Apparatus and method for measuring weight of an occupying item of a seat
AssigneeAutomotive Technologies International, Inc.
InventorsDavid S. Breed, Wilbur E. DuVall, Wendell C. Johnson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims25
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.
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.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.