Vehicle occupant weight sensor
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A vehicle seat weight sensor comprising:
- a light source for providing a predetermined amount of light;
a light detector for detecting light from said light source and providing a signal indicative thereof;
a member for mounting to a vehicle seat and impeding passage of light between said light source and said light detector according to a load applied to the vehicle seat; and
an electronic control device coupled to said light detector for determining, in response to said light detector signal, a weight value according to the load applied to the vehicle seat.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A weight sensor (10) for sensing a load applied to a vehicle seat (14) includes a light source (16) for providing light and detectors (18, 20, 22, 24) for detecting light received from the light source (16). A member (50, 52, 54, 56) impedes the passage of light between the light source (16) and the detectors (18, 20, 22, 24) in response to the load applied to the seat (14). The light detectors (18, 20, 22, 24) provide a signal to a control device (27) indicative of the amount of light received. In response to the light detector signals, the control device (27) determines a value in accordance with the load applied to the seat (14).
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A vehicle seat weight sensor comprising:
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a light source for providing a predetermined amount of light; a light detector for detecting light from said light source and providing a signal indicative thereof; a member for mounting to a vehicle seat and impeding passage of light between said light source and said light detector according to a load applied to the vehicle seat; and an electronic control device coupled to said light detector for determining, in response to said light detector signal, a weight value according to the load applied to the vehicle seat. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A vehicle seat weight sensor comprising:
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a light source for providing light; an elongated first light guide having first and second ends and a central axis extending longitudinally through said light guide, said light source providing light to said light guide first end; a first light detector for detecting light at said first light guide second end and providing a signal indicative thereof; a member for mounting to a vehicle seat for impeding passage of light between said light guide first and second ends according to a load applied to the vehicle seat; and an electronic control device responsive to said first light detector signal for determining a weight value according to the load applied to the vehicle seat. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A vehicle seat weight sensor comprising:
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a light source for providing light; a light detector for detecting the light from said light source and providing a signal indicative thereof; a member for mounting to a vehicle seat and impeding passage of light between said light source and said light detector in response to a load applied to said vehicle seat; and a control device electrically coupled to said light detector for determining, in response to said light detector signal, a value in accordance with the load applied to the vehicle seat. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification