Vehicle seat suspension mat

• US 9,333,878 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2013
• Issued: 05/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2012
• 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: Goedert, Guenter, Bieck, Werner
• Primary Examiner(s): Noori, Max
• Application Number:
  US14/404,267
• Publication Number:
  US 20150143927A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,089 Days
• Field of Search: 737/60, 738/626.37, 738/626.39, 738/626.41
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 2/0032 mounted on springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/54 using mechanical springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/7094 Upholstery springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/46 Electric switches
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/04 by measuring elastic deformation of gauges, e.g. of springs
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/702 with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2211/032 Pressure sensitive layer on contacts

Abstract

A vehicle seat suspension mat (12) comprises suspension springs (14) for supporting a seat cushion (16) and a pressure sensor module (18) arranged on the springs for being applied against a bottom surface of the seat cushion. The pressure sensor module produces an electrical signal responsive to pressure acting on it. The pressure sensor module comprises a base plate (20) and a film-type pressure sensor (22) arranged on the base plate. The pressure sensor includes a pressure-sensitive cell (36). The base plate comprises a frame (26) and an actuator (28) that is linked to the frame in such a way that it is capable of movement relative to the frame. The actuator is arranged against the pressure-sensitive cell of the film-type pressure sensor and comprises a fixation element (48) fixing the base plate to the springs. The fixation element provides a spacing between the base plate and the springs.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat suspension mat, comprising

one or more suspension springs for supporting a seat cushion, and

a pressure sensor module arranged on said one or more suspension springs for being applied against a bottom surface of said seat cushion, said pressure sensor module being configured for producing an electrical signal responsive to pressure acting on said pressure sensor module;

wherein said pressure sensor module comprises a base plate and a film-type pressure sensor arranged on said base plate, said film-type pressure sensor including a pressure-sensitive cell;

wherein said base plate comprises a frame and an actuator, said actuator being linked to said frame in such a way that said actuator is capable of movement relative to said frame;

wherein said actuator is arranged against said pressure-sensitive cell of said film-type pressure sensor; and

wherein said actuator comprises a fixation element fixing said base plate to said one or more suspension springs, said fixation element spacing said base plate from said one or more suspension springs.

2. The vehicle seat suspension mat as claimed in claim 1, wherein said actuator is linked to said frame in a cantilevered manner.

3. The vehicle seat suspension mat as claimed in claim 1, wherein said actuator comprises a first and a second end and is linked to said frame at said first and second ends.

4. The vehicle seat suspension mat as claimed in claim 1, wherein said actuator is linked to said frame by a plurality of webs.

5. The vehicle seat suspension mat as claimed in claim 1, wherein said actuator is linked to said frame by a weakened zone.

6. The vehicle seat suspension mat as claimed in claim 1, wherein said actuator and said frame are made of one piece of material.

7. The vehicle seat suspension mat as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base plate comprises one or more spacers arranged at a periphery of said film-type pressure sensor, said one or more spacers defining between one another a region into which said seat cushion may penetrate when loaded so as to come to lie against said film-type pressure sensor.

8. The vehicle seat suspension mat as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pressure sensor module comprises a casing accommodating said film-type pressure sensor in its interior, said casing comprising said base plate as a bottom plate.

9. The vehicle seat suspension mat as claimed in claim 8, wherein said casing is made of a single piece of material.

10. The vehicle seat suspension mat as claimed claim 1, wherein said fixation element comprises a clip or a clamp.

11. The vehicle seat suspension mat as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pressure sensor module comprises a compressible intermediate layer arranged between said film-type pressure sensor and said base plate.

13. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said film-type pressure sensor comprises a first carrier film and a second carrier film spaced from each other by a spacer film, said spacer film having therein an opening defining said pressure-sensitive cell, said film-type pressure sensor comprising at least two electrodes arranged in facing relationship with each other in said cell on said first and said second carrier film, respectively, in such a way that said at least two electrodes are brought closer together when pressure is applied on said film-type pressure sensor.

12. A pressure sensor module for a vehicle seat suspension mat, comprising:

a base plate and

a film-type pressure sensor arranged on said base plate, said pressure sensor including a pressure-sensitive cell;

wherein said base plate comprises a frame and an actuator, said actuator being linked to said frame in such a way that said actuator (28) is capable of movement relative to said frame;

wherein said actuator is arranged against said pressure-sensitive cell of said film-type pressure sensor; and

wherein said actuator comprises a fixation element for fixing said base plate to one or more suspension springs of said vehicle seat suspension mat, said fixation element being configured so as to provide a spacing between said base plate and said at least one suspension spring.

14. A device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said film-type pressure sensor comprises a first carrier film and a second carrier film spaced from each other by a spacer film, said spacer film having therein an opening defining said pressure-sensitive cell, said film-type pressure sensor comprising at least two electrodes arranged in facing relationship with each other in said cell on said first and said second carrier film, respectively, in such a way that said at least two electrodes are brought closer together when pressure is applied on said film-type pressure sensor.