Seat occupancy sensor unit for seat with spring suspension or seat pan

• US 9,428,080 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2013
• Issued: 08/30/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2012
• 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: Kordel, Markus, Jungen, Dietmar, Weires, Konstantin, Wampach, Manuel
• Primary Examiner(s): Noori, Max
• Application Number:
  US14/437,768
• Publication Number:
  US 20150283922A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,049 Days
• Field of Search: 738/623.81, 738/623.91, 738/18
• 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 2/7094 Upholstery springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/103 using sensors fixed at one end of the flexible member

Abstract

A pressure-responsive seat occupancy sensor unit (10) comprises a support plate (12) having a top surface (20) and a bottom surface, a plurality of spacer elements (14) defining an upper surface (18) of the pressure-responsive seat occupancy sensor unit, which upper surface the top surface of the support plate is arranged recessed from, a foam pad (22) disposed between the spacer elements on the support plate, a recess (24) formed in the top surface of the support plate, underneath the foam pad, and a pressure-responsive membrane switch (26) arranged in the recess. The recess has a depth exceeding the thickness of the pressure-responsive membrane switch. The foam pad is configured such that, upon it being compressed by application of pressure exceeding a certain threshold, it deforms so as to penetrate into the recess and activates the pressure-responsive membrane switch.

Claims

1. A pressure-responsive seat occupancy sensor unit for detecting an occupancy state of a seat, comprising:

a support plate having a top surface and a bottom surface,

a plurality of bearing elements for fixation of said support plate on seat cushion suspension springs, said bearing elements defining an upper surface of said pressure-responsive seat occupancy sensor unit, wherein said top surface of said support plate is arranged recessed from said upper surface;

a foam pad disposed between said bearing elements on said support plate;

a recess formed in said top surface of said support plate, underneath said foam pad; and

a pressure-responsive membrane switch arranged in said recess,

wherein said recess has a depth exceeding the thickness of said pressure-responsive membrane switch.

2. The pressure-responsive seat occupancy sensor unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bearing elements are integrally formed with said support plate.

3. The pressure-responsive seat occupancy sensor unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein said support plate and said bearing elements are made of injection-molded plastic.

4. The pressure-responsive seat occupancy sensor unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pressure-responsive membrane switch 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 a cell, said pressure-responsive membrane switch 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 they are brought closer together, possibly into contact with each other, when pressure is applied on said pressure-responsive membrane switch.

5. The pressure-responsive seat occupancy sensor unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said foam pad is configured such that, upon it being compressed by application of pressure exceeding a certain threshold, it deforms so as to penetrate into said recess and activates said pressure-responsive membrane switch.

6. A vehicle seat, comprising a seat cushion supported by cushion-supporting springs and a pressure-responsive seat occupancy sensor unit, said pressure-responsive seat occupancy sensor unit, comprising:

a support plate having a top surface and a bottom surface,

a plurality of bearing elements for fixation of said support plate on seat cushion suspension springs, said bearing elements defining an upper surface of said pressure-responsive seat occupancy sensor unit, wherein said top surface of said support plate is arranged recessed from said upper surface;

a foam pad disposed between said bearing elements on said support plate;

a recess formed in said top surface of said support plate, underneath said foam pad; and

a pressure-responsive membrane switch arranged in said recess,

wherein said recess has a depth exceeding the thickness of said pressure-responsive membrane switch and wherein said pressure-responsive seat occupancy sensor unit rests on said cushion-supporting springs and is applied by said cushion-supporting springs against said seat cushion.

7. A pressure-responsive seat occupancy sensor unit for detecting an occupancy state of a seat, comprising:

a support plate having a top surface and a bottom surface,

a plurality of spacer elements defining an upper surface of said pressure-responsive seat occupancy sensor unit from which upper surface said top surface of said support plate is arranged recessed from;

a foam pad disposed between said spacer elements, carried by said support plate;

a recess formed in said top surface of said support plate, underneath said foam pad; and

a pressure-responsive membrane switch arranged in said recess,

wherein said recess has a depth exceeding the thickness of said pressure-responsive membrane switch.

8. The pressure-responsive seat occupancy sensor unit as claimed in claim 7, wherein said spacer elements are integrally formed with said support plate.

9. The pressure-responsive seat occupancy sensor unit as claimed in claim 8, wherein said support plate and said spacer elements are made of injection-molded plastic.

10. The pressure-responsive seat occupancy sensor unit as claimed in claim 7, wherein said pressure-responsive membrane switch 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 a cell, said pressure-responsive membrane switch 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 they are brought closer together, possibly into contact with each other, when pressure is applied on said pressure-responsive membrane switch.

11. The pressure-responsive seat occupancy sensor unit as claimed in claim 7, wherein said foam pad is configured such that, upon it being compressed by application of pressure exceeding a certain threshold, it deforms so as to penetrate into said recess and activates said pressure-responsive membrane switch.

12. A vehicle seat, comprising a seat cushion supported by a cushion-supporting pan and a pressure-responsive seat occupancy sensor unit, said pressure-responsive seat occupancy sensor unit comprising

a support plate having a top surface and a bottom surface,

a plurality of spacer elements defining an upper surface of said pressure-responsive seat occupancy sensor unit from which upper surface said top surface of said support plate is arranged recessed from;

a foam pad disposed between said spacer elements, carried by said support plate;

a recess formed in said top surface of said support plate, underneath said foam pad; and

a pressure-responsive membrane switch arranged in said recess,

wherein said recess has a depth exceeding the thickness of said pressure-responsive membrane switch and wherein said pressure-responsive seat occupancy sensor unit rests on said cushion-supporting pan and is applied by said cushion-supporting pan against said seat cushion.