Load sensing system for seat

• US 7,178,411 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2005
• Issued: 02/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Subaru Corp.
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation, Fuji Heavy Industries Limited (Subaru Corp.)
• Inventors: Wanami, Shingo, Handa, Masami, Goshima, Satoshi, Karasawa, Hideyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): NOORI, MAX H
• Application Number:
  US11/054,613
• Publication Number:
  US 20050189151A1
• Time in Patent Office: 740 Days
• Field of Search: 738/620.41
• US Class Current: 73/862.041
• 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: B60R 21/0152 using strain gauges
• 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

Each front sensor senses a load, which is applied to a front part of a seat, and each rear sensor senses a load, which is applied to a rear part of the seat. A size of an entire load sensing range of each front sensor is smaller than a size of an entire load sensing range of each rear sensor.

Claims

1. A load sensing system comprising:

at least one front sensor that senses a load, which is applied to a front part of a seat of a vehicle; and

at least one rear sensor that senses a load, which is applied to a rear part of the seat, wherein a size of an entire load sensing range of each front sensor is smaller than a size of an entire load sensing range of each rear sensors,

wherein the load sensing range of each front sensor includes;

a positive load sensing subrange for sensing a downward load, which is applied to the front part of the seat in a downward direction; and

a negative load sensing subrange for sensing an upward load, which is applied to the front part of the seat in an upward direction;

the load sensing range of each rear sensor includes;

a positive load sensing subrange for sensing a downward load, which is applied to the rear part of the seat in the downward direction; and

a negative load sensing subrange for sensing an upward load, which is applied to the rear part of the seat in the upward direction; and

a size of the positive load sensing subrange of each front sensor is smaller than a size of the positive load sensing subrange of each rear sensor.

4. The load sensing system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least one front sensor and the at least one rear sensor changes the load sensing range thereof proportional to the load.

5. The load sensing system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least one front sensor and the at least one rear sensor changes at least one of the positive load sensing subrange and the negative load sensing subrange thereof proportional to the load.

6. The load sensing system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the positive load sensing subranges and the negative load sensing subranges is adjustable.

2. A load sensing system comprising:

at least one front sensor that senses a load, which is applied to a front part of a seat of a vehicle; and

at least one rear sensor that senses a load, which is applied to a rear part of the seat, wherein a size of an entire load sensing range of each front sensor is smaller than a size of an entire load sensing range of each rear sensor,

wherein the load sensing range of each front sensor includes;

a positive load sensing subrange for sensing a downward load, which is applied to the front part of the seat in a downward direction; and

a negative load sensing subrange for sensing an upward load, which is applied to the front part of the seat in an upward direction;

the load sensing range of each rear sensor includes;

a positive load sensing subrange for sensing a downward load, which is applied to the rear part of the seat in the downward direction; and

a negative load sensing subrange for sensing an upward load, which is applied to the rear part of the seat in the upward direction; and

a size of the negative load sensing subrange of each rear sensor is smaller than a size of the negative load sensing subrange of each front sensor.

7. The load sensing system of claim 2, wherein at least one of the at least one front sensor and the at least one rear sensor changes the load sensing range thereof proportional to the load.

8. The load sensing system of claim 2, wherein at least one of the at least one front sensor and the at least one rear sensor changes at least one of the positive load sensing subrange and the negative load sensing subrange thereof proportional to the load.

9. The load sensing system of claim 2, wherein at least one of the positive load sensing subranges and the negative load sensing subranges is adjustable.

3. A load sensing system comprising:

at least one front sensor that senses a load, which is applied to a front part of a seat of a vehicle; and

at least one rear sensor that senses a load, which is applied to a rear part of the seat, wherein;

a size of an entire load sensing range of each front sensor is generally the same as a size of an entire load sensing range of each rear sensor;

the load sensing range of each front sensor includes;

a positive load sensing subrange for sensing a downward load, which is applied to the front part of the seat in a downward direction; and

a negative load sensing subrange for sensing an upward load, which is applied to the front part of the seat in an upward direction;

the load sensing range of each rear sensor includes;

a positive load sensing subrange for sensing a downward load, which is applied to the rear part of the seat in the downward direction; and

a negative load sensing subrange for sensing an upward load, which is applied to the rear part of the seat in the upward direction; and

a size of the positive load sensing subrange of each front sensor is smaller than a size of the positive load sensing subrange of each rear sensor.

10. The load sensing system of claim 3, wherein at least one of the at least one front sensor and the at least one rear sensor changes the load sensing range thereof proportional to the load.

11. The load sensing system of claim 3, wherein at least one of the at least one front sensor and the at least one rear sensor changes at least one of the positive load sensing subrange and the negative load sensing subrange thereof proportional to the load.

12. The load sensing system of claim 3, wherein at least one of the positive load sensing subranges and the negative load sensing subranges is adjustable.