Seat load detection apparatus

• US 20060170259A1
• Filed: 11/08/2005
• Published: 08/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Fujii, Hiroyuki, Itoh, Kohji, Inayoshi, Muneto
• Granted Patent: US 7,514,638 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/217.300
• 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 2/0025 by using weight measurement
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0031 mounted on the frame
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0035 characterised by the sensor data transmission, e.g. wired connections or wireless transmitters therefor; characterised by the sensor data processing, e.g. seat sensor signal amplification or electric circuits for providing seat sensor information
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/42 Strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2230/10 Wired data transmission

Abstract

A sensor body is interposed between a leg bracket and a lower rail and detects a seat load. A plate member of the sensor body is a unit including a circular strain element having an axial line in the vertical direction and a substrate extending radially from the strain element. An outer circumferential support member is attached to the leg bracket to hold the outer circumferential edge of the strain element. An inner circumferential support member is attached to the lower rail to hold the inner circumferential edge of the strain element. The strain element includes a strain gauge configured to output a signal in accordance with the load in the axial direction of the strain element on the basis of the distortion between the outer and inner circumferences. The substrate includes an electric circuit electrically connected the strain gauge and configured to process the output signal from strain gauge.

Claims

1. A seat load detection apparatus configured to detect a load applied on a seat, the apparatus being interposed between a seat-fixing member for a floor and a fixing member for the seat, the apparatus comprising:

a plate member forming a unit including a circular strain element having an axis extending in the vertical direction and a substrate extending in the radial direction of the strain element;

an outer circumferential support member configured to support the edge of the outer circumference of the strain element, the outer circumferential support member being attached to one of the seat-fixing member for the floor and the fixing member for the seat;

an inner circumferential support member configured to support the edge of the inner circumference of the strain element, the inner circumferential support member being attached on the other one of the seat-fixing member for the floor and the fixing member for the seat;

a detection element configured to output a signal corresponding to the load applied to the strain element in the axial direction on the basis of distortion generated between the outer circumference and the inner circumference of the strain element, the detection element being disposed on the strain element; and

an electric circuit configured to process the signal output from the detection element, the electric circuit being electrically connected to the detection element and being mounted on the substrate.

2. The seat load detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein,

the outer circumferential support member includes a first holding member and a second holding member,

the first holding member and the second holding member are stacked along the axial direction at the outward area in the radial direction and sandwich the edge of the outer circumference of the strain element, and

the first holding member and the second holding member stacked along the axial direction are welded together by welding directed at the outward area in the radial direction.

3. The seat load detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein,

the inner circumferential support member has a nut, and

the inner circumferential support member is fixed to the other one of the seat-fixing member for the floor and the fixing member for the seat by screwing the nut onto a bolt with the other one of the seat-fixing member for the floor and the fixing member for the seat being interposed between the nut and the head of the bolt.

4. The seat load detection apparatus according to claim 2, wherein,

the inner circumferential support member has a nut, and

the inner circumferential support member is fixed to the other one of the seat-fixing member for the floor and the fixing member for the seat by screwing the nut onto a bolt with the other one of the seat-fixing member for the floor and the fixing member for the seat being interposed between the nut and the head of the bolt.

5. The seat load detection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

rotation prevention means for limiting the relative rotation of the outer circumferential support member and one of the seat-fixing member for the floor and the fixing member for the seat.

6. The seat load detection apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

rotation prevention means for limiting the relative rotation of the outer circumferential support member and one of the seat-fixing member for the floor and the fixing member for the seat.

7. The seat load detection apparatus according to claim 5, wherein,

the rotation prevention means is engagement means for engaging the outer circumferential support member and one of the seat-fixing member for the floor and the fixing member for the seat.

8. The seat load detection apparatus according to claim 5, wherein,

the rotation prevention means includes a plurality of fixing units configured to join the outer circumferential support member and one of the seat-fixing member for the floor and the fixing member for the seat.

9. The seat load detection apparatus according to claim 8, wherein,

the outer circumferential support member comprises a flange extending outwards in the radial direction, and

each of the fixing units includes a fastening member configured to join the flange and one of the seat-fixing member for the floor and the fixing member for the seat.

10. The seat load detection apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:

an elastic material interposed between the flange and one of the seat-fixing member for the floor and the fixing member for the seat.

11. The seat load detection apparatus according to claim 8, wherein each of the fixing units includes a nut on the outer circumferential support member and a bolt screwed into the nut with one of the seat-fixing member for the floor and the fixing member for the seat being interposed between the nut and the head of the bolt.

12. The seat load detection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

rotation prevention means for limiting the relative rotation of the inner circumferential support member and the other one of the seat-fixing member for the floor and the fixing member for the seat.

13. The seat load detection apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

rotation prevention means for limiting the relative rotation of the inner circumferential support member and the other one of the seat-fixing member for the floor and the fixing member for the seat.

14. The seat load detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein,

the outer circumferential support member has a bolt, and

the outer circumferential support member is fixed to one of the seat-fixing member for the floor and the fixing member for the seat by screwing a fixing nut onto a bolt passed through one of the seat-fixing member for the floor and the fixing member for the seat.

15. The seat load detection apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the bolt has a predetermined width across flat for preventing rotation when screwing the fixing nut onto the bolt.

16. The seat load detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein,

the inner circumferential support member includes a holding bolt having an axial line extending in the vertical direction and being configured to hold the edge of the inner circumference of the strain element and a holding nut screwed onto the holding bolt, and

the holding nut has an attachment hole penetrating in the width direction of the holding nut, the attachment hole being provided so as to attach the other one of the seat-fixing member for the floor and the fixing member for the seat.

17. The seat load detection apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the other one of the seat-fixing member for the floor and the fixing member for the seat is pivotably engaged with to the attachment hole.

18. The seat load detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the outer circumferential support member has a notch for guiding the substrate outside the apparatus.

19. The seat load detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the outer circumferential support member and the inner circumferential support member has a draining hole penetrating through the support member in the vertical direction.