Apparatus and method for measuring weight of an occupying item of a seat

• US 6,555,766 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2001
• Issued: 04/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: American Vehicular Sciences LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Automotive Technologies International Incorporated
• Inventors: Breed, David S., Johnson, Wendell C., DuVall, Wilbur E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gibson, Randy W.
• Application Number:
  US09/901,879
• Publication Number:
  US 20010054516A1
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 177/136, 177/144, 177/210.R, 177/210.C, 180/273, 280/735, 737/68, 701/45, 340/667
• US Class Current: 177/144
• 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 2/0224 Non-manual adjustments, e.g. with electrical operation
• 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 2/06 slidable B60N2/12 , B60N2/2209 take precedence
• 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 2/68 Seat frames
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/806 movable or adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/809 vertically slidable
• 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 21/01516 : 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

Vehicle seat structure including a seat defining a surface adapted to contact an occupying item and a weight sensor arrangement arranged in connection with the seat for providing an indication of the weight applied by the occupying item to the surface of the seat. The weight sensor arrangement includes conductive members spaced apart from one another such that a capacitance develops between opposed ones of the conductive members upon incorporation of the conductive members in an electrical circuit. The capacitance is based on the space between the conductive members which varies in relation to the weight applied by the occupying item to the surface of the seat.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat structure, comprising:

a seat defining a surface adapted to contact an occupying item; and

a weight sensor arrangement arranged in connection with said seat for providing an indication of the weight applied by the occupying item to the surface of said seat,

said weight sensor arrangement including conductive members spaced apart from one another such that a capacitance develops between opposed ones of said conductive members upon incorporation of said conductive members in an electrical circuit, the capacitance being based on the space between said conductive members which varies in relation to the weight applied by the occupying item to the surface of said seat,

said weight sensor arrangement further including a pair of non-metallic substrates and a layer of a compressible material situated between said non-metallic substrates.

2. The seat structure of claim 1, wherein said conductive members comprise a first electrode arranged on a first side of said material layer and a second electrode arranged on a second side of said material layer.

3. The seat structure of claim 1, further comprising slide mechanisms adapted to support said seat on a substrate of the vehicle while enabling movement of said seat.

4. The seat structure of claim 3, wherein said weight sensor arrangement is arranged in connection with said slide mechanisms.

5. The seat structure of claim 3, wherein said weight sensor arrangement is arranged between said slide mechanisms and said seat.

6. The seat structure of claim 3, further comprising bolts for attaching said seat to said slide mechanisms.

7. The seat structure of claim 6, wherein said conductive members are annular and placed on said bolts.

8. A seat structure, comprising:

a seat defining a surface adapted to contact an occupying item;

slide mechanisms adapted to support said seat on a substrate of the vehicle while enabling movement of said seat; and

a weight sensor arrangement interposed between said seat and said slide mechanisms for measuring displacement of said seat which provides an indication of the weight applied by the occupying item to said seat.

9. The seat structure of claim 8, wherein said weight sensor arrangement includes a capacitance sensor which measures a capacitance which varies in relation to the displacement of said seat.

10. The seat structure of claim 9, wherein said capacitance sensor includes conductive members spaced apart from one another such that a capacitance develops between opposed ones of said conductive members upon incorporation of said conductive members in an electrical circuit, the capacitance being based on the space between said conductive members which varies in relation to the weight applied by the occupying item to said seat.

11. The seat structure of claim 10, wherein said weight sensor arrangement includes a pair of washers and a layer of material situated between said washers.

12. The seat structure of claim 11, wherein said conductive members comprise a first electrode arranged on a first side of said material layer and a second electrode arranged on a second side of said material layer.

13. The seat structure of claim 11, wherein said material layer is made of a compressible material.

14. The seat structure of claim 10, further comprising bolts for attaching said seat to said slide mechanisms.

15. The seat structure of claim 14, wherein said conductive members are annular and placed on said bolts.

16. The seat structure of claim 8, further comprising a bottom cushion, said weight sensor arrangement comprising a spring system arranged underneath said cushion and a sensor arranged in association with said spring system for generating a signal based on downward movement of said cushion caused by occupancy of the seat which is indicative of the weight of the occupying item.

17. The seat structure of claim 16, wherein said sensor is a displacement sensor structured and arranged to measure displacement of said spring system caused by occupancy of the seat.

18. The seat structure of claim 16, wherein said sensor comprises:

a spring having first and second ends and being retained at said first and second ends, said spring being tensioned upon downward movement of said spring system; and

measuring means for measuring a force in said spring indicative of weight of the occupying item.

19. The seat structure of claim 18, wherein said measuring means comprise a strain gage for measuring strain of said spring.

20. The seat structure of claim 18, wherein said measuring means comprise a force-measuring device.

21. The seat structure of claim 16, wherein said sensor comprises a support, a cable retained at one end by said support and a length measuring device arranged at an opposite end of said cable for measuring elongation of said cable indicative of weight of the occupying item.

22. The seat structure of claim 16, wherein said sensor comprises at least one SAW strain gage.

23. The seat structure of claim 16, wherein said sensor is structured and arranged to measure a physical state of said spring system.

24. The seat structure of claim 8, wherein said weight sensor arrangement comprises a linear rheostat.

25. The seat structure of claim 8, wherein said weight sensor arrangement comprises a linear variable differential transformer.

26. The seat structure of claim 8, wherein said weight sensor arrangement comprises a linear variable capacitor.

27. The seat structure of claim 21, wherein said length measuring device is selected from a group consisting of a linear rheostat, a linear variable different transformer and a linear variable capacitor.

28. A vehicle seat structure, comprising:

a seat defining a surface adapted to contact an occupying item;

a weight sensor arrangement arranged in connection with said seat for providing an indication of the weight applied by the occupying item to the surface of said seat, said weight sensor arrangement including conductive members spaced apart from one another such that a capacitance develops between opposed ones of said conductive members upon incorporation of said conductive members in an electrical circuit, the capacitance being based on the space between said conductive members which varies in relation to the weight applied by the occupying item to the surface of said seat;

slide mechanisms adapted to support said seat on a substrate of the vehicle while enabling movement of said seat; and

bolts for attaching said seat to said slide mechanisms,

said conductive members being annular and placed on said bolts.

29. A vehicle seat structure, comprising:

a seat defining a surface adapted to contact an occupying item,

slide mechanisms adapted to support said seat on a substrate of the vehicle while enabling movement of said seat;

at least one elongate stud having a first end portion attached to said seat and a second end portion attached to one of said slide mechanisms;

a strain gage arranged on each of said at least one stud between said first and second end portions for measuring strain in said stud caused by weight applied by the occupying item to the surface of said seat; and

transmitting means coupled to said strain gage for transmitting the measured strain in said stud, said transmitting means comprising an antenna.

30. The seat structure of claim 29, wherein said first and second end portions are threaded and said strain gage is arranged on an unthreaded portion of said stud between said first and second threaded end portions.

31. The seat structure of claim 29, wherein said strain gage is a SAW strain gage.

32. The seat structure of claim 29, wherein said at least one stud comprises four studs, two of said studs being attached to each of said slide mechanisms.

33. The seat structure of claim 29, wherein said stud is made of a non-metallic material.

34. A vehicle seat structure, comprising:

a seat defining a surface adapted to contact an occupying item;

slide mechanisms adapted to support said seat on a substrate of the vehicle while enabling movement of said seat;

at least one elongate stud having a first end portion attached to said seat and a second end portion attached to one of said slide mechanisms;

a SAW strain gage arranged on each of said at least one stud between said first and second end portions for measuring strain in said stud caused by weight applied by the occupying item to the surface of said seat; and

transmitting means coupled to said SAW strain gage for transmitting the measured strain in said stud.

35. A vehicle seat structure, comprising:

a seat defining a surface adapted to contact an occupying item,

slide mechanisms adapted to support said seat on a substrate of the vehicle while enabling movement of said seat;

at least one elongate stud having a first end portion attached to said seat and a second end portion attached to one of said slide mechanisms, said stud being made of a non-metallic material;

a strain gage arranged on each of said at least one stud between said first and second end portions for measuring strain in said stud caused by weight applied by the occupying item to the surface of said seat, and

transmitting means coupled to said strain gage for transmitting the measured strain in said stud.