Weight measuring systems and methods for vehicles

• US 20050269810A1
• Filed: 07/28/2005
• Published: 12/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Vehicular Sciences LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Automotive Technologies International Incorporated
• Inventors: Breed, David S., DuVall, Wilbur E., Morin, Jeffrey L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,815,219 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/735
• 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 2/015 Attaching seats directly to vehicle chassis
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02246 Electric motors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0244 with logic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0248 with memory of positions
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0252 with relations between different adjustments, e.g. height of headrest following longitudinal position of seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0268 using sensors or detectors for adapting the seat or seat part, e.g. to the position of an occupant
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0272 using sensors or detectors for detecting the position of seat parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0276 reaction to emergency situations, e.g. crash
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/067 by linear actuators, e.g. linear screw mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/28 Seats readily mountable on, and dismountable from, existing seats or other parts of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2806 for securing the child seat to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2863 backward facing
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/66 Lumbar supports
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/829 characterised by their adjusting mechanisms, e.g. electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/853 characterised by their adjusting mechanisms, e.g. electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/888 with arrangements for protecting against abnormal g-forces, e.g. by displacement of the head-rest
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/26094 characterised by fluid flow controlling valves
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2765 comprising means to control the venting
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/288 with means to adjust or regulate the amount of energy to be absorbed
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4685 : with means to adjust or regulate the tensioning force in relation to external parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/015 : including means for detecting the presence or position of passengers, passenger seats or child seats , and the related safety parameters therefor, e.g. speed or timing of airbag inflation in relation to occupant position or seat belt use
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 : using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01526 : using piezoelectric elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0153 : using field detection presence sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01536 : using ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01542 : detecting passenger motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01554 : Seat position sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/203 : in steering wheels or steering columns
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/201 : with the belt anchor connected to a slider movable in a vehicle-mounted track for passive restraint systems B60R22/06
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/4142 : for controlling activation of safety devices, e.g. airbag systems electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements in case of vehicle accidents B60R21/015
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/3728 : with wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/06 : Systems determining the position data of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/87 : Combinations of sonar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/88 : Sonar systems specially adapted for specific applications seismic or acoustic prospecting or detecting G01V1/00

Abstract

Sensor system for sensing pressure applied to a seat by an occupant of the seat and for controlling deployment of an airbag which includes a bladder defining a chamber and which is adapted to be arranged in a seat portion of the seat, and a pressure sensor for measuring a pressure in the chamber. Deployment of the airbag is controlled based at least in part on the pressure in the chamber measured by the pressure sensor. A control module may be provided to control deployment of the airbag so that when the pressure sensor generates a signal based on the measured pressure in the chamber and provides the signal to the control module, the control module controls deployment of the airbag based on the signal.

Claims

1. A sensor system for sensing pressure applied to a seat by an occupant of the seat and for controlling deployment of an airbag, comprising:

a bladder defining a chamber, said bladder adapted to be arranged in a seat portion of the seat; and

a pressure sensor for measuring a pressure in said chamber, wherein deployment of the airbag is controlled based at least in part on the pressure in said chamber measured by said pressure sensor.

2. An apparatus for sensing pressure applied to a seat by an occupant of the seat and for controlling deployment of an airbag, comprising:

a bladder defining a chamber, said bladder being adapted to be arranged in a seat portion of the seat;

a control module arranged to control deployment of the airbag; and

a pressure sensor for measuring a pressure in said chamber,

said control module controlling deployment of the airbag based at least in part on the pressure in said chamber measured by said pressure sensor.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said pressure sensor generates a signal based on the measured pressure in said chamber and provides said signal to said control module, said control module being arranged to control deployment of the airbag based on the signal generated by said pressure sensor and provided by said pressure sensor to said control module.

4. A method for controlling an occupant restraint device arranged to protect an occupant in a vehicle in a crash involving the vehicle, comprising:

arranging a bladder defining a chamber in a seat portion of a seat in the vehicle;

measuring a pressure in the chamber; and

controlling deployment of the occupant restraint device based at least in part on the measured pressure.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the occupant restraint device is an airbag.

6. A method for controlling an occupant restraint device arranged to protect an occupant in a vehicle in a crash involving the vehicle, comprising:

arranging a bladder defining a chamber in a seat portion of a seat in the vehicle;

measuring a pressure in the chamber;

providing a signal based on the measured pressure in the chamber to a control module; and

controlling deployment of the occupant restraint device by means of the control module based at least in part on the measured pressure in the chamber.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the occupant restraint device is an airbag.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising controlling at least one other vehicular system, subsystem or component by means of the control module.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one other system, subsystem or component is a pressure control device which controls pressure in the chamber.

10. A vehicle including a system for protecting an occupant in the vehicle in a crash involving the vehicle, comprising:

a seat having a seat portion;

a bladder defining a chamber, said bladder being arranged in said seat portion;

a pressure sensor for measuring a pressure in said chamber, and

an occupant restraint device arranged in the vehicle to protect the occupant of the vehicle, wherein deployment of said occupant restraint device is controlled based at least in part on the pressure measured in said chamber by said pressure sensor.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein said occupant restraint device is an airbag.

12. A vehicle including a system for protecting an occupant in the vehicle in a crash involving the vehicle, comprising:

an occupant restraint device arranged in the vehicle to protect the occupant of the vehicle;

a seat having a seat portion;

a bladder defining a chamber, said bladder being arranged in said seat portion;

a control module arranged to control deployment of said occupant restraint device; and

a pressure sensor for measuring a pressure in said chamber,

said control module controlling deployment of said occupant restraint device based at least in part on pressure in said chamber measured by said pressure sensor.

13. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein said occupant restraint device is an airbag.

14. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein said pressure sensor generates a signal based on the measured pressure in said chamber and provides said signal to said control module, said control module being arranged to control deployment of said occupant restraint device based on the signal generated by said pressure sensor and provided by said pressure sensor to said control module.