LOAD DETECTION DEVICE FOR VEHICLE SEAT

• US 20100133017A1
• Filed: 12/01/2009
• Published: 06/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Shiohara, Hajime, Inayoshi, Muneto, Kuwabara, Takeshi, Fujii, Hiroyuki, ITO, Koji, Ichihara, Kan, Asano, Yoshimasa, Kawajiri, Naoka
• Granted Patent: US 8,212,157 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 177/136
• 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 load detection device for a vehicle seat mounted between a floor side mounting mechanism made of metal and a seat side mounting mechanism made of metal and measuring a load applied by an occupant seated on the vehicle seat includes a strain generating body adapted to be fixed via both end portions to a fitting surface formed at one of the floor side mounting mechanism and the seat side mounting mechanism while having a predetermined clearance from the fitting surface, a strain gauge attached to the strain generating body, a bracket made of metal and including an attachment portion that extends laterally relative to the strain generating body, and an amplifier substrate mounted on the attachment portion while being arranged in parallel to the strain generating body, both surfaces of the amplifier substrate being covered by one of or more of the bracket, the floor side mounting mechanism and the seat side mounting mechanism, the amplifier substrate amplifying a signal output from the strain gauge.

Claims

1. A load detection device for a vehicle seat mounted between a floor side mounting mechanism made of metal and a seat side mounting mechanism made of metal and measuring a load applied by an occupant seated on the vehicle seat, comprising:

a strain generating body adapted to be fixed via both end portions to a fitting surface formed at one of the floor side mounting mechanism and the seat side mounting mechanism while having a predetermined clearance from the fitting surface;

a strain gauge attached to the strain generating body;

a bracket made of metal and including an attachment portion that extends laterally relative to the strain generating body; and

an amplifier substrate mounted on the attachment portion of the bracket while being arranged in parallel to the strain generating body, both surfaces of the amplifier substrate being covered by one of or more of the bracket, the floor side mounting mechanism and the seat side mounting mechanism, the amplifier substrate amplifying a signal output from the strain gauge.

2. A load detection device for a vehicle seat mounted between a floor side mounting mechanism made of metal and a seat side mounting mechanism made of metal and measuring a load applied by an occupant seated on the vehicle seat, comprising:

a strain generating body adapted to be fixed via both end portions to a fitting surface formed at one of the floor side mounting mechanism and the seat side mounting mechanism while having a predetermined clearance from the fitting surface;

a strain gauge attached to the strain generating body;

a bracket made of metal and including an attachment portion that extends laterally relative to the strain generating body; and

an amplifier substrate mounted on the attachment portion of the bracket while being arranged in parallel to the strain generating body, one surface of the amplifier substrate being covered by the bracket while the other surface of the amplifier substrate being covered by one of the floor side mounting mechanism and the seat side mounting mechanism, the amplifier substrate amplifying a signal output from the strain gauge.

3. The load detection device according to claim 2, further comprising a shield portion integrally formed at one of the floor side mounting mechanism and the seat side mounting mechanism and extending laterally relative to the strain generating body to cover the other surface of the amplifier substrate.

4. The load detection device according to claim 3, further comprising an end shield portion formed to bend at one of the bracket and an end of the shield portion which extends laterally relative to the strain generating body to cover an end face of the amplifier substrate.

5. The load detection device according to claim 3, wherein the floor side mounting mechanism is an upper rail slidably supported by a lower rail adopted to be fixed to a floor for a vehicle and the shield portion is formed at the upper rail.

6. The load detection device according to claim 3, wherein the floor side mounting mechanism is a height increasing member adapted to be fixed to an upper rail slidably supported by a lower rail that is adapted to be fixed to a floor for a vehicle and the shield portion is formed at the height increasing member.

7. A load detection device for a vehicle seat mounted between a floor side mounting mechanism made of metal and a seat side mounting mechanism made of metal and measuring a load applied by an occupant seated on the vehicle seat, comprising:

a strain generating body adapted to be fixed via both end portions to a fitting surface formed at one of the floor side mounting mechanism and the seat side mounting mechanism while having a predetermined clearance from the fitting surface;

a strain gauge attached to the strain generating body;

a bracket made of metal and including an attachment portion that extends laterally relative to the strain generating body; and

an amplifier substrate mounted on the attachment portion of the bracket while being arranged in parallel to the strain generating body, both surfaces of the amplifier substrate being covered by the bracket, the amplifier substrate amplifying a signal output from the strain gauge.

8. The load detection device according to claim 7, wherein the bracket extends laterally from the strain generating body and bends to be formed into a U-shape in a cross section, the bracket covering the both surfaces and an end face of the amplifier substrate.