SENSOR SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE WEIGHT AND/OR POSITION OF A SEAT OCCUPANT

• US 20090027221A1
• Filed: 07/18/2008
• Published: 01/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bag Bizerba Automotive GmbH (Bizerba SE & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: Bag Bizerba Automotive GmbH (Bizerba SE & Co. KG)
• Inventors: Plocher, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US12/175,580
• Publication Number:
  US 20090027221A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/667
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• 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

A sensor system for determining the weight and/or position of a seat occupant, comprising at least two spaced-apart weight force sensors which provide measured weight force signals, and a control device which generates a signal characterising the weight and/or the position of a seat occupant, on the basis of the measured weight force signals, is provided, wherein the control device has a time analysis device, by means of which the time course of a measured weight force signal of at least one weight force sensor can be analysed and which provides time analysis data.

Claims

1. A sensor system for determining at least one the weight and position of a seat occupant, comprising:

at least two spaced-apart weight force sensors, which provide measured weight force signals; and

a control device, which generates a signal characterising at least one the weight and the position of a seat occupant on the basis of the measured weight force signals;

wherein the control device has a time analysis device, by means of which the time course of a measured weight force signal of at least one weight force sensor is adapted to be analysed and which provides time analysis data.

2. The sensor system according to claim 1, wherein the time analysis device has a frequency converter, which generates a frequency spectrum for a measured weight force signal.

3. The sensor system according to claim 1, wherein the time analysis device comprises a filter which filters out frequencies above a limit frequency.

4. The sensor system according to claim 3, wherein the limit frequency is at most 30 Hz.

5. The sensor system according to claim 1, wherein the presence of physiological frequencies in the measured weight force signal of the at least one weight force sensor is adapted to be checked with the time analysis device.

6. The sensor system according to claim 1, wherein the control device comprises a classification device, which provides seat occupation classification data with regard to at least one the weight and position of a seat occupant.

7. The sensor system according to claim 6, wherein the time analysis device is connected to the classification device and provides the classification device with time analysis data.

8. The sensor system according to claim 7, wherein the classification device takes into account time analysis data in the determination of seat occupation classification data.

9. The sensor system according to claim 1, wherein the control device comprises a plausibility checking device, to which time analysis data are provided.

10. The sensor system according to claim 1, comprising a data processing device which combines weight force signals of a plurality of weight force sensors.

11. The sensor system according to claim 10, wherein there is associated with the data processing device at least one filter device, by means of which the data processing device is adapted to be provided with weight force signals which are time-independent or at most change slowly with respect to time.

12. The sensor system according to claim 10, wherein the time analysis device provides the data processing device with time analysis data.

13. The sensor system according to claim 1, wherein the time analysis device comprises a switching device, by means of which a switch is adapted to be made as to whether at least one of a classification device, a plausibility checking device, a data processing device, and one or more virtual weight force sensors are to be provided with time analysis data.

14. The sensor system according to claim 1, wherein at least one virtual weight force sensor is provided, the virtual weight force signals of which are determined on the basis of measured weight force signals of at least two weight force sensors, the position of a seat occupant being determined on the basis of measured weight force signals and virtual weight force signals.

15. The sensor system according to claim 14, wherein the at least one virtual weight force sensor is implemented as software in the control device.

16. The sensor system according to claim 14, wherein the at least one virtual weight force sensor replaces or supplements a hardware weight force sensor.

17. The sensor system according to claim 14, wherein the at least one virtual weight force sensor is provided with time analysis data.

18. The sensor system according to claim 14, wherein the weight force sensors are arranged on the corners of a polygon, and the at least one virtual weight force sensor is associated with a polygon corner.

19. The sensor system according to claim 14, comprising a data processing device for calculating the spatial centre of gravity of the measured weight force signals.

20. The sensor system according to claim 19, wherein the sum of the measured weight force signals and the virtual weight force signals can be determined by the data processing device.

21. A seat, which is provided with a sensor system for determining at least one of the weight and position of a seat occupant, comprising:

at least two spaced-apart weight force sensors, which provide measured weight force signals; and

a control device, which generates a signal characterising at least one of the weight and the position of a seat occupant on the basis of the measured weight force signals;

wherein the control device has a time analysis device, by means of which the time course of a measured weight force signal of at least one weight force sensor can be analysed and which provides time analysis data.

22. The seat according to claim 21, wherein the sensor system is arranged on a seat face.

23. A method for determining at least one of the weight and position of a seat occupant, in which measured weight force signals from at least two spaced-apart weight force sensors are evaluated,

wherein in addition to the evaluation of measured weight force variables, a time analysis of measured weight force signals is carried out and time analysis data are taken into account in calculating at least one of the weight and position of a seat occupant, and the measured weight force signals are checked for plausibility with the aid of the time analysis data.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein a frequency analysis is carried out with respect to physiological frequencies.

25. The method according to claim 23, wherein a frequency analysis is carried out with respect to frequencies below a limit frequency.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the limit frequency is at most 30 Hz.

27. The method according to claim 23, wherein virtual weight force signals are calculated from measured weight force signals, at least one virtual weight force sensor being simulated by virtual weight force signals.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein at least one of the weight and the position of a seat occupant is calculated using the measured weight force signals and the virtual weight force signals.

29. The method according to claim 23, wherein a seat occupation classification is carried out with the aid of the time analysis data.

30. The method according to claim 27, wherein the time analysis data are used to simulate the at least one virtual weight force sensor.

31. The method according to claim 23, wherein the measured weight force signals are checked for plausibility by means of the time analysis data.