Dual interdigitated chamber seat bladder for occupant position and weight estimation

• US 6,966,233 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2003
• Issued: 11/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aptiv Technologies AG
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Brown, David R.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOORI, MAX H
• Application Number:
  US10/679,802
• Publication Number:
  US 20050072250A1
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 738/624.54, 738/625.81, 737/31
• US Class Current: 73/862.581
• 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: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• 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

An occupant position and weight estimation apparatus includes an elastomeric seat bladder having physically isolated central and peripheral fluid-filled chambers corresponding to central and peripheral areas of the seat. The fluid pressure in the peripheral chamber is primarily activated by a child or infant seat, whereas the fluid pressure in the central chamber is primarily activated by a normally seated occupant. The chambers have extensions or fingers that are interdigitated so that shifting of a normally seated occupant from the central area of the seat to a peripheral region of the seat is easily detected based on changes in the relative fluid pressures in the central and peripheral chambers. An extension of the peripheral chamber at the middle forward portion of the seat that is not engaged by a normally seated occupant can also be used to detect an out-of-position occupant in close proximity to a frontal air bag.

Claims

1. Apparatus including a multiple chamber elastomeric bladder disposed in a vehicle seat for occupant position and weight estimation, comprising:

first and second individual fluid-filled bladder chambers, the first chamber being disposed in a central area of said seat that is primarily used by a normally seated occupant, and the second chamber being disposed in a peripheral area of said seat that is laterally outboard and forward of said central area; and

the second chamber having at least one fluid-filled finger that extends inward toward the first chamber to enhance detection of occupant shifting between the central and peripheral areas of said seat based on relative fluid pressures in said first and second chambers.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the second chamber has a plurality of fingers that extend inward toward the first chamber, and the first chamber has a plurality of fingers that extend outward toward said second chamber, the fingers of the first chamber being interdigitated with the fingers of the second chamber.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein:

the fingers of said second chamber extend laterally inward, and the fingers of said first chamber extend laterally outward.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said fluid-filled finger extends rearward from a front-center portion of said seat to enhance detection of occupant shifting between the central area of said seat and a forward peripheral area of said seat based on relative fluid pressures in said first and second chambers.