Detection device and method for detecting occupancy of a seat using a light guide force sensor

• US 8,389,879 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2010
• Issued: 03/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2009
• 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, Uebelacker, Roland, Mueller, Stefan, Meier, Juergen
• Primary Examiner(s): Gibson, Randy W
• Application Number:
  US12/753,692
• Publication Number:
  US 20100276211A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,068 Days
• Field of Search: 177/136, 177/144, 177/DIG.6, 180/273, 280/735, 738/00, 340/667, 296/68.1, 297/217.2, 385/13, 250/227.16, 701/45
• US Class Current: 177/136
• 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 21/01512 Passenger detection systems

Abstract

To allow more reliable detection of occupancy of a seat by a person, the invention includes a detection device for detecting occupancy of a seat, in particular of a vehicle seat or motor vehicle seat, comprising at least one elongate light guide having at least one elongate core element and at least one elongate sheath at a distance from the core element. The light guide is deformable by mechanical actuation means in at least one direction running perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the light guide by the deformation brought about by the seat being occupied causes the light to exit from the light guide on the side opposite the mechanical means.

Claims

1. A detection device for detecting occupancy of a seat comprising:

at least one elongate light guide having at least one elongate core element; and

at least one elongate sheath at a distance from the core element,

wherein the light guide is deformable by mechanical actuation means in at least one direction running substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the light guide by deformation brought about by the seat being occupied, and

wherein the elongate light guide is arranged at least partially in cushion material cut-outs for the light guide of a seat cushion associated with the seat.

2. The detection device according to of claim 1, wherein the elongate light guide is arranged at least partially with the aid of at least one holding frame configured to support the light guide.

3. The detection device according to claim 1, further comprising means for modulating an optical conductivity of the light guide.

4. The detection device according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical actuation means is configured to deform the light guide.

5. The detection device according to claim 4, wherein the mechanical actuation means have raised areas substantially oriented towards the light guide.

6. The detection device according to claim 5, wherein the seat part comprises a seat cushion, wherein the seat cushion has material cut-outs corresponding to raised areas of the mechanical actuation means.

7. The detection device according to claim 4, wherein the mechanical actuation means are formed by at least one of a corrugated base plate or a corrugated sheet-metal shell.

8. The detection device according to claim 1, wherein at least one light guide is arranged between a base plate of the seat part and a seat part surface.

9. The detection device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one of a transmitting or a receiving device, wherein the transmitting device has a light emitter and the receiving device has a light detector.

10. A detection device for detecting occupancy of a seat comprising:

at least one elongate light guide having at least one elongate core element; and

at least one elongate sheath at a distance from the core element,

wherein the light guide is deformable by mechanical actuation means in at least one direction running substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the light guide by deformation brought about by the seat being occupied,

wherein the mechanical actuation means is configured to deform the light guide,

wherein the mechanical actuation means have raised areas substantially oriented towards the light guide,

wherein the seat part comprises a seat cushion, and

wherein the seat cushion has material cut-outs corresponding to raised areas of the mechanical actuation means.