Sensor system for determining relative displacement of an object using an activation member

• US 6,351,994 B1
• Filed: 06/09/2000
• Issued: 03/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Trilogy Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Trilogy Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Pinkos, Andrew F., Bunge, John P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Hezron
• Assistant Examiner(s): GARBER, CHARLES D
• Application Number:
  US09/590,835
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• Field of Search: 734/321, 734/90, 280/735, 137/291, 250/559.29
• US Class Current: 73/432.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/081 the magnetic field is produced by the objects or geological structures characterised by the method of magnetic field measurement G01R33/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 8/20 using multiple transmitters or receivers

Abstract

A sensor system for determining a relative position of a vehicle seat is disclosed. The sensor system has a sensing element and receiver element affixed to the vehicle seat. An enabler is disposed adjacent the vehicle floor. The enabler has at least one activation zone for causing the sensing element to communicate with the at least one receiver element and at least one deactivation zone is provided for preventing the sensing element from communicating with the at least one receiver element. The at least one activation zone defines at least one position of the vehicle seat and the at least one deactivation zone defines at least one other position of the vehicle seat.

Claims

1. A sensor system for determining a relative position of a vehicle seat, wherein the vehicle seat is fixed to a vehicle floor by a seat track, the seat track having an upper seat track portion connected to the vehicle seat and a lower seat track portion connected to a vehicle floor, the sensor system comprising:

a sensor housing having at least one downwardly extending side wall;

a sensing element affixed to one of the upper seat track portion and the lower seat track portion;

at least one receiver element in selective communication with the sensing element, wherein the sensing element is disposed adjacent the at least one receiver element; and

an enabler disposed adjacent to the other of the upper seat track portion and the lower seat track portion, the enabler having at least one activation zone for allowing the sensing element to communicate with the at least one receiver element, and at least one deactivation zone for preventing the sensing element from communicating with the at least one receiver element, the at least one activation zone defining at least one position of the vehicle seat and the at least one de activation zone defining at least one other position of the vehicle seat, wherein the at least one activation zone is a longitudinally extending light reflecting area having a varying concentration of reflective particles.

2. A sensor system for determining a relative position of a vehicle seat, wherein the vehicle seat is fixed to a vehicle floor by a seat track, the seat track has an upper seat track portion connected to the vehicle seat and a lower seat track portion connected to a vehicle floor, the sensor system comprising:

a sensor housing having at least one downwardly extending side wall;

a sensing element affixed to one of the upper seat track portion and the lower seat track portion;

at least one receiver element in selective communication with the sensing element, wherein the sensing element is disposed adjacent the at least one receiver element; and

an enabler disposed adjacent to the other of the upper seat track portion and the lower seat track portion, the enabler having at least one activation zone for allowing the sensing element to communicate with the at least one receiver element, and at least one deactivation zone for preventing the sensing element from communicating with the at least one receiver element, the at least one activation zone defining at least one position of the vehicle seat and the at least one deactivation zone defining at least one other position of the vehicle seat, wherein the at least one activation zone is a longitudinally extending light reflecting area having a varying concentration of reflective particles and the varying concentration of reflective particles produces an analog sensor output signal indicative of a movement of the vehicle seat.