Belt force sensor
First Claim
1. A method of differentiating between the presence of a human occupant and a child restraint seat in a motor vehicle, said method comprising the steps of;
- sensing tension exerted on a seat belt with a sensor fixed along the seat belt;
wherein the sensor includes a tensile section disposed between two belt loop sections, the tensile section including a strain gauge for sensing force on the seat belt;
communicating the magnitude of the sensed tension to a controller;
comparing the magnitude of tension to a predetermined tension; and
determining that a child restraint seat is present if the sensed tension is greater than the predetermined tension.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An occupant restraint assembly and for a motor vehicle operates to sense the tension forces on a seat belt to detect the presence of a human occupant or a child restraint seat. A sensor attached to the seat belt measures tension forces. The sensor is mounted in line with the seat belt. A strain gauge senses tension on the seat belt. An additional embodiment of the sensor includes three prongs attached to a common beam that allow the sensor to be slipped onto the seat belt without modification to the seat belt. A middle prong includes the strain gauge to sense movement relative to outside prongs. The seat belt threads over the outside prongs and under the middle prong such that tension on the seat belt forces the middle prong transversely to tension exerted on the seat belt.
-
Citations
11 Claims
-
1. A method of differentiating between the presence of a human occupant and a child restraint seat in a motor vehicle, said method comprising the steps of;
-
sensing tension exerted on a seat belt with a sensor fixed along the seat belt;
wherein the sensor includes a tensile section disposed between two belt loop sections, the tensile section including a strain gauge for sensing force on the seat belt;communicating the magnitude of the sensed tension to a controller; comparing the magnitude of tension to a predetermined tension; and determining that a child restraint seat is present if the sensed tension is greater than the predetermined tension. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
-
-
4. A method of differentiating between the presence of a human occupant and a child restraint seat in a motor vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:
-
sensing tension exerted on a seat belt with a sensor disposed along said seat belt, wherein said sensor assembly comprises at least three prongs extending from a common beam, said prongs attached to said seat belt without modification of the seat belt; communicating the magnitude of the sensed tension to a controller; comparing the magnitude of tension to a predetermined tension; and determining that a child restraint seat is present if the sensed tension is greater than the predetermined tension. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
-
-
7. A method of operating an occupant restraint system comprising the steps of:
-
a) determining a tension on a seat belt having a first and second intermediate ends disposed, with a sensor including a tensile portion supported between the first and second intermediate ends; b) comparing an actual tension determined by the sensor with a predetermined tension; and c) determining that a child restraint device is present responsive to said actual tension being greater than said predetermined tension. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
-
Specification