Weight determining system

• US 6,259,042 B1
• Filed: 05/24/2000
• Issued: 07/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TRW Limited (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Limited (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: David, Raymond J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gibson, Randy W.
• Application Number:
  US09/578,124
• Time in Patent Office: 412 Days
• Field of Search: 177/136, 177/144, 177/210.R, 738/623.91, 738/624.1, 738/623.93, 701/45, 180/273, 280/735
• US Class Current: 177/136
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2002/2815 with additional belt accessories, e.g. a belt tension detector
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0152 using strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01546 using belt buckle sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0155 sensing belt tension
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01556 Child-seat detection systems
• 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 system and an associated method for determining the weight of an occupant (14) on an associated seat (16) are disclosed. The system includes a sensor (36) for sensing downward force on the seat (16) and a sensor (38) for sensing tension in an associated seat belt (34). A controller (28) is included for determining the weight of the occupant (14) as a function of an output (40) from the sensor (36) and an output (42) from the sensor (38).

Claims

1. A system for determining the weight of an object on an associated vehicle seat, said system comprising:

a sensor for sensing downward force on the associated seat;

a tension sensor for sensing tension in a seat belt operatively associated with the seat, said tension sensor including a frequency generator for generating a frequency within the seat belt, and a frequency sensor for sensing the resultant frequency in the belt; and

a controller for determining the weight of the object as a function of said sensed force and said sensed tension, wherein said controller subtracts a value functionally related to the sensed tension from a value functionally related to the sensed downward force to determine the weight of the object.

2. A method of determining the weight of an object on an associated vehicle seat comprising the steps of:

sensing downward force on the associated seat;

sensing tension in a seat belt associated with the seat, including reading a strain gauge, which includes generating a frequency within the seat belt, and sensing the resultant frequency in the belt; and

determining the weight of the object as a function of the sensed force and the sensed tension, including subtracting a value functionally related to the sensed tension from a value functionally related to the sensed downward force.

3. A system for determining the weight of an object on an associated vehicle seat, said system comprising:

a sensor for sensing downward force on the associated seat;

a tension sensor for sensing tension in a seat belt associated with the seat, said tension sensor comprises a stretch sensor operatively associated with the seat belt; and

a controller for determining the weight of the object as a function of said sensed force and said sensed tension, wherein said controller subtracts a value functionally related to the sensed tension from a value functionally related to the sensed downward force to determine the weight of the object.

4. A method of determining the weight of an object on an associated vehicle seat comprising the steps of:

sensing downward force on the associated seat;

sensing tension in a seat belt associated with the seat, including reading a stretch sensor and,

determining the weight of the object as a function of the sensed force and the sensed tension, including subtracting a value functionally related to the sensed tension from a value functionally related to the sensed downward force.