Seat sensor calibration method and system
First Claim
1. An air bag calibrator used for calibrating a plurality of sensors contained within a seat having a predetermined length and width, the air bag calibrator comprising:
- an air bladder press plate;
an air bladder press cylinder;
an air bladder having a first length and a first width defining a first size;
a pressure sensor pneumatically coupled to said air bladder;
a PODS controller contained within the seat for reading a plurality of values from each of said plurality of sensors, said PODS controller capable of deploying an air bag in crash situations as a function of said plurality of values; and
a computer electrically coupled to said PODS controller, said computer capable of calibrating each of said plurality of values within said PODS controller prior to deploying said air bag.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An air bag calibrator that is used to calibrate a plurality of seat sensors within a seat simultaneously. The calibrator uses controlled pressure contained within an air bladder and an air press cylinder to apply a controlled force across an entire seat surface that actuates all of the seat sensors in a consistent and repeatable manner, a major improvement over existing seat calibration methods. This is accomplished by loading a seat onto the calibrator, recording a baseline seat sensor value for each of the seat sensors, extending the air press cylinder to an extended position and applying a controlled force across the entire seat surface. The air pressure in the air bladder is then increased or decreased to a target pressure for a predetermined time, at which time an actuated seat sensor values for each of the seat sensors is recorded. A PODS controller in contained within the seat that is used for controlling the deployment of air bags in a crash situation is then calibrated as a function of the recorded baseline seat sensor values and the actuated seat sensor values.
29 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An air bag calibrator used for calibrating a plurality of sensors contained within a seat having a predetermined length and width, the air bag calibrator comprising:
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an air bladder press plate;
an air bladder press cylinder;
an air bladder having a first length and a first width defining a first size;
a pressure sensor pneumatically coupled to said air bladder;
a PODS controller contained within the seat for reading a plurality of values from each of said plurality of sensors, said PODS controller capable of deploying an air bag in crash situations as a function of said plurality of values; and
a computer electrically coupled to said PODS controller, said computer capable of calibrating each of said plurality of values within said PODS controller prior to deploying said air bag. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for calibrating each of at least one seat sensors contained within a seat using an air bag calibrator, the method comprising the steps of:
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loading the seat having the at least one sensor onto the air bag calibrator;
recording a sensor reading from each of said at least one sensor prior to actuation;
extending an air press cylinder to a first position;
directing an air bladder to a target pressure;
recording an actuated sensor reading from each of the at least one sensors;
calibrating a PODS controller as a function of each of said sensor readings and each of said actuated sensor readings; and
retracting said air press cylinder and removing the seat. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
inflating an air bladder to approach a target pressure;
maintaining said target pressure for a predetermined amount of time; and
recording an actuated sensor reading from each of said at least one sensor.
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11. The method of claim 7, wherein the steps of directing an air bladder to a target pressure and recording an actuated sensor reading from each of said at least one sensor comprises the steps of:
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deflating an air bladder to approach a target pressure;
maintaining said target pressure for a predetermined amount of time; and
recording actuated sensor readings from each of said at least one sensor.
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12. The method of claim 7, wherein the steps of directing an air bladder to a target pressure and recording an actuated sensor reading from each of said at least one sensor comprises the steps of:
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inflating an air bladder to approach a target pressure; and
recording an actuated sensor readings from each of the at least one sensors.
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13. The method of claim 7, wherein the steps of directing an air bladder to a target pressure and recording an actuated sensor reading from each of said at least one sensor comprises the steps of:
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deflating an air bladder to approach a target pressure; and
recording an actuated sensor reading from each of said at least one sensor.
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14. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of extending an air press cylinder to a first position comprises the step of extending an air press cylinder to a first position and exerting and maintaining a first force on the seat in said extended state.
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15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of extending an air press cylinder to a first position and exerting and maintaining a first force on the seat in said extended state comprises the step of extending an air press cylinder to the end of its travel and exerting and maintaining approximately a 400 pound force on the seat in said extended state.
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16. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of extending an air press cylinder to a first position and exerting and maintaining a first force on the seat in said extended state comprises the step of extending an air press cylinder to the end of its travel and exerting and maintaining approximately a 675 pound force at 50 psi on the seat in said extended state.
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17. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of loading the seat having the at least one sensor onto the big bag calibrator comprises the steps of:
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loading the seat having the at least one sensor and a seat harness onto a fixture located underneath said air press cylinder such that the seat extends into an electrical contact block; and
connecting a cable to said seat harness.
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18. A method of applying uniform pressure to all points on a seat surface to calibrate a PODS controller located within the seat surface, the PODS controller used to measure a plurality of seat sensors located within the seat surface to control the deployment of an air bag in crash situations, the method comprising the steps of:
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securing a seat to an air bag calibrator such that the seat surface is coupled with an air bladder coupled to an air press cylinder, said air bladder having a first air pressure, wherein the length and width of said air bladder are each larger than the length and width of the seat surface;
recording a seat sensor value for each of the plurality of seat sensors prior to actuation;
extending said air press cylinder to a first position;
applying a first load pressure on said air press cylinder;
adjusting the air pressure within said air bladder to reach a predetermined target pressure;
maintaining said predetermined target pressure for a predetermined time interval;
recording an actuated seat sensor value for each of the plurality of seat sensors at said predetermined target pressure; and
calibrating the PODS controller as a function of each of said seat sensor values and each of said actuated seat sensor values. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification