Sensor pad for controlling airbag deployment and associated support
First Claim
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
a fluid contained within said interior volume of said bladder member.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A weight sensing pad for controlling activation of an automobile airbag, said weight sensing pad comprising:
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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 a fluid contained within said interior volume of said bladder member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A weight sensing pad for controlling activation of an automobile airbag, said weight sensing pad comprising:
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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 a fluid contained within said interior volume of said bladder member, wherein said fluid is non-compressible and has a low freezing point. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A weight sensing pad for an automobile seat, said weight sensing pad comprising:
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a bladder member having an interior volume defined by first and second sheets perimetrically bonded together, wherein said interior volume of said bladder member being subdivided into a plurality of substantially hexagonal shaped cells in fluid communication with each other by a plurality of bonded regions of said first and second sheets; and a fluid contained within said interior volume of said bladder member. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A weight sensing pad for an automobile seat, said weight sensing pad comprising:
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a bladder member having an interior volume defined by first and second sheets perimetrically bonded together, wherein said interior volume of said bladder member being subdivided into a plurality of substantially hexagonal 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 a fluid contained within said interior volume of said bladder member. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification