gage for transforming said occupant'"'"'s weight into electrical energy.

11. The vehicle seat occupant detection means and weight responsive classification system of claim 9, wherein said EPROM further comprising means for controlling data about a changing occupant at said address line configured with said seat.

12. The vehicle seat occupant detection means and weight responsive classification system of claim 9, further comprising means for correcting said seat occupant data at the address line when said data is influenced by at least an external force.

13. The vehicle seat occupant detection means and weight responsive classification system of claim 9, wherein said at least one weight sensor is operatively connected to said temperature sensor and disposed between a seat mounting structure means and the floor means of said vehicle.

14. The vehicle seat occupant detection means and weight responsive classification system of claim 9, wherein said pressure sensing device comprises at least a load cell operatively configured with a restraint device, said restraint device communicatively connected to said computer system, further comprising means for adjusting an air bag deployment speed/force if the occupant does not have the seatbelt locked.

15. The vehicle seat occupant detection means and weight responsive classification system of claim 14, further comprising means for controlling said airbag deployment force, said means operatively connected to said EPROM communicatively configured with at least a load cell, at least one said load cell comprises a strain gauge operatively configured with means for transforming said weight value into electrical energy.

16. The vehicle seat occupant detection means and weight responsive classification system of claim 9, wherein at least one seatbelt sensor is disposed on a seatbelt corresponding to at least one said seat, said seatbelt sensor operatively configured with said control means, and at least one corresponding airbag sensor disposed on said airbag configured with at least one gas canister operatively configured with said control means, wherein said seatbelt sensor and said airbag sensor communicatively configured to direct deployment of said airbag system away from the occupant'"'"'s head.

17. The vehicle seat occupant detection means and weight responsive classification system of claim 9, wherein said accelerometer comprising at least a crystal means, a spring means, and a mass means configured with said weight sensor to calibrate said airbag'"'"'s deployment acceleration.

18. The vehicle seat occupant detection means and weight responsive classification system of claim 9, further comprising at least a multistage airbag configured to be separable upon inflation to form at least one dual layer, enabling extra cushioning contact upon inflation.

19. The vehicle seat occupant detection means and weight responsive classification system of claim 9, further comprising means for characterizing input/output signals for initiating the operating igniting gas volume, wherein said means is configured to control signal communication to at least an airbag control processor configured to communicate with at least a collision sensor communicatively connected to said accelerometer comprising at least one piezoelectric crystal operatively connected to a mass contiguous to a spring, wherein said spring is connected to a sliding potentiometer configured for enabling said calibration and to adjust an opening in said airbag device'"'"'s combustion chamber for expansion of igniting gas for at least one said airbag.

20. The vehicle seat occupant detection means and weight responsive classification system of claim 9, wherein said load cell further comprises sensors disposed between said seat mounting structure means and the floor means of a vehicle configured to measure said occupant'"'"'s weight, wherein said sensors comprise at least one strain gauge each comprising electrical resistance elements configured to measure resistance occurring when external strain is applied to said load cell, wherein said external strain corresponds to said force from said occupant, further comprising means for isolating deployment force for said occupant based on at least said communication signal.

21. The vehicle seat occupant detection means and weight responsive classification system of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of seats each configured with at least one weight sensor, said vehicle speed sensor and said restraint means are provided with each of the plurality of seats, said weight sensor comprises means for transforming said occupant'"'"'s weight into electrical energy and said collision sensor configured to enable initial signal for deployment of said restraint means when said collision severity exceeds a threshold limit.

22. The vehicle seat occupant detection means and weight responsive classification system of claim 9, wherein said collision sensor further comprising means configured for detecting an imminent rear-end collision and enable deployment of said airbag with a force proportionate to said occupant'"'"'s weight.

23. The vehicle seat occupant detection means and weight responsive classification system of claim 9, wherein said pressure sensing device is a load cell comprised of at least a strain gauge, said load cell mounted between a seat frame means and the vehicle floor means.

24. The vehicle seat occupant detection means and weight responsive classification system of claim 9, wherein said airbag device further comprised of an inner inflatable layer and an outer inflatable layer, said inner inflatable layer and said outer inflatable layer comprises a cushioning surface there between.

25. The vehicle seat occupant detection means and weight responsive classification system of claim 9, wherein said airbag device comprises a combustion chamber operatively connected to a canister of igniting gas, a microprocessor configured to receive said operating weight, said microprocessor communicatively connected to at least an accelerometer, said accelerometer communicatively connected to said canister of igniting gas and operatively configured with said combustion chamber.

26. The vehicle seat occupant detection means and weight responsive classification system of claim 9, wherein said accelerometer is configured to deliver a first signal corresponding to said operating weight value to said canister microprocessor, said canister microprocessor configured to process said first signal and deliver to said gas release valve relay a second signal corresponding to a specific volume of igniting gas to be released from said canister into said combustion chamber, said specific volume of igniting gas comprising the amount of said igniting gas required to generate said deployment force and acceleration for airbag inflation that is proportionate to said weight value.

27. The vehicle seat occupant detection means and weight responsive classification system of claim 9, wherein said accelerometer comprises at least one piezoelectric crystal operatively connected to a mass in contact with a spring, said spring operatively connected to a sliding pot secured to said combustion chamber, said sliding pot configured to adjust an opening in said combustion chamber for expansion of ignited gas into said combustion chamber of at least one airbag, said specific volume of igniting gas and said opening are calibrated together such that said opening and said volume of igniting gas generate said deployment force and enables acceleration when said collision sensor senses a collision has occurred of a severity requiring airbag deployment.

28. A vehicle occupant detection means and weight responsive system for controlling the resistance of a restraint device, such that in an accident, an occupant of a vehicle impacts the device without injury;

comprising;

A weight sensing means operatively secured beneath at least one seat in said vehicle;

A computerized means communicatively connecting said sensing means to a restraint mean comprising at least one airbag system each having at least one airbag, each said airbag system corresponding to one of said seats;

Said weight sensing means being configured for taking weight measurements of an occupant in said sea, converting said weight measurement into one or more electrical signals, and communicating said electrical signals to said computerized means;

Said computerized means being programmably configured to calculate an operating weight value from said electrical signals corresponding to said weight measurements for each said seat and communicating said operating weight value to said airbag system corresponding to said seat;

Each said airbag system being electrically configured for receiving said operating weight value for said seat and for mechanically adjusting a deployment unit within said airbag system to deploy said at least one airbag with a deployment force and acceleration for airbag inflation that are proportionate to said weight measurements.

29. The vehicle seat occupant detection means and classification system of claim 28, wherein said weight sensing means comprises a load cell.

30. The vehicle seat occupant detection means and classification system of claim 29, wherein said load cell comprises at least one strain gauge configured to sense a force applied to it when said occupant occupies said seat, said gauge comprising electrical resistance elements configured to detect and measure resistance occurring when external strain is applied to said gauge, wherein said external strain corresponds to said force from said occupant and is converted into a corresponding electrical current for communicating said electrical signals.