WO1998022920A1 - Systeme de detection d'occupation de siege - Google Patents

Systeme de detection d'occupation de siege Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1998022920A1
WO1998022920A1 PCT/US1997/017345 US9717345W WO9822920A1 WO 1998022920 A1 WO1998022920 A1 WO 1998022920A1 US 9717345 W US9717345 W US 9717345W WO 9822920 A1 WO9822920 A1 WO 9822920A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
seat
sensor
rigid
sensing system
occupant sensing
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1997/017345
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Geoffrey Lawrence Mahon
Original Assignee
Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Breed Automotive Technology, Inc. filed Critical Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
Publication of WO1998022920A1 publication Critical patent/WO1998022920A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • 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
    • B60R21/01512—Passenger detection systems
    • B60R21/01516—Passenger detection systems using force or pressure sensing means
    • 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
    • B60N2/0021—Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon characterised by the type of sensor or measurement
    • B60N2/0024—Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon characterised by the type of sensor or measurement for identifying, categorising or investigation of the occupant or object on the seat
    • B60N2/0025—Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon characterised by the type of sensor or measurement for identifying, categorising or investigation of the occupant or object on the seat by using weight measurement
    • 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
    • B60N2/0021—Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon characterised by the type of sensor or measurement
    • B60N2/003—Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon characterised by the type of sensor or measurement characterised by the sensor mounting location in or on the seat
    • B60N2/0031—Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon characterised by the type of sensor or measurement characterised by the sensor mounting location in or on the seat mounted on the frame
    • 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
    • B60N2/0021—Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon characterised by the type of sensor or measurement
    • B60N2/0035—Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon characterised by the type of sensor or measurement 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
    • 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
    • B60R21/01512—Passenger detection systems
    • B60R21/01516—Passenger detection systems using force or pressure sensing means
    • B60R21/0152—Passenger detection systems using force or pressure sensing means using strain gauges
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60N2210/00—Sensor types, e.g. for passenger detection systems or for controlling seats
    • B60N2210/40—Force or pressure sensors
    • B60N2210/42—Strain gauges
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60N2230/00—Communication or electronic aspects
    • B60N2230/30—Signal processing of sensor data

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an apparatus for sensing the presence and weight of an occupant of a vehicle seat.
  • a seat is unoccupied or is occupied by a person of a particular size, it may not be necessary to activate a safety device associated with that seat. Furthermore, if a seat is occupied by a person of a particular size the manner in which a safety device is employed may be varied accordingly.
  • One indicator of the size of a seat occupant is his or her weight. In the case of an infant, the combined weight of the infant and an infant safety seat is useful as an indicator of occupant size.
  • Fig. 1 is an exploded view of a vehicle seat equipped with an occupant sensing apparatus in accordance with the present invention
  • Fig. 2 is a front elevation view of a vehicle seat equipped with an occupant sensing apparatus in accordance with the present invention
  • Fig. 3 is a side elevation view of a vehicle seat equipped with an occupant sensing apparatus in accordance with the present invention
  • Fig. 4 is a top view of a vehicle seat equipped with an occupant sensing apparatus in accordance with the present invention
  • Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a sensor located between rigid components of a vehicle seat equipped with an occupant sensing apparatus in accordance with the present invention.
  • Fig. 6 is a schematic view of an occupant sensing apparatus in accordance with the present invention.
  • Figs. 1 through 4 there are shown exploded, front elevation, side elevation and top view, respectively, of a vehicle seat equipped with an occupant sensing apparatus in accordance with the present invention.
  • a vehicle seat equipped with an occupant sensing apparatus in accordance with the present invention.
  • the design of various structural components of a vehicle seat can vary from one make and model of vehicle to another, with the vehicle seat shown being merely exemplary of a vehicle seat that may be employed in the practice of the present invention.
  • the present invention does, however, apply to seats in general and may be employed not only with vehicle seats but also any seat where it is desired to ascertain whether or not the seat is occupied and the weight of a seat occupant.
  • a vehicle seat has a seat cushion 10 and a seat back 12.
  • the seat back may have a head rest 13 associated therewith.
  • the seat back may be pivotally attached to the remainder of the seat, as best seen in Fig. 3.
  • the seat cushion 10 and seat back 12 are normally padded, for example with foam rubber, and may contain springs to provide comfort for a seat occupant.
  • the seat has legs 14 which extend between the floor of the vehicle and a rigid seat support member 16, sometimes referred to as the seat frame.
  • the rigid seat support member may be unitary, as shown in Fig. 1, with a cross member extending between two side rails, or the side rails may be only be joined to one another by the seat back and maintained parallel to one another by fastening the seat legs to the floor of the vehicle.
  • a rigid seat pan member 18 supports the seat cushion 10, which is adapted to be secured thereto by having bottom side that is contoured to be complementary to the rigid seat pan member.
  • the rigid seat pan member has a generally rectangular shape which may be adapted to the design of a particular seat cushion and seat frame. As shown in Fig. 1 the rigid seat pan member is substantially a flat frame, however, in some seat designs the perimeter of the rigid seat pan member may be bent to form peripheral walls which may, or may not, have a second horizontal portion associated therewith.
  • the rigid seat support member 16 and the rigid seat pan member 18 are fastened to one another in a spaced apart, vertically juxtaposed relationship, as best shown in Fig. 5.
  • the means for fastening the rigid seat support member and the rigid seat pan member to one another are a plurality of shoulder bolts 24 and nuts 26.
  • the shoulder bolts extend through openings 25 in the rigid seat support member 16 and openings 27 in the rigid seat pan member 18.
  • At least one sensor 20 is interposed between the rigid seat support member 16 and the rigid seat pan member 18 such that all of the force transferred from the rigid seat pan member to the rigid seat support member in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the rigid seat support member which is proximal to the rigid seat pan member is transferred via said at least one sensor.
  • a sensor is located in the vicinity of each corner of the generally rectangular rigid seat pan member.
  • the sensor 20 senses the magnitude of the force transferred therethrough and may be for example a strain gauge, a load cell or a variable resistance pressure sensor.
  • a working prototype of a vehicle seat equipped with an occupant sensing apparatus in accordance with the present invention employed as four sensors 20 which were Model 14 compression only subminiature load cells purchased from Sensotec, Inc.
  • Each sensor 20 has a plurality of electrical leads 21,22 extending therefrom for communicating with a device which processes the signal from each sensor to determine the weight that the rigid seat pan is bearing.
  • Fig. 5 there is shown a schematic view of an occupant sensing apparatus in accordance with the present invention.
  • a signal from at least one sensor is passed through an amplifier to a device, such as a microprocessor which processes the signal, or signals, to determine the weight that the rigid seat pan member is bearing.
  • Algorithms to translate a signal to a weight are well known and are used for example in electronic bathroom scales.
  • the algorithm must take into account the weight of the seat cushion and the rigid seat pan member in determining the weight of the seat occupant. Of course if the weight of the seat occupant is determined to be zero, the seat is unoccupied.
  • inflatable vehicle occupant restraints such as airbags, to determine if the occupant of the front passenger seat of a motor vehicle equipped with a front passenger side airbag is an infant in an infant seat or a small child weighing less than a preselected amount.
  • the device such as a microprocessor which determines the weight that the rigid seat pan is bearing is preferably a controller which controls the activation of at least one safety device for an occupant of the seat based upon said weight.
  • the controller controls, for example, the activation of an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint or a seat belt pretensioner. Additionally the controller may control the manner in which an activated safety device operates, for example controlling the speed at which an airbag is inflated or the amount of seat belt slack which is to be taken up by a pretensioner.
  • the seat occupant sensing system disclosed herein may determine the presence or absence of an object or person on a seat cushion, and the weight of the person or object on a seat cushion and based upon those determinations may activate one or more safety devices, and/or the manner in which an activated safety device should operate.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Seats For Vehicles (AREA)
  • Air Bags (AREA)

Abstract

Ce système de détection d'occupation de siège comporte au moins un capteur de force à résistance variable (20) situé entre un élément de support de siège rigide (16) et un élément de baquet de siège rigide (18). Il s'ensuit que le poids supporté par ledit baquet est transféré à l'élément de support de siège, via au moins un capteur de force à résistance variable qui en analyse l'ampleur. Un dispositif, un microprocesseur, par exemple, traite un signal provenant du ou des capteurs de force à résistance variable afin de déterminer le poids que supporte l'élément de baquet de siège rigide. Ce dispositif de traitement de signaux peut agir sur la mise en marche d'un dispositif de sécurité ainsi que sur son fonctionnement, un dispositif de protection pneumatique ou un dispositif de mise en tension préalable de ceinture de sécurité, et ce, après détection de la présence d'un passager et en fonction du poids de celui-ci.
PCT/US1997/017345 1996-11-22 1997-09-26 Systeme de detection d'occupation de siege WO1998022920A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US75527196A 1996-11-22 1996-11-22
US08/755,271 1996-11-22

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1998022920A1 true WO1998022920A1 (fr) 1998-05-28

Family

ID=25038440

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1997/017345 WO1998022920A1 (fr) 1996-11-22 1997-09-26 Systeme de detection d'occupation de siege

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO1998022920A1 (fr)

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1999035012A1 (fr) * 1998-01-12 1999-07-15 Autoliv Development Ab Systeme de securite d'un vehicule a moteur
EP0990565A1 (fr) * 1997-06-13 2000-04-05 Takata Corporation Dispositif de détection de passager et sac de sécurité gonflable pour un véhicule automobile
GB2342720A (en) * 1998-10-15 2000-04-19 Takata Corp Offset compensation for a seat load measuring apparatus
WO2000050255A1 (fr) * 1999-02-24 2000-08-31 Siemens Automotive Corporation Procede et dispositif pour la detection du poids d'un occupant de siege
WO2000050856A1 (fr) * 1999-02-24 2000-08-31 Siemens Automotive Corporation Pesee d'un passager assis et dispositif a cet effet
WO2002043984A2 (fr) * 2000-11-28 2002-06-06 Siemens Vdo Automotive Corporation Ensemble capteur de poids comportant un ressort de surcharge
DE10005445C2 (de) * 1999-02-08 2002-08-14 Takata Corp Diagnoseverfahren für eine Sitzlastmessvorrichtung
US6476514B1 (en) 2000-03-29 2002-11-05 Ford Global Technologies, Inc. Occupant detection sensor assembly for seats
US6988413B1 (en) 1999-02-24 2006-01-24 Siemens Vdo Automotive Corporation Method and apparatus for sensing seat occupant weight

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5502284A (en) * 1994-03-14 1996-03-26 Grammer Ag Seat plate assembly

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5502284A (en) * 1994-03-14 1996-03-26 Grammer Ag Seat plate assembly

Cited By (18)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0990565A1 (fr) * 1997-06-13 2000-04-05 Takata Corporation Dispositif de détection de passager et sac de sécurité gonflable pour un véhicule automobile
WO1999035012A1 (fr) * 1998-01-12 1999-07-15 Autoliv Development Ab Systeme de securite d'un vehicule a moteur
US6428039B1 (en) 1998-01-12 2002-08-06 Autoliv Development Ab Safety arrangement in a motor vehicle
GB2342720A (en) * 1998-10-15 2000-04-19 Takata Corp Offset compensation for a seat load measuring apparatus
GB2342720B (en) * 1998-10-15 2001-06-13 Takata Corp A seat load measuring apparatus
DE10005445C2 (de) * 1999-02-08 2002-08-14 Takata Corp Diagnoseverfahren für eine Sitzlastmessvorrichtung
US6817254B2 (en) 1999-02-08 2004-11-16 Takata Corporation Diagnostic method for a seat load
US6546817B1 (en) 1999-02-08 2003-04-15 Takata Corporation Diagnostic method for a seat load measuring apparatus
WO2000050856A1 (fr) * 1999-02-24 2000-08-31 Siemens Automotive Corporation Pesee d'un passager assis et dispositif a cet effet
US6557424B1 (en) 1999-02-24 2003-05-06 Siemens Vdo Automotive Corporation Method and apparatus for sensing seat occupant weight
WO2000050255A1 (fr) * 1999-02-24 2000-08-31 Siemens Automotive Corporation Procede et dispositif pour la detection du poids d'un occupant de siege
US6988413B1 (en) 1999-02-24 2006-01-24 Siemens Vdo Automotive Corporation Method and apparatus for sensing seat occupant weight
US7578198B2 (en) 1999-02-24 2009-08-25 Continental Automotive Systems Us, Inc. Method and apparatus for sensing seat occupant weight
US7584667B2 (en) 1999-02-24 2009-09-08 Continental Automotive Systems Us, Inc. Method and apparatus for sensing seat occupant weight
US6476514B1 (en) 2000-03-29 2002-11-05 Ford Global Technologies, Inc. Occupant detection sensor assembly for seats
WO2002043984A3 (fr) * 2000-11-28 2002-12-19 Siemens Automotive Corp Lp Ensemble capteur de poids comportant un ressort de surcharge
WO2002043984A2 (fr) * 2000-11-28 2002-06-06 Siemens Vdo Automotive Corporation Ensemble capteur de poids comportant un ressort de surcharge
US6759603B2 (en) 2000-11-28 2004-07-06 Siemens Vdo Automotive Corporation Weight sensor assembly with overload spring

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