VEHICLE SEAT SENSOR ASSEMBLY

• US 20080136227A1
• Filed: 12/11/2006
• Published: 06/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Jordan, Pete D., Lim, Jeffrey A., Ngin, Sywong, Howard, Patrick C., Mitchell, Charles
• Application Number:
  US11/609,163
• Publication Number:
  US 20080136227A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/217.3
• 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 2/0031 mounted on the frame
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0033 mounted on or in the foam cushion
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0034 in, under or on the seat cover
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/12 Capacitive; Electric field

Abstract

A seat assembly includes a frame, a cushion and a sensor assembly. The cushion is positioned on the frame and includes a top surface and a bottom surface. The sensor assembly includes a capacitive sensing element and is positioned on one but not both of the top surface and bottom surface of the cushion.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat assembly, comprising:

a frame;

a cushion of foam positioned on the frame and having a bottom surface facing the frame and a top surface opposite the bottom surface; and

a sensor assembly including at least one capacitive sensing element positioned on the top surface and not the bottom surface of the cushion.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein a thickness of the sensor assembly is less than 0.25 inches.

3. The assembly of claim 1 and further comprising a seat cover covering the frame, the cushion and the sensor assembly.

4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein the sensor assembly is attached to the seat cover.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the sensor assembly includes a plurality of capacitive sensing elements.

6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein the sensor assembly further comprises a cable electrically coupled to each of the plurality of sensing elements.

7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the sensor assembly further comprises a carrier coupled to the at least one capacitive sensing element and formed of a substantially liquid impervious, vapor permeable material.

8. A method of making a vehicle seat, comprising:

providing a frame;

providing a cushion of foam, the cushion having a bottom surface facing the frame and a top surface opposite the bottom surface; and

positioning a sensor assembly having a capacitive sensing element on the top surface but not the bottom surface of the cushion.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein a thickness of the sensor assembly is less than 0.25 inches.

10. The method of claim 8 and further comprising:

providing a seat cover; and

covering the frame, the cushion and the sensor assembly with the seat cover.

11. The method of claim 10 and further comprising:

attaching the sensor assembly to the seat cover.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the sensor assembly comprises a plurality of capacitive sensing elements and a conductor electrically coupled to each of the plurality of sensing elements.

13. The method of claim 8 and further comprising:

attaching the at least one capacitive sensing element to a carrier formed of a substantially liquid impervious, vapor permeable material.

14. A vehicle, comprising:

a support structure;

a seat assembly coupled to the support structure and including;

a seat frame coupled to the support structure;

a cushion of foam having a bottom surface facing the frame and a top surface opposite the bottom surface;

a sensor assembly having at least one capacitive sensor positioned on the top surface and not the bottom surface of the cushion; and

a seat cover covering the seat frame, cushion and sensor assembly such that the sensor assembly is positioned between the top surface and the seat cover.

15. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein a thickness of the sensor assembly is less than 0.25 inches.

16. The vehicle of claim 14 and further comprising a second seat assembly including:

a seat frame coupled to the support structure;

a cushion of foam having a bottom surface facing the frame and a top surface opposite the bottom surface;

a sensor assembly having at least one capacitive sensor positioned on the top surface of the cushion; and

a seat cover covering the seat frame, cushion and sensor assembly such that the sensor assembly is positioned between the top surface and the seat cover.

17. The vehicle of claim 16 wherein the second seat assembly is positioned behind the first-mentioned seat assembly.