Vehicle seat
First Claim
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1. A seat including a seat belt fastened to an anchor, wherein the anchor is located on one side of a rear portion of the seat, the seat comprising:
- a first load sensor attached to the seat in the vicinity of the anchor to detect load and generate a first detection value representing the load detected by the first load sensor;
a second load sensor attached to the seat at a side opposite to the first load sensor to detect load and generate a second detection value representing the load detected by the second load sensor; and
a control unit connected to the first and second load sensors, wherein the control unit compares the first detection value with the second detection value to determine whether a child restraint apparatus is present.
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Abstract
A vehicle seat that detects a child restraint apparatus, which is attached to the seat by a seat belt, for operation of an air bag. A first load sensor is attached to one side of the seat to detect load and generate a first detection value. A second load sensor is attached to the seat at an opposite side of the seat to detect load and generate a second detection value. A control unit is connected to the first and second load sensors and determines whether the child restraint apparatus is present based on the first and second detection values.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A seat including a seat belt fastened to an anchor, wherein the anchor is located on one side of a rear portion of the seat, the seat comprising:
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a first load sensor attached to the seat in the vicinity of the anchor to detect load and generate a first detection value representing the load detected by the first load sensor;
a second load sensor attached to the seat at a side opposite to the first load sensor to detect load and generate a second detection value representing the load detected by the second load sensor; and
a control unit connected to the first and second load sensors, wherein the control unit compares the first detection value with the second detection value to determine whether a child restraint apparatus is present. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for detecting whether a child restraint apparatus is fastened to a seat by a seat belt that is fastened to an anchor, wherein the anchor is located on one side of a rear portion of the seat, and wherein the seat includes a first load sensor attached to the seat in the vicinity of the anchor to detect load and generate a first detection value representing the load detected by the first load sensor, a second load sensor attached to the seat at a side opposite to the first load sensor to detect load and generate a second detection value representing the load detected by the second load sensor, the method comprising:
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comparing the first and second detection values;
obtaining a difference between the first and second detection values;
comparing the difference with a predetermined rear differential reference value; and
determining that the child restraint apparatus is present when the second detection value is greater than the first detection value and the difference is greater than the rear differential reference value. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
adding the first and second detection values to obtain a rear load sum;
comparing the rear load sum with a predetermined rear sum reference value; and
determining that the child restraint apparatus is present when the rear load sum is greater than the predetermined fear sum reference value.
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13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the seat further includes a third load sensor connected to the control unit and attached to the seat in front of the first load sensor to detect load and generate a third detection value representing the load detected by the third load sensor, and a fourth load sensor connected to the control unit and attached to the seat in front of the second load sensor to detect load and generate a fourth detection value representing the load detected by the fourth load sensor, the method further comprising:
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adding the first, second, third, and fourth detection values to obtain a total load sum;
comparing the total load sum with a predetermined total sum reference value; and
determining that the child restraint apparatus is present when the total load sum is greater than the predetermined total sum reference value.
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14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the seat further includes a third load sensor connected to the control unit and attached to the seat in front of the first load sensor to detect load and generate a third detection value representing the load detected by the third load sensor, and a fourth load sensor connected to the control unit and attached to the seat in front of the second load sensor to detect load and generate a fourth detection value representing the load detected by the fourth load sensor, the method further comprising:
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adding the first and second detection values to obtain a rear load sum;
comparing the rear load sum with a predetermined rear sum reference value;
adding the first, second, third, and fourth detection values to obtain a total load sum;
comparing the total load sum with a predetermined total sum reference value; and
determining that the child restraint apparatus is present when at least one of the rear and total load sums is greater than the associated predetermined threshold value.
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15. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:
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comparing the second detection value with a predetermined first reference value; and
determining that the child restraint apparatus is present when the second detection value is greater than the first reference value.
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16. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:
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comparing the first detection value with a predetermined second reference value; and
determining that the child restraint apparatus is present when the first detection value is less than the second reference value.
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17. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:
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evaluating a ratio of the first and second detection values; and
determining that the child restraint apparatus is present when the second detection value is greater than the rear differential reference value and the ratio satisfies a predetermined condition.
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18. The method according to claim 11, further comprising controlling operation of an air bag in accordance with the presence of the child restraint apparatus.
Specification