VEHICLE SEAT THERMISTOR FOR CLASSIFYING SEAT OCCUPANT TYPE

• US 20160257272A1
• Filed: 03/06/2015
• Published: 09/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Ruthinowski, Richard Edward
• Granted Patent: US 9,889,809 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: B60R 21/01512 Passenger detection systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01546 using belt buckle sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01556 Child-seat detection systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/00 Thermometers specially adapted for specific purposes

Abstract

A thermistor-based system and method for distinguishing between adult and child passengers and, of the child passengers, between those seated in a child restraint system and those seated in a child booster is provided. The disclosed inventive concept includes at least one classification thermistor/temperature sensing device, at least one reference thermistor, an algorithm to compute and classify conditions, and related wiring and hardware. The classification thermistor/temperature sensing device is located within in a seat cushion assembly and a seat back. The temperature sensors are used to detect heat transfer between an object in contact with the cushion through the seat trim and, if applicable, some amount of seat comfort base material. The reference thermistor may be provided to enhance robustness of classification determination. The algorithm computes and classifies conditions based on at least the magnitude and/or the rate of temperature change between the classification sensor and the reference sensor.

Claims

1. A system for classifying the object occupying a vehicle seat comprising:

a seat having a seat back and a seat base;

a signal-generating classification thermal sensor fitted to said seat back;

a signal-generating classification thermal sensor fitted to said seat base;

a signal-generating reference sensor;

a controller to which said sensors are operatively associated; and

an algorithm for classifying the object in the vehicle seat based on signals generated by said sensors.

2. The system for classifying the object occupying a vehicle seat of claim 1 wherein said thermal sensors are thermistors.

3. The system for classifying the object occupying a vehicle seat of claim 1 wherein said reference sensor is associated with said seat.

4. The system for classifying the object occupying a vehicle seat of claim 1 wherein said reference sensor is positioned in a location on the vehicle that is remote from said seat.

5. The system for classifying the object occupying a vehicle seat of claim 1 wherein said reference sensor is an exterior temperature sensor.

6. The system for classifying the object occupying a vehicle seat of claim 1 wherein said reference sensor is an interior climate sensor.

7. The system for classifying the object occupying a vehicle seat of claim 1 wherein said reference sensor is a glass-mounted temperature sensor.

8. The system for classifying the object occupying a vehicle seat of claim 1 wherein said reference sensor is an in-seat climate control temperature sensor.

9. The system for classifying the object occupying a vehicle seat of claim 1 wherein said reference sensor is a buckle sensor.

10. The system for classifying the object occupying a vehicle seat of claim 1 wherein said reference sensor is an occupant weight sensor.

15. The system for classifying the object occupying a vehicle seat of claim 1 wherein said thermal sensor is a thermistor.

16. The system for classifying the object occupying a vehicle seat of claim 1 wherein said reference sensor is associated with said seat.

17. The system for classifying the object occupying a vehicle seat of claim 1 wherein said reference sensor is positioned in a location on the vehicle that is remote from said seat.

11. A system for classifying the object occupying a vehicle seat comprising:

a seat having a seat back and a seat base;

a signal-generating classification thermal sensor associated with said seat;

a signal-generating reference sensor;

a controller to which said sensors are operatively associated; and

an algorithm for classifying the object in the vehicle seat based on signals generated by said sensors.

12. The system for classifying the object occupying a vehicle seat of claim 11 wherein said signal-generating classification thermal sensor is fitted to said seat back.

13. The system for classifying the object occupying a vehicle seat of claim 11 wherein said signal-generating classification thermal sensor is fitted to said seat base.

14. The system for classifying the object occupying a vehicle seat of claim 11 including two signal-generating classification thermal sensors, one of which is fitted to said seat back and the other is fitted to said seat base.

18. A method associated with a vehicle seat for distinguishing between an adult and child and between a child in a booster seat and one in a child restraint system, the method comprising the steps of:

forming a vehicle having a seat with a seat back and base, a thermal sensor fitted to said back and base, a reference sensor and a controller; and

causing said controller to classify the object based on sensor inputs.

19. The method associated with a vehicle seat of claim 18 wherein said controller includes an algorithm for classifying the object in the vehicle seat based on sensor inputs.

20. The method associated with a vehicle seat of claim 18 wherein said reference sensor is selected from the group consisting of an exterior temperature sensor, an interior climate sensor, a glass-mounted temperature sensor, an in-seat climate control temperature sensor, a buckle sensor, and a weight sensor.