Seat occupancy sensor unit at a lower B-surface side of a seat cushion

• US 9,533,603 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2013
• Issued: 01/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2012
• 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): Tweel, Jr., John A
• Application Number:
  US14/443,967
• Publication Number:
  US 20150283923A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,155 Days
• Field of Search: 340/667, 180/273, 297/217.3
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1091 Cushions, seats or abduction devices
• 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: B60R 21/01526 using piezoelectric elements

Abstract

A B-surface 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), which define an upper surface (18) of the unit. The top surface of the support plate is arranged recessed the upper surface. A first foam pad (22) is disposed between the spacer elements on the support plate. A recess (24) formed in the top surface of the support plate, underneath the first foam pad, accommodates a second foam pad (23) carrying a pressure-responsive membrane switch (26). The recess has a depth exceeding the total height of the pressure-responsive membrane switch and the second foam pad. The pressure-sensitive membrane switch projects laterally beyond opposite edges of the second foam pad.

Claims

1. A B-surface 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 B-surface seat occupancy sensor unit, which said top surface of said support plate is arranged recessed from;

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

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

a second foam pad arranged in said recess;

a pressure-responsive membrane switch arranged in said recess on said second foam pad, said pressure-responsive membrane switch comprising 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;

wherein said recess has a depth exceeding the total height of said pressure-responsive membrane switch and said second foam pad; and

wherein said pressure-sensitive membrane switch projects laterally beyond a first edge of said second foam pad and beyond a second edge of said second foam pad, opposite said first edge.

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

3. The B-surface 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 B-surface seat occupancy sensor unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first 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, contacts said pressure-responsive membrane switch, and, together with said second foam pad, squeezes said pressure-responsive membrane switch so as to activate it.

5. A vehicle seat, comprising a seat cushion supported by cushion-supporting springs and a B-surface seat occupancy sensor unit for detecting an occupancy state of a seat, said B-surface 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 B-surface seat occupancy sensor unit, which said top surface of said support plate is arranged recessed from;

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

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

a second foam pad arranged in said recess;

a pressure-responsive membrane switch arranged in said recess on said second foam pad, said pressure-responsive membrane switch comprising 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;

wherein said recess has a depth exceeding the total height of said pressure-responsive membrane switch and said second foam pad; and

wherein said pressure-sensitive membrane switch projects laterally beyond a first edge of said second foam pad and beyond a second edge of said second foam pad, opposite said first edge;

wherein said B-surface seat occupancy sensor unit rests on said cushion-supporting springs and is applied by said cushion-supporting springs against a bottom surface of said seat cushion.

6. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 5, wherein said bearing elements are integrally formed with said support plate.

7. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 6, wherein said support plate and said bearing elements are made of injection-molded plastic.

8. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 5, wherein said first 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, contacts said pressure-responsive membrane switch, and, together with said second foam pad, squeezes said pressure-responsive membrane switch so as to activate it.

9. A B-surface 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 B-surface seat occupancy sensor unit from which upper surface said top surface of said support plate is arranged recessed from;

a first 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 first foam pad;

a second foam pad arranged in said recess

a pressure-responsive membrane switch arranged in said recess on said second foam pad, said pressure-responsive membrane switch comprising 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;

wherein said recess has a depth exceeding the total height of said pressure-responsive membrane switch and said second foam pad; and

wherein said pressure-sensitive membrane switch projects laterally beyond a first edge of said second foam pad and beyond a second edge of said second foam pad, opposite said first edge.

10. The B-surface seat occupancy sensor unit as claimed in claim 9, wherein said spacer elements are integrally formed with said support plate.

11. The B-surface seat occupancy sensor unit as claimed in claim 10, wherein said support plate and said spacer elements are made of injection-molded plastic.

12. The B-surface seat occupancy sensor unit as claimed in claim 9, wherein said first 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, contacts said pressure-responsive membrane switch, and, together with said second foam pad, squeezes said pressure-responsive membrane switch so as to activate it.

13. A vehicle seat, comprising a seat cushion supported by a cushion-supporting pan and a B-surface seat occupancy sensor unit for detecting an occupancy state of a seat, said B-surface 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 B-surface seat occupancy sensor unit from which upper surface said top surface of said support plate is arranged recessed from;

a first 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 first foam pad;

a second foam pad arranged in said recess;

a pressure-responsive membrane switch arranged in said recess on said second foam pad, said pressure-responsive membrane switch comprising 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;

wherein said recess has a depth exceeding the total height of said pressure-responsive membrane switch and said second foam pad; and

wherein said pressure-sensitive membrane switch projects laterally beyond a first edge of said second foam pad and beyond a second edge of said second foam pad, opposite said first edge,

wherein said B-surface seat occupancy sensor unit rests on said cushion-supporting pan and is applied by said cushion-supporting pan against a bottom surface of said seat cushion.

14. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 13, wherein said spacer elements are integrally formed with said support plate.

15. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 14, wherein said support plate and said spacer elements are made of injection-molded plastic.

16. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 13, wherein said first 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, contacts said pressure-responsive membrane switch, and, together with said second foam pad, squeezes said pressure-responsive membrane switch so as to activate it.