Sensor pad for controlling airbag deployment and associated support

• US 7,237,443 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2006
• Issued: 07/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Methode Electronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Methode Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Speckhart, Frank H., Baker, Robert Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): MCCALL, ERIC SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US11/362,745
• Publication Number:
  US 20060137477A1
• Time in Patent Office: 490 Days
• Field of Search: 738/620.46, 738/623.81, 177/208, 177/209, 177/254, 180/273, 280/728.1, 280/735, 297/284.1, 297/284.6
• US Class Current: 73/862.046
• 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: B60N 2/7035 Cushions
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01522 using fluid means
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/02 by hydraulic or pneumatic means

Abstract

A sensor pad for controlling the deployment of an automobile airbag. Weight sensing pad 10 is used in the seat 54 of an automobile, (not illustrated), to detect the presence of an occupant on the seat. Weight sensing pad 10 is used in conjunction with the vehicle'"'"'s airbag control module in order to allow deployment of the airbag, in the event of a collision, only if the seat is occupied by a person of a preselected weight. Weight sensing pad 10 is defined by a bladder member 15 having an interior volume subdivided into a plurality of individual cells 42 in fluid communication with each other and that is filled with a non-compressible fluid 18, such as silicon or a silica gel of medium viscosity. A pressure tube 22 is in fluid communication with bladder 15 and is in further fluid communication with a pressure activated electronic transducer 26 which in turn is in electronic communication with the airbag controller 30. When a person sits upon weight sensing pad 10, there is a volumetric displacement of fluid 18 that provides a pressure change in the bladder member. If there is a sufficient pressure change due to the volumetric displacement of fluid to activate transducer 26, transducer 26 sends a signal to air bag controller 30. Electronic transducer 26 is selected to generate a signal upon detection of pressure resultant from the volumetric displacement of fluid 18 from bladder 15 expected from the average size adult of approximately one hundred pounds or heavier.

Claims

1. A weight sensing pad for controlling activation of an automobile airbag, said weight sensing pad comprising:

a bladder member having an interior volume defined by first and second sheets perimetrically bonded together, wherein said interior volume of said bladder member is subdivided into a plurality of cells in fluid communication with each other by a plurality of small, substantially circular regions of bonding between said first and second sheets and wherein a bore is provided in substantially each of said plurality of small, substantially circular regions of bonding;

a fluid contained within said interior volume of said bladder member.

2. The weight sensing pad of claim 1 wherein said plurality of cells are uniformly shaped.

3. The weight sensing pad of claim 1 wherein said plurality of small, substantially circular regions of bonding are randomly spaced.

4. The weight sensing pad of claim 1 wherein said regions of bonding are defined by spot welds.

5. The weight sensing pad of claim 1 wherein said fluid is non-compressible and has a low freezing point.

6. The weight sensing pad of claim 1 wherein said fluid is silicon.

7. The weight sensing pad of claim 1 wherein said weight sensing pad further comprises a pressure activated electronic transducer in fluid communication with said bladder member and in electronic communication with an airbag control module, wherein said transducer is activated by a selected volumetric displacement of said fluid that provides a pressure change in said bladder member;

and a pressure tube interconnected between and in fluid communication with said bladder member and said transducer.

8. The weight sensing pad of claim 1 wherein said weight sensing pad further comprises at least one securement region for facilitating securement of said weight sensing pad to an automobile seat.

9. The weight sensing pad of claim 1 wherein said weight sensing pad further comprises at least one support member for engaging a seat frame, said support member being defined by a planar support panel and having members for engaging a seat frame wherein said bladder member is secured to said support member.

10. A weight sensing pad for controlling activation of an automobile airbag, said weight sensing pad comprising:

a bladder member having an interior volume defined by first and second sheets perimetrically bonded together, wherein said bladder member is subdivided into a plurality of uniformly shaped cells in fluid communication with each other by a plurality of small, substantially circular regions of bonding between said first and second sheets and wherein a bore is provided in substantially each of said plurality of small, substantially circular regions of bonding for providing ventilation through said weight sensing pad; and

a fluid contained within said interior volume of said bladder member, wherein said fluid is non-compressible and has a low freezing point.

11. The weight sensing pad of claim 10 wherein said uniformly shaped cells are substantially triangularly shaped.

12. The weight sensing pad of claim 10 wherein said weight sensing pad further comprises:

a pressure activated electronic transducer in fluid communication with said bladder member and in electronic communication with an airbag control module, wherein said transducer is activated by a selected volumetric displacement of said fluid that provides a pressure change in said bladder member; and

a pressure tube interconnected between and in fluid communication with said bladder member and said transducer.

13. The weight sensing pad of claim 10 wherein said weight sensing pad further comprises at least one securement region for facilitating securemnent of said weight sensing pad to an automobile seat.

14. The weight sensing pad of claim 10 wherein said weight sensing pad further comprises at least one support member for engaging a seat frame, said support member being defined by a planar support panel and having members for engaging a seat frame wherein said bladder member is secured to said support member.

15. A weight sensing pad for controlling activation of an automobile airbag, said weight sensing pad comprising:

a bladder member having an interior volume defined by first and second sheets perimetrically bonded together by a plurality of randomly spaced small, substantially circular regions of bonding between said first and second sheets, said bladder member including at least one securement region and wherein a bore is provided in substantially each of said plurality of small, substantially circular regions of bonding for providing ventilation through said weight sensing pad; and

a fluid contained within said interior volume of said bladder member, wherein said fluid is non-compressible and has a low freezing point.

16. The weight sensing pad of claim 15 wherein said weight sensing pad further comprises:

a pressure activated electronic transducer in fluid communication with said bladder member and in electronic communication with an airbag control module, wherein said transducer is activated by a selected volumetric displacement of said fluid that provides a pressure change in said bladder member; and

a pressure tube interconnected between and in fluid communication with said bladder member and said transducer.

17. The weight sensing pad of claim 15 wherein said regions of bonding are defined by spot welds.

18. The weight sensing pad of claim 15 wherein said weight sensing pad further comprises at least one support member for engaging a seat frame, said support member being defined by a planar support panel and having members for engaging a seat frame wherein said bladder member is secured to said support member.