Device for vehicle seat occupancy detection

• US 8,362,911 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2009
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Grammer AG (Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts Co.,Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Grammer AG (Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts Co.,Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kolb, Jens, Himmelhuber, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US12/433,383
• Publication Number:
  US 20090273484A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,370 Days
• Field of Search: 340/667, 340/428, 340/426.24, 340/457, 340/457.1, 340/573.1, 340/665, 340/666, 340/668, 297/217.3, 297/344.12, 297/344.15, 297/344.16, 248/550
• US Class Current: 340/667
• 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 2/162 Scissors-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/508 Scissors-like structure

Abstract

Device for vehicle seat occupancy detection, wherein a base frame which can be adjusted in the height direction of a vehicle seat and which is composed of at least two scissors arms which are connected to one another is arranged between a seat part of the vehicle seat and a vehicle body part, the device comprising a first detector which is attached to at least one of the scissors arms and which, when the vehicle seat is occupied by a minimum weight, detects a predefinable height setting of the scissors arm which is lower than a maximum possible height setting, and at least one spring which is fixed to at least one of the scissors arms and the predefinable pretensioned spring force of which corresponds at most to the downward-acting weight force due to the minimum weight and counteracts the latter.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat occupancy detection device for use with a vehicle seat, comprising:

a base frame which can be adjusted in the height direction of the vehicle seat, the base frame arranged between a seat part of the vehicle seat and a vehicle body part and having at least two scissors arms connected to one another;

a first detector directly connected to at least one of the scissors arms, the first detector configured to detect a predefinable height position of the at least one scissors arm that is lower than a maximum possible height position when the vehicle seat is occupied by a minimum weight; and

at least one spring connected to at least one of the scissors arms, the spring having a predefinable pretensioned spring force that corresponds at most to the downward-acting weight force due to the minimum weight and counteracts the latter, wherein the predefinable height position is only detected by said first detector once said predefinable pretensioned spring force has been overcome.

2. The vehicle seat occupancy detection device according to claim 1, wherein the first detector is configured to transmit a first signal to a first switch in a control current circuit for controlling a seat occupancy detection signal in order to close the first switch upon detection of the predefinable lower height position of the scissors arm.

3. The vehicle seat occupancy detection device according to claim 2, further comprising a second detector configured to detect an exceeding of the pretensioned spring force on the spring when the vehicle seat is occupied by a weight greater than the minimum weight.

4. The vehicle seat occupancy detection device according to claim 3, wherein the second detector is configured to transmit a second signal to a second switch in a control current circuit in order to close the second switch upon detection of the exceeding of the pretensioned spring force of the spring.

5. The vehicle seat occupancy detection device according to claim 4, wherein the first and second switches are connected in series in the control current circuit.

6. The vehicle seat occupancy detection device according to claim 3, wherein the second detector is a pressure sensor.

7. The vehicle seat occupancy detection device according to claim 3, wherein the second detector is a pressure switch.

8. The vehicle seat occupancy detection device according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the first or second switches is integrated in at least one of the first or second detectors.

9. The vehicle seat occupancy detection device according to claim 1, further comprising a second detector configured to detect an exceeding of the pretensioned spring force on the spring when the vehicle seat is occupied by a weight greater than the minimum weight.

10. The vehicle seat occupancy detection device according to claim 9, wherein the second detector is configured to transmit a second signal to a second switch in a control current circuit in order to close the second switch upon detection of the exceeding of the pretensioned spring force of the spring.

11. The vehicle seat occupancy detection device according to claim 9, wherein the second detector is a pressure sensor.

12. The vehicle seat occupancy detection device according to claim 9, wherein the second detector is a pressure switch.

13. The vehicle seat occupancy detection device according to claim 1, wherein the spring is a gas spring.

14. The vehicle seat occupancy detection device according to claim 13, wherein the gas spring is an air spring.

15. The vehicle seat occupancy detection device according to claim 13, wherein the gas spring is acted upon by a predefinable pretensioned pressure value in order to set the pretensioned spring force.