Seat weight sensor system for controlling a vehicle restraining device
First Claim
1. A seat weight sensor system for controlling the deactivation of an airbag assembly in a vehicle having a seat located in proximity to the airbag and a seat belt assembly operatively engaging the seat, the seat weight sensor system comprising:
- an automatic locking retractor, having an active and a non-active state, adapted to operatively engage a portion of the seat belt assembly;
an automatic locking retractor detection switch for detecting which state the automatic locking retractor is in;
a seat weight sensor adapted for detecting the weight pressing down on the seat; and
correction means for adjusting the weight detected by the seat weight sensor based upon the state detected by the automatic locking retractor detector switch to produce a weight value.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A sensing system and method for automatically deactivating an airbag (46) in a vehicle (10). The sensing system includes a seat weight sensor (52) mounted, for example, in a front passenger seat (16), and an ALR sensor (34) for detecting if an automatic locking retractor (32) is active. Signals from these sensors are received by a seat weight sensor module (50). If the automatic locking retractor (32) is active, then a predetermined weight is subtracted from the weight reading detected by the seat weight sensor (52) to produce a weight value prior to comparing the weight value to a predetermined threshold value. If the threshold value is larger, then the sensor module (50) signals the airbag module (48) to deactivate the airbag (46).
12 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A seat weight sensor system for controlling the deactivation of an airbag assembly in a vehicle having a seat located in proximity to the airbag and a seat belt assembly operatively engaging the seat, the seat weight sensor system comprising:
-
an automatic locking retractor, having an active and a non-active state, adapted to operatively engage a portion of the seat belt assembly; an automatic locking retractor detection switch for detecting which state the automatic locking retractor is in; a seat weight sensor adapted for detecting the weight pressing down on the seat; and correction means for adjusting the weight detected by the seat weight sensor based upon the state detected by the automatic locking retractor detector switch to produce a weight value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A seat and restraint assembly for use in a vehicle comprising:
-
a seat assembly mounted to the vehicle, the seat assembly having an inboard side and an outboard side; a seat belt assembly including a first seat belt portion attached to one of the vehicle and the seat on the inboard side of the seat assembly, and including a second seat belt portion attached to one of the vehicle and the seat and including a retractable coil of webbing; an automatic locking retractor operatively engaging the retractable coil of webbing and having an active and a non-active state; an automatic locking retractor detection switch for detecting which state the automatic locking retractor is in; a seat weight sensor for detecting the weight pressing down on the seat; and correction means for adjusting the weight detected by the seat weight sensor based upon the state detected by the automatic locking retractor detector switch to produce a weight value. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method for determining airbag deactivation in a vehicle including a seat, an airbag assembly in front of the seat, and a seat belt operatively engaging the seat including an automatic locking retractor having an active and a non-active state, the method comprising the steps of:
-
sensing the weight on the front passenger seat; sensing the activation state of the automatic locking retractor; and adjusting the sensed weight to produce a weight value based upon the sensed activation state. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification