Advanced weight responsive supplemental restraint computer system

• US 8,814,208 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2007
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TABE, JOSEPH
• Original Assignee: TABE, JOSEPH
• Inventors: Tabe, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOODEN JR, BARRY J
• Application Number:
  US11/670,057
• Publication Number:
  US 20070182139A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,687 Days
• Field of Search: 280/735
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01197 Warning devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01272 Belt tensioners
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0152 using strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/44 with means for reducing belt tension during use under normal conditions not included in the retractor B60R22/19; B60R22/3405 takes precedence

Abstract

An advanced weight responsive supplemental restraint computer system that minimizes both actual and perceived dangers related to the deployment of vehicle air bag systems by distinguishing between the varying size and weight of a passenger and also sensing the imminence of a collision in order to cater the air bag deployment to the unique physical attributes of the passenger.

Claims

1. A safety system for an occupant in a vehicle, comprising:

at least a seat disposed with a seat mounting structure affixed on a floor means of the vehicle;

at least a weight sensor is secured between said seat mounting structure and the floor means, configured to measure the occupant'"'"'s accurate weight when the vehicle is started and also while the vehicle is running;

at least a supplemental restraint device comprising at least an air bag;

configured to apply an amount of deployment force value in proportion to the occupant'"'"'s weight measurement;

at least a control module in communication with said supplemental restraint device for regulating at least said amount of deployment force value according to at least the measured occupant'"'"'s weight;

said weight sensor being further configured for determining the weight of the occupant seated on the seat and generating an output signal indicative thereof;

at least a collision sensor in communication with said control module;

said control module responsive to said weight sensor for controlling said supplemental restraint device, wherein the airbag is rendered of sufficient deployment force value to keep the occupant on said seat when a collision is sensed, but is not rendered of sufficient deployment force value to cause impact injury to the occupant;

wherein said weight sensor further comprises load cells operatively configured with strain gauges and disposed between the seat mounting structure and the floor means of the vehicle; and

wherein said weight sensor is in association with at least an accelerometer apparatus, wherein said accelerometer apparatus is further disposed with at least a mass selectively engaged with at least a crystal means, said crystal means responsive to at least a force corresponding to said measured weight and generating electrical energy across at least a surface thereof indicative of said airbag deployment force value.

2. The safety system of claim 1, wherein said control module is in communication with said weight sensor and said supplemental restraint device.

3. The safety system of claim 1, wherein said control module further comprises at least a processor.

4. The safety system of claim 1, wherein said air bag is configured to deploy at a speed and the deployment force value that are proportional to the occupant'"'"'s weight.

5. The safety system of claim 1, further comprising means for detecting at least a rear end collision, in communication with said supplemental restraint device.

6. The safety system of claim 1, wherein said accelerometer apparatus is further operatively configured with said control module for calculating said amount of deployment force value for said air bag based upon at least the weight value of the seated occupant or at least a collision force value according to the vehicle speed.

7. The safety system of claim 1, wherein said control module further comprises a computer apparatus.

8. The safety system of claim 1, wherein said weight sensor is further structurally secured on a non elastic portion of the seat mounting structure.

9. The safety system of claim 1, wherein said control module is communicatively connected to said accelerometer apparatus.

10. The safety system of claim 1, wherein said control module is further configured to adjust said air bag deployment force value and at least a deployment speed based on the measured weight for at least the seated occupant on the seat.

11. The safety system of claim 1, wherein said weight sensor is further configured for taking weight measurements of at least the seated occupant and for converting at least a weight measurements into one or more electrical signals.

12. The safety system of claim 1, wherein said control module is further configured for receiving the measured weight of the seated occupant and for adjusting the air bag deployment force value and the airbag deployment speed for the seated occupant with at least a value that is proportionate to the weight measurement.

13. The safety system of claim 1, wherein said control module is further configured with said weight sensor and said collision sensor for adjusting the amount of deployment force value to keep the occupant on said seat.

14. The safety system of claim 1, further comprising at least an erasable programmable read only memory in communication with said weight sensor.

15. The safety system of claim 14, wherein said erasable programmable read only memory further comprising apparatus for correcting at least a weight data for at least a changing seated occupant on the seat.

16. The safety system of claim 14, wherein said erasable programmable read only memory is further operatively configured with said control module for monitoring the weight of at least the seated occupant on the seat;

said erasable programmable read only memory correcting at least a weight data of at least a changing seated occupant on said seat.