Seat sensor system

• US 7,762,583 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2005
• Issued: 07/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IEE International Electronics & Engineering SA (Aerospace Hi-Tech Holding Group Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: IEE International Electronics & Engineering SA (Aerospace Hi-Tech Holding Group Company Limited)
• Inventors: Federspiel, Laurent
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming; Faye M.
• Application Number:
  US11/578,977
• Publication Number:
  US 20070241545A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,922 Days
• Field of Search: 280/735
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01088 wireless
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01526 using piezoelectric elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01536 using ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01548 sensing the amount of belt winded on retractor

Abstract

A seat sensor system comprises at least one seat sensor for sensing a status related to a seat occupancy and for generating a output signal indicative of said status and a control unit for communicating with said at least one seat sensor. According to the invention the seat sensor comprises a self-powered transmitter associated with a seat for transmitting a data signal containing said output signal and the control unit comprises an receiver module for receiving said data signal from said self-powered transmitter.

Claims

1. Seat sensor system comprising

at least one seat sensor for sensing a status related to a seat occupancy and for generating an output signal indicative of said status, and

a control unit for communicating with said at least one seat sensor,

wherein said at least one seat sensor comprises an autonomously powered transmitter device associated with a seat, said autonomously powered transmitter device including a device configured to power the autonomously powered transmitter through a conversion of a mechanical energy into an electrical energy, wherein said mechanical energy is work of a force exerted upon said seat, said autonomously powered transmitter device being configured for transmitting a data signal containing said out-put signal, wherein said control unit comprises a receiver module for receiving said data signal from said autonomously powered transmitter device.

2. Seat sensor system according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of seat sensors to be associated with different seats of a vehicle, wherein said control unit is configured for communication with each of said plurality of seat sensors.

3. Seat sensor system according to claim 1, wherein said autonomously powered transmitter device comprises a transmitter module, a piezo generator for converting a mechanical energy into electrical energy and an electronic converter unit for generating a transmitter module power supply from said electrical energy.

4. Seat sensor system according to claim 1, wherein said autonomously powered transmitter device further comprises processing means for encoding said output signal with a digital ID of said seat sensor into said data signal.

5. Seat sensor system according to claim 3, wherein said piezo generator comprises a piezofilm associated to a seating surface of said seat.

6. Seat sensor system according to claim 1, wherein said seat sensor further comprises a seat occupancy detector for sensing an occupancy of said seat, said occupancy detector being connected to said autonomously powered transmitter device.

7. Seat sensor system according to claim 6, wherein said seat occupancy detector comprises a pressure sensitive switching device comprising a plurality of individual pressure sensors or switches to be arranged at different locations with respect to a seat surface.

8. Seat sensor system according to claim 1, wherein said seat sensor further comprises a seat belt fastening detector for determining a seat belt usage condition related to said seat, said seat belt fastening detector being connected to said autonomously powered transmitter device.

9. Seat sensor system comprising

at least one seat sensor for sensing a status related to a seat occupancy and for generating an output signal indicative of said status, and

a control unit for communicating with said at least one seat sensor,

wherein said at least one seat sensor comprises an autonomously powered transmitter device associated with a seat, said autonomously powered transmitter device including a device configured to power the autonomously powered transmitter through a conversion of a mechanical energy into an electrical energy, said autonomously powered transmitter device being configured for transmitting a data said out-put signal, wherein said control unit comprises a receiver module for receiving said data signal from said autonomously powered transmitter device,

wherein said seat sensor further comprises a seat belt fastening detector for determining a seat belt usage condition related to said seat, said seat belt fastening detector being connected to said autonomously powered transmitter device, wherein said seat belt fastening detector comprises a seat belt buckle switch sensor.

18. Seat sensor system according to claim 9, wherein said mechanical energy is work of a force exerted upon said seat.

20. Seat sensor system according to claim 9, wherein said autonomously powered transmitter device comprises a transmitter module, a piezo generator for converting a mechanical energy into electrical energy and an electronic converter unit for generating a transmitter module power supply from said electrical energy.

21. Seat sensor system according to claim 9, wherein said autonomously powered transmitter device further comprises processing means for encoding said output signal with a digital ID of said seat sensor into said data signal.

22. Seat sensor system according to claim 20, wherein said piezo generator comprises a piezofilm associated to a seating surface of said seat.

23. Seat sensor system according to claim 9, wherein said seat sensor further comprises a seat occupancy detector for sensing an occupancy of said seat, said occupancy detector being connected to said autonomously powered transmitter device.

24. Seat sensor system according to claim 23, wherein said seat occupancy detector comprises a pressure sensitive switching device comprising a plurality of individual pressure sensors or switches to be arranged at different locations with respect to a seat surface.

10. Seat sensor system comprising

a plurality of seat sensors to be associated with different seats of a vehicle, said seat sensors for sensing a status related to a seat occupancy of a respective seat and for generating an output signal indicative of said status, wherein each of said seat sensors comprises an autonomously powered transmitter device associated with a seat, said autonomously powered transmitter device including a device configured to power the autonomously powered transmitter through a conversion of a mechanical energy into an electrical energy, wherein said mechanical energy is work of a force exerted upon said seat, said autonomously powered transmitter device being configured for transmitting a data signal containing said output signal;

and

a control unit for communicating with said plurality of seat sensors, wherein said control unit comprises an receiver module for receiving said data signals from said autonomously powered transmitter devices, said control unit being configured for communication with each of said plurality of seat sensors.

11. Seat sensor system according to claim 10, wherein said autonomously powered transmitter device comprises a transmitter module, a piezo generator for converting a mechanical energy into electrical energy and an electronic converter unit for generating a transmitter module power supply from said electrical energy.

12. Seat sensor system according to claim 10, wherein said autonomously powered transmitter device further comprises processing means for encoding said output signal with a digital ID of said seat sensor into said data signal.

13. Seat sensor system according to claim 11, wherein said piezo generator comprises a piezofilm associated to a seating surface of said seat.

14. Seat sensor system according to claim 10, wherein said seat sensor further comprises a seat occupancy detector for sensing an occupancy of said seat, said seat occupancy detector being connected to said autonomously powered transmitter device.

15. Seat sensor system according to claim 14, wherein said seat occupancy sensor comprises a pressure sensitive switching device comprising a plurality of individual pressure sensors or switches to be arranged at different locations with respect to a seat surface.

16. Seat sensor system according to claim 10, wherein said seat sensor further comprises a seat belt fastening detector for determining a seat belt usage condition related to said seat, said seat belt fastening detector being connected to said autonomously powered transmitter device.

17. Seat sensor system comprising

a plurality of seat sensors to be associated with different seats of a vehicle, said seat sensors for sensing a status related to a seat occupancy of a respective seat and for generating an output signal indicative of said status, wherein each of said seat sensors comprises an autonomously powered transmitter device associated with a seat, said autonomously powered transmitter device including a device configured to power the autonomously powered transmitter through a conversion of a mechanical energy into an electrical energy, said autonomously powered transmitter device being configured for transmitting a data signal containing said output signal;

and

a control unit for communicating with said plurality of seat sensors, wherein said control unit comprises an receiver module for receiving said data signals from said autonomously powered transmitter devices, said control unit being configured for communication with each of said plurality of seat sensors,

wherein said seat sensor further comprises a seat belt fastening detector for determining a seat belt usage condition related to said seat, said seat belt fastening detector being connected to said autonomously powered transmitter device, wherein said seat belt fastening detector comprises a seat belt buckle switch sensor.

19. Seat sensor system according to claim 17, wherein said mechanical energy is work of a force exerted upon said seat.

25. Seat sensor system according to claim 17, wherein said autonomously powered transmitter device comprises a transmitter module, a piezo generator for converting a mechanical energy into electrical energy and an electronic converter unit for generating a transmitter module power supply from said electrical energy.

26. Seat sensor system according to claim 17, wherein said autonomously powered transmitter device further comprises processing means for encoding said output signal with a digital ID of said seat sensor into said data signal.

27. Seat sensor system according to claim 25, wherein said piezo generator comprises a piezofilm associated to a seating surface of said seat.

28. Seat sensor system according to claim 17, wherein said seat sensor further comprises a seat occupancy detector for sensing an occupancy of said seat, said seat occupancy detector being connected to said autonomously powered transmitter device.

29. Seat sensor system according to claim 28, wherein said seat occupancy sensor comprises a pressure sensitive switching device comprising a plurality of individual pressure sensors or switches to be arranged at different locations with respect to a seat surface.