Occupant load sensor for vehicle

• US 20080134797A1
• Filed: 10/30/2007
• Published: 06/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Enomoto, Akira, Nakano, Satohiko, Aoyama, Mutsuro
• Granted Patent: US 7,509,871 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/781
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0025 by using weight measurement
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0031 mounted on the frame
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0035 characterised by the sensor data transmission, e.g. wired connections or wireless transmitters therefor; characterised by the sensor data processing, e.g. seat sensor signal amplification or electric circuits for providing seat sensor information
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/42 Strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2230/30 Signal processing of sensor data
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/4142 for controlling activation of safety devices, e.g. airbag systems electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements in case of vehicle accidents B60R21/015

Abstract

An occupant load sensor for a vehicle includes a strain member, a connecting member fixed at the strain member, a strain gauge attached to the strain member, an upper bracket having a fixed portion and an attachment portion connecting each fixed portion and extending at a side of the strain member in a lateral direction of the seat, an amplifier case attached to the attachment portion and arranged in parallel with the strain member, an amplifier substrate enclosed in the amplifier case and placed on an identical plane to the strain member, an FPC substrate connected to the strain gauge and the amplifier substrate, a coating portion for coating a connection portion between the FPC substrate and the strain gauge; and a low pressure molded portion molded with a hot melt resin by low pressure molding in the amplifier case to cover the amplifier substrate and the connection portion.

Claims

1. An occupant load sensor for a vehicle, comprising:

a strain member adapted to be fixed at both ends at a fixing surface provided at one of a floor side fixing member and a seat side fixing member with a predetermined distance from the fixing surface in a vertical direction of a seat;

a connecting member vertically fixed at a center of the strain member, the connecting member adapted to be fixed at the other one of the floor side fixing member and the seat side fixing member;

a strain gauge attached to a surface of the strain member between each of the ends and the center of the strain member;

an upper bracket having a fixed portion at each end thereof fixed to a back surface of the strain member at the both end and an attachment portion connecting the each fixed portion and extending at a side of the strain member in a lateral direction of the seat;

an amplifier case attached to the attachment portion of the upper bracket and arranged in parallel with the strain member;

an amplifier substrate enclosed in the amplifier case and placed on an identical plane to the surface of the strain member for amplifying a signal transmitted from the strain gauge;

an FPC substrate connected to the strain gauge between each of the ends and the center of the strain member and connected to the amplifier substrate;

a coating portion made of resin for coating a connection portion between the FPC substrate and the strain gauge; and

a low pressure molded portion made of resin, the low pressure molded portion molded with a hot melt resin by low pressure molding in the amplifier case so as to cover the amplifier substrate and the connection portion between the FPC substrate and the strain gauge.

2. An occupant load sensor for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

lower brackets fixed to the fixing surface formed at the one of the floor side fixing member and the seat side fixing member at a position corresponding to the both end of the strain member, each lower bracket including;

a base portion having an identical thickness to the predetermined distance; and

a shaft portion protruding from the base portion and penetrating through the end of the strain member to be pressed into the fixed portion of the upper bracket, the shaft portion supportively interposed the strain member with the one of the floor side fixing member and the seat side fixing member,

wherein the strain member is fixed to the fixing surface with the predetermined distance therefrom by the lower brackets.

3. An occupant load sensor for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the amplifier case is made of resin.

4. An occupant load sensor for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the upper bracket extends at the side of the strain member in the lateral direction of the seat so as not to be overlapped with the strain member except the fixed portions at the both ends thereof.

5. An occupant load sensor for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein when the strain member is fixed to the fixing surface formed at the one of the floor side fixing member and the seat side fixing member at the both end thereof with the predetermined distance from the fixing surface, the amplifier case is located away from the floor side fixing member and the seat side fixing member.

6. An occupant load sensor for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the coating portion is molded by hot melt coating.