초록 ▼

A system for determining the weight of the occupant of a vehicle seat includes a hinge near the forward edge of the seat and a force sensor responsive to downward force at a point well to the rear of the hinge thereby indicating torque about the hinge. The system includes a microprocessor connected

A system for determining the weight of the occupant of a vehicle seat includes a hinge near the forward edge of the seat and a force sensor responsive to downward force at a point well to the rear of the hinge thereby indicating torque about the hinge. The system includes a microprocessor connected for receiving the output of the force sensor. The microprocessor may also receive outputs from an accelerometer responsive to vertical accelerations, a seat back recline angle sensor, a seat track position sensor, a seat belt tension sensor and an atmospheric pressure sensor. In a first embodiment the microprocessor determines the weight of the seat occupant from the outputs of the force sensor and the seat back recline sensor. In a second embodiment the microprocessor determines the weight of the seat occupant from the outputs of the force sensor, the seat back recline sensor and the seat track position sensor. A force sensor comprises a compressible bottle with a Belleville spring thereby being responsive to both compression and tension while resisting lateral forces and being insensitive to angular misalignment and temperature fluctuations. The microprocessor may use the accelerometer or the seat belt tension indicator or the two in combination to establish whether the force being sensed derives from seat belt tension applied to a child seat or from the weight of a person.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A seat occupant weight sensing system for an occupant protection system of a vehicle, said occupant. protection system comprising a processor and occupant protection means controlled by said processor for protecting an occupant, said seat occupant weight sensing system comprising:a vehicle seat,

1. A seat occupant weight sensing system for an occupant protection system of a vehicle, said occupant. protection system comprising a processor and occupant protection means controlled by said processor for protecting an occupant, said seat occupant weight sensing system comprising:a vehicle seat, said seat comprising a seat cushion, an element rotatable about an axis, said axis being located near a forward part of said seat, means responsive to torque about said applied to said seat cushion by applying said torque about said axis to said rotatable element, and torque sensing means connected with said rotatable element for providing a torque signal indicating torque applied to said rotatable element, and wherein said processor is connected with said torque sensing means for receiving said torque signal and considering said torque when controlling said occupant protection means; whereby the preponderance of torque, about said axis applied to said seat cushion is applied to said rotatable element and a torque sensor responsive to torque applied to sad rotatable element provides a signal indicating the weight of the seat occupant.