Detection apparatus for occupant of a seat

• US 7,261,179 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2004
• Issued: 08/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Nagai, Makoto, Mochiduki, Tetsumei
• Primary Examiner(s): Gibson; Randy W
• Application Number:
  US10/915,631
• Publication Number:
  US 20050039966A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,113 Days
• Field of Search: 180/273, 280/735, 177/136, 177/144, 177/210.R
• US Class Current: 180/273
• 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 2/0025 by using weight measurement
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0031 mounted on the frame
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0035 characterised by the sensor data transmission, e.g. wired connections or wireless transmitters therefor; characterised by the sensor data processing, e.g. seat sensor signal amplification or electric circuits for providing seat sensor information
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/42 Strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2230/30 Signal processing of sensor data
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0152 using strain gauges

Abstract

An occupant detection apparatus including a weight sensor and a contact prevention unit. The weight sensor is provided together with a bottom structures positioned below a seat cushion of the vehicle seat, and measures a weight of an occupant on a vehicle by measuring a load to be applied to the vehicle seat. The contact prevention unit prevents a contact between the weight sensor and an interior trim of a vehicle cabin.

Claims

1. An occupant detection apparatus comprising:

a weight sensor which measures a weight of an occupant on a vehicle seat and is provided together with bottom structures positioned below a seat cushion of the vehicle seat, the weight sensor including;

an arm bracket receiving a load applied to the vehicle seat;

a sensor plate measuring the weight of the occupant based on the load received by the arm bracket;

an arm transmitting the load received by the arm bracket to the sensor plate;

a bracket pin connecting the arm bracket with the arm, and moving in an up-and-down direction in compliance with the load received by the arm bracket; and

a base frame supporting the bracket pin while allowing a movement in the up-and-down direction of the bracket pin; and

contact prevention means for preventing a contact between the weight sensor and an interior trim of a vehicle cabin, the interior trim being a floor carpet laid on a floor of a vehicle cabin, said contact prevention means being positioned in the vicinity of the bracket pin and preventing contact between the bracket pin of the weight sensor and the interior trim.

2. An occupant detection system according to claim 1, wherein the bottom structures further include a seat bracket fixing the vehicle seat on the floor of the vehicle cabin, and wherein

the contact prevention means includes a protrusion provided on the seat bracket.

3. An occupant detection system according to claim 1, wherein

the sensor plate is provided with a strain gauge, which measures a deformation of the sensor plate caused by the load received by the arm bracket, and wherein

the weight of the occupant is measured based on a measurement result of the strain gauge.

4. An occupant detection system according to claim 1, wherein

said contact prevention means is elongated in a direction parallel to a longitudinal direction of the bracket pin, and an end of contact prevention means is closer to the interior trim than the bracket pin.

5. An occupant detection system according to claim 4,

further comprising a seat bracket, wherein

said contact prevention means is integral with the seat bracket.