Sensor and circuit configuration for occupant detection

• US 20080094213A1
• Filed: 10/18/2006
• Published: 04/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nidec Elesys Americas Corporation (Nidec Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Elesys North America Incorporated (Nidec Corporation)
• Inventors: Morgan, Kelvin L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,598,881 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/552
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0152 using strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01534 using electromagneticwaves, e.g. infrared

Abstract

In occupant detection systems, direct connections, such as fixed or permanent connections, are provided between the antenna and measurement circuit and between the measurement circuit and wiring harness. Multiple such arrangements may be used for capacitive, electric field, or other types of occupant detection circuits. In some embodiments, the occupant detection is split between a measurement circuit and a processor. For multiple sensors, multiple measurements circuits are provided with direction connections. The processor determines the occupancy state from data from the measurement circuits. The direction connections provide separate, unitary measurement modules to be used by the occupancy system.

Claims

1. A sensor system for occupant detection, the sensor system comprising:

an antenna;

a first circuit on a circuit substrate separate from the antenna, the first circuit operable to measure occupant information by electrical connection with the antenna, the antenna physically connected to the circuit substrate by a first permanent connection;

at least one wire connected with the first circuit, the at least one wire physically connected to the circuit substrate by a second permanent connection; and

a processor operable to determine a characteristic of an occupant as a function of the occupant information, the processor electrically connected with the first circuit by the at least one wire, the processor spaced from the first circuit by the at least one wire.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one wire releasably connects with the processor.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a second circuit connected with another antenna, the second circuit operable to measure other occupant information by electrical connection with the other antenna; and

at least another wire connected with the second circuit and the processor;

wherein the processor is operable to determine the characteristic of the occupant as a function of the occupant information and the other occupant information.

4. A sensor system for occupant detection, the sensor system comprising:

an antenna;

a circuit substrate having a first circuit electrically connected with the antenna, the first circuit operable to measure occupant information using the antenna, the circuit substrate having a first physical connection with the antenna, the first physical connection being a first fixed connection; and

a wire harness electrically connected with the first circuit, the wire harness having a second physical connection with the circuit substrate, the second physical connection being a second fixed connection.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the first physical connection is an adhesive connection, solder connection, rivet connection, or combinations thereof.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein the second physical connection is a crimp connection, a solder connection, or combinations thereof.

7. The system of claim 4 wherein the antenna comprises a conductor on flexible circuit material, the circuit substrate comprises a circuit board, the wiring harness comprises a plurality of wires, the first physical connection comprises an adhesive connection, and the second physical connection comprises a crimp connection.

8. The system of claim 4 wherein the first and second fixed connections are nonreleasable without destruction.

9. The system of claim 4 wherein the circuit substrate comprises flexible circuit material, the first fixed connection comprising an adhesive bond.

10. The system of claim 4 further comprising:

low pressure molded encapsulate material covering the first and second physical connections.

11. The system of claim 4 wherein the first circuit comprises an electric field sensor, capacitive sensor, or combinations thereof.

12. The system of claim 4 further comprising a second circuit connected with the wiring harness spaced away from the first circuit, the second circuit operable to determine a characteristic of an occupant from the occupant information measured by the first circuit.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the second circuit comprises an occupant detection processor operable to communicate with an air bag controller.

14. A method for configuring a sensor for occupant detection, the method comprising:

nonreleasably connecting an antenna with a circuit, the circuit operable to measure electric field, capacitive, or both electric field and capacitive effects of an occupant with the antenna;

nonreleasably connecting the circuit with a wiring harness; and

low-pressure molding over the nonreleasable connections.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

releasably connecting the wiring harness to an occupant detection processor.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein nonreleasably connecting comprises soldering, bonding, crimping, riveting, or combinations thereof.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein nonreleasably connecting comprises permanently connecting.