Occupant detection system

• US 7,637,532 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2007
• Issued: 12/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Ito, Hiroyuki, Yamanaka, Shoichi, Kamizono, Tsutomu
• Primary Examiner(s): To; Toan C
• Application Number:
  US11/899,355
• Publication Number:
  US 20080054609A1
• Time in Patent Office: 847 Days
• Field of Search: 180/273, 180/274, 280/735, 340/666, 340/667
• US Class Current: 280/735
• 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 2022/4858 for sensing pressure on seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01532 using electric or capacitive field sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/245 Housings for sensors

Abstract

The present invention facilitates the construction of a waterproof sensor assembly having, for example, a sensor main body arranged in a vehicle seat, a sensor terminal, a sensor terminal protection portion, a first packing having a hollow ring shape, a second packing having a hollow ring shape, a connector casing having a hollow ring shaped opening, and a connector cover for covering the opening connector casing opening. The sensor terminal protection portion has a hollow ring shape and is integrated with a periphery of the sensor main body. The sensor terminal is integrated with the sensor terminal protection portion such that the sensor terminal protrudes from an inner periphery of the sensor terminal protection portion toward an inside of the sensor terminal protection portion. The arrangement of the first and second packing and the connector case and cover provide a high performance waterproof sealing of the sensor and parts thereof.

Claims

1. A waterproof sensor assembly comprising:

a sensor main body arranged in a vehicle seat;

a sensor terminal;

a sensor terminal protection portion;

a first packing having a hollow ring shape;

a second packing having a hollow ring shape;

a connector casing having a hollow ring shaped opening; and

a connector cover for covering the opening of the connector casing;

wherein;

the sensor terminal protection portion has a hollow ring shape and is integrated with a periphery of the sensor main body,

the sensor terminal is integrated with the sensor terminal protection portion such that the sensor terminal protrudes from an inner periphery of the sensor terminal protection portion toward an inside of the sensor terminal protection portion,

the hollow ring shape configuration of the first packing, the second packing and the connector casing, when in a closed configuration by operation of the connector cover, come into a gapless sealed relation around the sensor terminal.

2. The sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the connector cover is disposed between two surfaces of the connector casing such that the connector cover covers the sensor terminal protection portion.

3. The sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the sensor terminal protection portion is formed such that a distance between two surfaces of the sensor terminal protection portion in a direction of a framework axis that extends is uniform.

4. The sensor assembly according to claim 1 wherein the two surfaces of the sensor terminal protection portion is formed such that each of the two surfaces has a planar shape.

5. The sensor assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a circuit electrode electrically coupled with the sensor terminal, wherein the sensor terminal protection portion further includes a film stacking body having a plurality of layers, each of which has a ring shape;

and a conductor sandwiched between two adjacent layers.

6. The sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first packing is compressed and arranged between one surface of the connector casing and one end of the sensor terminal protection portion in the framework axis, and the second packing is compressed and arranged between the connector cover and the other end of the sensor terminal protection portion in the framework axis.

7. An occupant detecting system comprising:

an occupant detecting sensor including a sensor main body, a sensor terminal protection portion and a sensor terminal, wherein the sensor main body is arranged in at least one of a backrest section and a seating surface section in a vehicle seat, wherein the sensor terminal protection portion has a ring shape with a framework axis extending through a center thereof, and is integrated with a periphery of the sensor main body, and wherein the sensor terminal is integrated with the sensor terminal protection portion such that the sensor terminal protrudes from an inner periphery of the sensor terminal protection portion toward an inside of the sensor terminal protection portion;

a connector casing having a ring shaped opening; and

a connector cover for covering the opening of the connector casing, wherein the connector cover is disposed between two surfaces of the connector casing in such a manner that the connector cover covers the sensor terminal protection portion.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the sensor terminal protection portion is formed such that a distance between two surfaces of the protection portion in a framework axis is uniform.

9. The system according to claim 7, wherein the two surfaces of the sensor terminal protection portion are formed such that each of the two surfaces has a planar shape.

10. The system according to claim 7, further comprising a circuit electrode electrically coupled with the sensor terminal, wherein the sensor terminal protection portion further includes a film stacking body having a plurality of layers, each of which has a ring shape;

and a conductor sandwiched between two adjacent layers.

11. The system according to claim 7, further comprising:

a first packing having a ring shape; and

a second packing having a ring shape,

wherein the first packing is compressed and arranged between one surface of the connector casing and one end of the sensor terminal protection portion in the framework axis, and the second packing is compressed and arranged between the connector cover and the other end of the sensor terminal protection portion in the framework axis.