Weight sensing system

• US 6,360,618 B2
• Filed: 06/10/1999
• Issued: 03/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Veoneer Sweden AB (SSW Partners LP)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (Aptiv PLC)
• Inventors: Xu, Liwen, Zwolinski, Joseph John, McKale, Michael Joseph, Anahid, Hassan
• Primary Examiner(s): NOORI, MAX H
• Application Number:
  US09/329,509
• Publication Number:
  US 20010037692A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,020 Days
• Field of Search: 738/626.27, 738/620.41, 738/620.44, 738/623.81, 737/60, 737/68, 737/74, 737/75, 737/86, 737/95
• US Class Current: 73/862.627
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/7094 Upholstery springs
• 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 weight sensing system is provided for use with a seat disposed within an occupant compartment of the vehicle. The weight sensing system includes a sensing mechanism positioned on a seat frame of the seat for measuring a strain on the seat frame due to a seated occupant weight.

Claims

1. A weight sensing system for measuring strain on a seat frame of a seat disposed within an occupant compartment of an automotive vehicle comprising:

a measuring device positioned solely on the seat frame at a stress concentration point thereon for measuring a strain placed on the seat frame due to a seated occupant weight; and

an electronic module electrically connected to said measuring device to receive a signal of measured strain from said measuring device for determining the seated occupant weight from the measured strain on the seat frame.

2. A weight sensing system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sensing mechanism is a strain gauge.

3. A weight sensing system for measuring strain on a seat frame of a seat disposed within an occupant compartment of an automotive vehicle comprising:

a plurality of measuring devices positioned solely on the seat frame at stress concentration points on the seat frame to measure the strain placed on the seat frame caused by a seat suspension of the seat from the weight of the seated occupant; and

an electronic module electrically connected to said measuring devices to receive a signal of measured strain from said measuring devices for determining the seated occupant weight from the measured strain on the seat frame.

4. A weight sensing system as set forth in claim 3 wherein said sensing mechanism is a strain gauge.

5. A weight sensing system for measuring strain on a seat frame of a seat disposed within an occupant compartment of an automotive vehicle comprising:

a strain gauge positioned solely on the seat frame at at least one stress concentration point on the seat frame to measure the strain on the seat frame caused by a seat suspension of the seat from the weight of the seated occupant, wherein said seated occupant weight is determined from the measured strain on said seat frame; and

an electronic module electrically connected to said strain gauge to receive a signal of measured strain from said strain gauge for determining the seated occupant weight from the measured strain on the seat frame.

6. A method for measuring strain on a seat frame of a seat disposed within an occupant compartment of an automotive vehicle comprising the steps of:

providing at least one measuring device;

positioning the measuring device at a stress concentration point on the seat frame;

measuring the strain placed on the seat frame by a seated occupant with the measuring device; and

determining the seated occupant weight from the measured strain on the seat frame.

7. A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein said step of positioning comprises positioning the measuring device closely adjacent a location at which a seat support is attached to the seat frame.

8. A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein said step of measuring comprises measuring the strain in the seat frame at a stress concentration point on the seat frame.

9. A method as set forth in claim 6 including the step of providing an electronic controller electrically connected to the measuring device for determining the seated occupant weight from the measured strain on the seat frame.

10. A method for measuring strain on a seat frame of a seat disposed within an occupant compartment of an automotive vehicle comprising the steps of:

providing at least one strain gauge and an electronic controller electrically connected to the strain gauge;

positioning the strain gauge closely adjacent a location of which a seat support is attached to the seat frame to form at a stress concentration point on the seat frame;

measuring the strain placed in the seat frame at a stress concentration point on the seat frame by a seated occupant; and

determining the seated occupant weight from the measured strain on the seat frame.