GB2508382A - Device for simulating occupancy of vehicle seat - Google Patents
Device for simulating occupancy of vehicle seat Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2508382A GB2508382A GB201221527A GB201221527A GB2508382A GB 2508382 A GB2508382 A GB 2508382A GB 201221527 A GB201221527 A GB 201221527A GB 201221527 A GB201221527 A GB 201221527A GB 2508382 A GB2508382 A GB 2508382A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- electrical
- occupancy
- resistor
- diode
- circuit arrangement
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
- 230000000903 blocking effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 8
- 241001274197 Scatophagus argus Species 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 abstract description 2
- 239000003990 capacitor Substances 0.000 abstract 1
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 description 4
- 230000002950 deficient Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000007547 defect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000001960 triggered effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000003213 activating effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000004913 activation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000004020 conductor Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000006378 damage Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000003745 diagnosis Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010304 firing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000014759 maintenance of location Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60N2/00—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
- B60N2/002—Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
- B60R21/01—Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents
- B60R21/015—Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents 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
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
- Transportation (AREA)
- Air Bags (AREA)
Abstract
A device 1 for simulating occupancy of a vehicle seat comprises a circuit (2, Figure 1) having a diode 3 and a variable resistor 4, and an electrical connection 9 connecting circuit 2 to a control device of a vehicle occupant safety system, for example an airbag. The circuit may be located in a housing 7. Variable resistor 4 may have a maximum resistance of 100 kiloohms. Diode 3 and variable resistor 4 may be in parallel or in series. There may be an additional fixed series resistor, and also a capacitor in series or parallel with diode 3 and/or variable resistor 4. Diode 3 may be a blocking diode. Connection 9 may be a plug connector or a connection of wire contacts 5, 6. The device may be used to bypass a faulty passenger detection system in a vehicle seat.
Description
Device for simulating a seat occupancy in vehicles Thc invention refers to a device for simulating a scat occupancy in vchiclcs, comprising a circuit arrangement having a first and a second electrical component and an electrical connection for producing an electrically conductive connection of the circuit arrangement with a control device of a vehicle passenger-safety-system.
Vehicles are nowadays equipped with seat occupancy sensors, which can be used to detect whether a person or an object is located on the seat. Usually such seat occupancy sensors are realized by pressure-sensitive sensor elements. Such sensor elements are arranged at or in a vehicle scat, for instance in form of an occupancy mats.
The occupancy sensors in a vehicle are usually connected to the vehicle's airbag-system.
The airbag-system is in turn often adjusted so that an airbag associated to the seat is only triggered when an occupied seat is detected. The airbag-system is associated to the passenger-safety-system.
A defect of an error of the seat occupancy sensor or the occupancy mat detected by the vehicle control system is indicated by an error indication in the drivers field of view.
Usually the trigger mechanism of the airbag associated to the seat is deactivated if an error state has been detected. This causes, that one or more vehicle airbags are not triggered, although a respective vehicle seat is occupied by a passenger.
The error diagnosis or the exchange or the repair of a vehicle's seat occupancy sensor or occupancy mat is relatively complex and costly. Apart from the complexity and repair expenses a deactivated airbag-system causes the high risk of passengers injuries. Further the driver is oflen lefi with an uncertainty if the error indication in his field of view indicates a defect of the airbag or of another component of the passenger-safety-system.
Thus there is the desire for an inexpensive and simple alternative to an exchange or a repair of defective seat occupancy sensors. At the same time there is the desire to prevent the error indication in the drivers field of view without fhrther interference with the passenger-safety-system.
From EP 0 890 488 BI a control system activating an airbag is known, for which the drivers and/or passengers position can be detected with the help of connected sensors.
From EP 0 885 782 BI a stereoscopic object-detection-system is known with which characteristic variables of objects on a seat can be registered and determined.
From EP 0 731 002 Al an arrangement for preventing false triggering of passenger-safety-systems caused by short circuits or over voltages in a board net of a vehicle. The arrangement is based on airbag firing caps which are insensitive for the maximum board vo It age.
From EP 1 152 926 BI a sensor for seat occupancy detection for intelligent retention systems is known for which the airbag is deactivated if a vehicle's passenger position is not occupied or is occupied by a child.
From ES 2172450 a method known for detecting if a vehicle's seat is occupied by a passenger using optical sensor means. For that the optical sensor means comprises optical wires which are integrated into the base and the backrest of a vehicle's seat. On their respective ends the optical wires are connected to light sources and and light receivers.
From EP 1 550 576 B 1 another device is known with which the presence of a passenger on a vehicle's seat can be detected.
The present invention is based on the objective to provide a device for a passenger-safety-system, with which in an event of an error of a vehicle's seat-occupancy-sensor the error indication can be removed and the passenger-safety-system can be notified of the occupancy of a seat.
The problem is solved by a device of the aforementioned kind with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are specified in the dependent claims.
A device according to the invention is a device for simulating a seat occupancy in vehicles, comprising a circuit arrangement having a first and a second electrical component, an electrical connection for producing an electrically conductive connection of the circuit arrangement with a control device of a vehicle occupant safety system, wherein the first electrical component is a diode, characterized in that the second electrical component is a variable electrical resistor. Preferably the circuit arrangement is configured such that it represents the electrical characteristics of an seat-occupancy-sensor for the case of an occupied seat. It is conceivable that beside a first and a second electrical component further components are provided which are pertinent and/or necessary to reflect the electrical characteristics of a vehicle's scat-occupancy-sensor or occupancy-mat. Via the electrical connection different contact points and/or branches of the circuit arrangement can be tapped and connected to the passenger-safety-system or a component thereof A component can be an upstream control device or a preliminary or intermediate stage of the respective system.
The device according to the invention simulates the occupancy of a vehicles seat by providing the electrical characteristics or the electrical function of an occupancy-sensor for the occupancy ease to an interface of the passenger-safety-system or a component of the passenger-safety-system. This prevents the activation of an error indicator for a defective occupancy-sensor. Thus the exchange, the repair or the error analysis of a defective occupancy-sensor can be permanently or transitionally be avoided.
Disturbances, defccts or failures of further occupancy-sensors can still bc indicated by an error indicator.
By using a variable electrical resistor the electrical characteristics of the device can be adapted in an advantageous manner. The device according to the invention can thus in particular be used in different cars without the need for exchanging components of the device. The variable resistor preferably provides a minimal value above zero which can not be undercut. Preferably this value is the lowest ohmic value allowable for being connected to a passenger-safety-system or a preliminary stage of the vehicle's passenger-safety-system. It is conceivable that the minimal value of the resistor is 1 kOhm, 5 kOhm or 10 kOhnt According to a preferred embodiment of the invention the device comprises a housing, wherein the circuit arrangement is arranged in the housing. Preferably the electrical connection is led out of the housing by wire connections. It is further conceivable that the electrical connection is arranged at an opening of the housing. Alternatively or additionally the electrical connection is fixedly connected to the housing and/or to the electrical arrangement or the device respectively.
In a further preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, the electrical connection is dcsigncd as a plug connector or in the form of wire contacts. Prcfcrably the electrical connection is designed as universal plug connection which can be connected to the passenger-safety-system or a component thereof In particular the plug connector can be designed so that it can be connected to the passenger-safety-system or a component thereof instead of the scat-occupancy-sensor or the seat-occupancy-mats.
Thus an occupancy-mat or a seat-occupancy-sensor can easily be exchanged with the device according to the invention. The electrical connection can altematively or additionally be configured as universal connector to which various adapters can be connected in order to provide a compatibility to various vehicle types or brands. The universal connection can also be configured such that it is compatible to various connections of different vehicles without the use of an additional adapter.
By the design of the electrical connection in the form of wire contacts it is further possible to connect the device according to the invention to the passenger-safety-system or to a component thereof universally or independent of the vehicle's connection system.
The wire contacts can be formed as strands in particular. It is also conceivable to connect the device according to the invention directly to the vehicle control system or to the passenger-safety-system or a component thereof in easily accessible places.
In a further preferred embodiment the first and second electrical component are connected in parallel. Altematively the first and the second component is connected in series. It is further conceivable that further components are connected in a electrically conductive manner to a first and/or a second common contact of the first and/or second component. In particular further components can be connected in a electrically conductive manner to a first and/or a second own contact of the first and/or second component. For instance capacitive components can be connected in parallel or in series to the first and/or second component.
Preferably the variable electrical resistor is a variable 100 kOhm resistor. Further preferably the diode is a blocking diode.
In a further embodiment the circuit arrangement comprises a series resistor. In particular the scrics resistor is intcgratcd into the circuit arrangement such that a polarity reversal does not cause a short circuit in the vehicle's electrical system or in a component thereof Preferably the series resistor has such a value that the current in one or more branches of the circuit arrangement is limited to an allowable value. The current value depends on the input voltage value at the electrical connection of the device. This voltage is in turn dependent on the electrical voltage of the passenger-safety-system or the board net and/or further electrical components of the vehicle. It is perceivable that the series resistor value is I kOhm, 5 kOhm or 10 kOhm.
An embodiment of the invention is illustrated below with reference to FIGS. The figures show schematically: Fig. 1 a circuit arrangement according to the invention, Fig. 2 the device according to the invention in a housing with an electrical connection.
In Fig. I the circuit arrangement 2 according to the invention is shown. The circuit arrangement 2 comprises a blocking diode 3 as well a a variable resistor 4. The blocking diode 3 is connected in parallel to the variable resistor 4. A first common connection of the blocking diode 3 and the variable resistor 4 is connected to a first tap 5 in an electrically conductive manner. A second common connection of the blocking diode 3 and the variable resistor 4 is in connection with a second tap 6 in a electrically conductive manner. At 11 a first and at 12 a second own contact of the first electrical component is shown, the second electrical component being a blocking diode.
Fig. 2 shows the circuit arrangement 2 of Fig. 1. The circuit arrangement 2 is arranged in a housing 7. The taps 5 and 6 of the circuit arrangement 2 are connected to an electrical connection 9 via electrical conductors 8. The electrical connection 9 is configured in form of a plug connectot List of References: 1 dcvicc for simulating a scat occupancy in vchiclcs 2 circuit arrangement 3 fir st electrical component 4 second electrical component fir st tap of a first common contact 6 first tap of a second common contact 7 housing 8 clcctrical conductivc conncctor 9 clcctrical conncction first own contact 11 second own contact
Claims (7)
- Claims: 1. Dcvicc for simulating a scat occupancy in vchiclcs, comprising a circuit arrangement (2) having a first and a second electrical component (3, 4), an electrical connection (9) for producing an electrically conductive connection of the circuit arrangement (2) with a control device of a vehicle occupant safety system, wherein the first electrical component (3) is a diode, characterized in that the second electrical component is a variable electrical resistor (4).
- 2. Dcvicc according to claim 1, charactcrizcd in that the dcvicc comprises a housing (7), whcrcin thc circuit arrangcmcnt (2) is arrangcd in thc housing (7).
- 3. Device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the electrical connection (9) is designed as a plug connector or in the form of wire contacts.
- 4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first and the second electrical component (3, 4) are connected in parallel.
- 5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the variable electrical resistor (4) is a variable 100 kOhm resistor
- 6. Dcvicc according to one of the preceding claims, charactcrizcd in that thc diodc is a blocking diodc.
- 7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the circuit arrangement (2) comprises a series resistor.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB201221527A GB2508382A (en) | 2012-11-29 | 2012-11-29 | Device for simulating occupancy of vehicle seat |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB201221527A GB2508382A (en) | 2012-11-29 | 2012-11-29 | Device for simulating occupancy of vehicle seat |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB2508382A true GB2508382A (en) | 2014-06-04 |
Family
ID=50683738
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB201221527A Withdrawn GB2508382A (en) | 2012-11-29 | 2012-11-29 | Device for simulating occupancy of vehicle seat |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2508382A (en) |
Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5612876A (en) * | 1994-03-03 | 1997-03-18 | Mercedes-Benz Ag | Device for detecting seat occupancy in a motor vehicle |
| US6109117A (en) * | 1996-12-19 | 2000-08-29 | Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc. | Seat weight sensor |
| DE202010016472U1 (en) * | 2009-12-15 | 2011-03-24 | Isensee, Gerrit Ragnar Ulrich Friedrich, Maspalomas | Module for simulating an occupied seat contact mat in vehicles |
| DE202011102678U1 (en) * | 2011-06-07 | 2011-09-12 | Matthias Edelmann | Universal module for airbag systems for the simulation of fully functional airbag sensors |
| DE202012008682U1 (en) * | 2012-09-11 | 2012-10-10 | Adam Wotzka | Module for simulating an occupied seat occupancy mat in vehicles |
-
2012
- 2012-11-29 GB GB201221527A patent/GB2508382A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5612876A (en) * | 1994-03-03 | 1997-03-18 | Mercedes-Benz Ag | Device for detecting seat occupancy in a motor vehicle |
| US6109117A (en) * | 1996-12-19 | 2000-08-29 | Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc. | Seat weight sensor |
| DE202010016472U1 (en) * | 2009-12-15 | 2011-03-24 | Isensee, Gerrit Ragnar Ulrich Friedrich, Maspalomas | Module for simulating an occupied seat contact mat in vehicles |
| DE202011102678U1 (en) * | 2011-06-07 | 2011-09-12 | Matthias Edelmann | Universal module for airbag systems for the simulation of fully functional airbag sensors |
| DE202012008682U1 (en) * | 2012-09-11 | 2012-10-10 | Adam Wotzka | Module for simulating an occupied seat occupancy mat in vehicles |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |