Seat sensor system

• US 8,041,482 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2005
• Issued: 10/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2004
• 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: Decoster, Yves, Orlewski, Pierre, Federspiel, Laurent, Lamesch, Laurent
• Primary Examiner(s): Black; Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): MARC-COLEMAN, MARTHE Y
• Application Number:
  US11/658,938
• Publication Number:
  US 20080319616A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,293 Days
• Field of Search: 701/45, 701/49, 280/734, 280/735, 340/425.5, 340/426.1
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01088 wireless
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01526 using piezoelectric elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01532 using electric or capacitive field sensors

Abstract

A seat sensor system including at least one seat sensor associated to a seat for sensing a status related to a seat occupancy and for generating an output signal indicative of the status and a control unit for communicating with the seat sensor. At least one transmitter for transmitting a data signal indicative of the output signal is associated with the seat and coupled to the seat sensor; and at least one receiver is coupled to the control unit for wirelessly receiving the data signal from the transmitter.

Claims

1. Seat sensor system comprising

at least one seat sensor associated to a seat for sensing a status related to a seat occupancy, said at least one seat sensor being configured to generate an output signal including data related to said status,

at least one transmitter associated with said seat, said transmitter being coupled to said at least one seat sensor, said transmitter being configured to receive said output signal from said at least one sensor and transmit said data related to said status via a data signal;

a control unit configured to communicate with said at least one transmitter via at least one receiver coupled to said control unit, said receiver being configured to wirelessly receive said data signal from said transmitter

wherein said receiver is a component of a remote key entry system of an automotive vehicle, thereby allowing said control unit to receive said data related to said status from said at least one sensor via said receiver of said remote key entry system.

2. Seat sensor system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of seat sensors are coupled to said at least one transmitter.

3. Seat sensor system according to claim 1, wherein said transmitter comprises processing means configured to encode said output signal of said at least one seat sensor with a digital ID of said seat sensor and/or said seat and/or said transmitter into said data signal.

4. Seat sensor system according to claim 1, wherein said transmitter comprises a semi-passive power supply including a capacitor associated to a broadband antenna operating at the frequency of the remote key entry system and a power converting electronic circuit for converting a radio frequency signal received by said antenna into a charging voltage for said capacitor.

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

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

7. Seat sensor system according to claim 1, wherein said seat sensor comprises a seat occupancy detector for sensing an occupancy of said seat.

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

9. Seat sensor system according to claim 7, wherein said seat occupancy detector comprises a capacitive field detection system including at least one capacitive electrode associated with a seat surface of said seat.

10. Seat sensor system according to claim 7, wherein said seat occupancy detector comprises a piezoelectronics sensor associated with a seat surface of said seat.

11. Seat sensor system according to claim 1, wherein said seat sensor comprises a seat belt fastening detector for determining a seat belt usage condition related to said seat.

12. Seat sensor system according to claim 11, wherein said seat belt fastening detector comprises a seat belt buckle switch sensor.

13. Seat sensor system according to claim 1, wherein said seat sensor comprises a temperature sensor.

14. Automotive vehicle comprising

a remote key entry system including at least one receiver;

at least one vehicle seat; and

a seat sensor system associated to said at least one vehicle seat,

said seat sensor system comprising

at least one seat sensor associated to said vehicle seat, said at least one seat sensor being configured to sense a status related to a seat occupancy and generate an output signal including data related to said status,

at least one transmitter, said transmitter being coupled to said at least one seat sensor, said transmitter being configured to receive said output signal from said at least one sensor and transmit said data related to said status via a data signal;

a control unit configured to wirelessly communicate with said at least one transmitter and wirelessly receive said data signal from said transmitter via said at least one receiver of said remote key entry system, thereby allowing said control unit to receive said data related to said status from said at least one sensor via said receiver of said remote key entry system.

15. Automotive vehicle according to claim 14, wherein said seat sensor system comprises a plurality of seat sensors coupled to said at least one transmitter.

16. Automotive vehicle according to claim 14, wherein said transmitter comprises processing means configured to encode said output signal of said at least one seat sensor with a digital ID of said seat sensor and/or said seat and/or said transmitter into said data signal.

17. Automotive vehicle according to claim 14, wherein said transmitter comprises a semi-passive power supply including a capacitor associated to a broadband antenna operating at the frequency of the remote key entry system and a power converting electronic circuit for converting a radio frequency signal received by said antenna into a charging voltage for said capacitor.

18. Automotive vehicle according to claim 14, wherein said transmitter comprises a piezo generator for converting a mechanical energy into electrical energy and an electronic converter unit for generating a transmitter power supply from said electrical energy.

19. Automotive vehicle according to claim 18, wherein said piezo generator comprises a piezofilm associated to a seating surface of said seat.

20. Automotive vehicle according to claim 14, wherein said seat sensor comprises a seat occupancy detector for sensing an occupancy of said seat.

21. Automotive vehicle according to claim 20, wherein said seat occupancy detector comprises a pressure sensitive switching device comprising a plurality of individual pressure sensors or switches associated with different locations of a seat surface.

22. Automotive vehicle according to claim 20, wherein said seat occupancy detector comprises a capacitive field detection system including at least one capacitive electrode associated with a seat surface of said seat.

23. Automotive vehicle according to claim 20, wherein said seat occupancy detector comprises a piezoelectronics sensor associated with a seat surface of said seat.

24. Automotive vehicle according to claim 14, wherein said seat sensor comprises a seat belt fastening detector for determining a seat belt usage condition related to said seat.

25. Seat sensor system according to claim 24, wherein said seat belt fastening detector comprises a seat belt buckle switch sensor.

26. Automotive vehicle according to claim 14, wherein said seat sensor comprises a temperature sensor.

27. Seat sensor system comprising

at least a first seat sensor and a second seat sensor associated to a seat for respectively sensing a first status related to seat occupancy and a second status related to seat occupancy, said first seat sensor being configured to generate a first output signal including a first data set related to said first status, and said second seat sensor being configured to generate a second output signal including a second data set related to said second status, said first status indicating a different seat occupancy condition from said second seat status;

at least one transmitter associated with said seat, said transmitter being coupled to said first and said second seat sensors, said transmitter being configured to receive said first and said second output signals from said first and said second sensors, and transmit said first and said second data sets via a data signal;

a control unit configured to communicate with said at least one transmitter via at least one receiver coupled to said control unit, said receiver being configured to wirelessly receive said data signal from said transmitter

wherein said receiver is a component of a remote key entry system of an automotive vehicle, thereby allowing said control unit to receive said data related to said status from said at least one sensor via said receiver of said remote key entry system.

28. Automotive vehicle comprising

a remote key entry system including at least one receiver;

at least one vehicle seat; and

a seat sensor system associated to said at least one vehicle seat,

said seat sensor system comprising

at least a first seat sensor and a second seat sensor associated to a seat for respectively sensing a first status related to seat occupancy and a second status related to seat occupancy, said first seat sensor being configured to generate a first output signal including a first data set related to said first status, and said second seat sensor being configured to generate a second output signal including a second data set related to said second status, said first status indicating a seat different occupancy condition from said second seat status;

at least one transmitter associated with said seat, said transmitter being coupled to said first and said second seat sensors, said transmitter being configured to receive said first and said second output signals from said first and said second sensors, and transmit said first and said second data sets via a data signal;

a control unit configured to wirelessly communicate with said at least one transmitter and wirelessly receive said data signal from said transmitter via said at least one receiver of said remote key entry system, thereby allowing said control unit to receive said data related to said status from said at least one sensor via said receiver of said remote key entry system.