Automobile seat weight sensor
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A vehicle seat weight sensor for sensing the weight of an occupant in a vehicle seat, comprising:
- a) a housing having a connector shroud for receiving a connector therein;
b) a first substrate, extending through the housing and having a first and second end;
c) a second substrate, extending through the housing and having a third and fourth end, the second substrate oriented at substantially right angles to the first substrate;
c) a plurality of strain gauge resistors, located on each of the substrates, for generating an electrical signal in response to the substrate being stressed, the electrical signal changing as a function of the weight of the seat occupant; and
d) connection means, located at the first, second, third and fourth ends of the substrate, for connecting the substrate to the vehicle seat.
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Abstract
A vehicle seat weight sensor for sensing the weight of an occupant in a vehicle seat. The sensor has a housing. A substrate is located in the housing and has a first and second end. Strain gauge resistors are located on the substrate to generate an electrical signal in response to the substrate being stressed by the occupants weight. The electrical signal is changes as a function of the weight of the seat occupant. A connection mechanism is located at the first and second ends of the substrate to connect the substrate to the vehicle seat.
34 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A vehicle seat weight sensor for sensing the weight of an occupant in a vehicle seat, comprising:
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a) a housing having a connector shroud for receiving a connector therein;
b) a first substrate, extending through the housing and having a first and second end;
c) a second substrate, extending through the housing and having a third and fourth end, the second substrate oriented at substantially right angles to the first substrate;
c) a plurality of strain gauge resistors, located on each of the substrates, for generating an electrical signal in response to the substrate being stressed, the electrical signal changing as a function of the weight of the seat occupant; and
d) connection means, located at the first, second, third and fourth ends of the substrate, for connecting the substrate to the vehicle seat. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A vehicle seat weight sensor for sensing the weight of an occupant in a vehicle seat, comprising:
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a) a housing;
b) a first substrate, extending through the housing and having a first and second end;
c) a second substrate, extending through the housing and having a third and fourth end, the second substrate oriented at substantially right angles to the first substrate;
c) a strain gauge resistor, located on each of the substrates, for generating an electrical signal in response to the substrate being stressed, the electrical signal proportional to the weight of the seat occupant;
d) two connection apertures, located at the first and third ends of the substrates, for connecting the substrate to seat springs in the vehicle seat; and
e) two hooks, located at the second and fourth ends of the substrates, for connecting the substrate to a seat basket in the vehicle seat. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A vehicle seat weight sensor for sensing the weight of an occupant in a vehicle seat, the sensor attached to a seat spring, comprising:
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a) a housing having a connector shroud for receiving a connector therein;
b) a substrate, located in the housing and having a center section, a pair of step sections attached to the center section, the center section located between the step sections and a pair of outer sections attached to the step sections;
c) at least one strain gauge resistor, mounted on the center section, for generating an electrical signal in response to the substrate being stressed, the electrical signal changing as a function of the weight of the seat occupant;
d) at least one terminal mounted in the connector shroud and electrically connected to the resistor; and
e) a spring aperture located in each of the outer sections, the spring aperture adapted to be attached to the seat spring. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A vehicle seat weight sensor for sensing the weight of an occupant in a vehicle seat, comprising:
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a) a housing having a connector shroud extending therefrom;
b) a substrate, extending through the housing and having a center section, a pair of step sections attached to the center section, the center section located between the step sections and a pair of outer sections attached to the step sections, the housing encasing the center section, the step sections and the outer sections extending outwardly from the housing;
c) a strain gauge resistor, located on the center section, for generating an electrical signal in response to the substrate being stressed, the electrical signal proportional to the weight of the seat occupant, the step portions concentrating the stress on to the resistor;
d) a connection aperture, located in one of the outer sections, for connecting the substrate to a seat spring in the vehicle seat; and
e) a hook, located in the other outer section, for connecting the substrate to a seat basket in the vehicle seat. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A vehicle seat weight sensor comprising:
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a) a generally planar substrate including;
1) a horizontally extending center section;
2) a pair of curved step sections attached to the center section, the center section located adjacent the step section and extending outwardly therefrom; and
3) a horizontally extending outer section attached to each of the step sections, the outer sections disposed parallel to the center section;
b) at least one strain gauge resistor, mounted on the center section of the substrate, for generating an electrical signal in response to the substrate being stressed, the curved step sections concentrating the stress onto the center section; and
c) an electrical connector, attached to the resistor, for electrically connecting an external circuit to the resistor. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification