Hall effect seat belt tension sensor
AssigneeCTS Corporation
InventorsMurray Kaijala, Dale Teeters
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hall effect seat belt tension sensor for a vehicle. The sensor has a housing mounted to a seat belt. An anchor plate is mounted between the seat belt and a fixed point on a vehicle. The anchor plate is partially mounted in housing. A spring is mounted between the housing and the anchor plate. Tension on the seat belt causes the anchor plate to move relative to the housing. A magnetic field generator is mounted to the anchor plate. The magnetic field generator moves as the anchor plate moves. A magnetic field sensor is mounted to the housing. The sensor generates an electrical signal in response to movement of the magnetic field generator.
Claims25
A seat belt tension sensor for attachment between a seat belt and a vehicle structure comprising:
- a) a housing having a cavity;
- b) an anchor plate having a first portion located in the cavity, the housing movable relative to the anchor plate between a first position and a second position;
- c) a magnet mounted adjacent the anchor plate, the magnet moving as the anchor plate moves;
- d) a sensor mounted to the housing, the sensor generating an electrical signal in response to moving between the first and second positions, the electrical signal changing as a function of tension on the seat belt;
- and
- e) a spring located between the housing and the anchor plate, the spring urging the housing toward the first position.
A seat belt tension sensor for attachment between a seat belt and a vehicle structure comprising:
- a) a housing having a cavity;
- b) an anchor plate mounted in the cavity, the housing movable relative to the anchor plate;
- c) a carriage mounted to the housing;
- d) a magnet mounted to the anchor plate adjacent the carriage, the magnet moving as the anchor plate moves, the magnet further being guided by the carriage;
- and
- e) a magnetic field sensor mounted to the housing, the sensor generating an electrical signal in response to movement between the housing and the anchor plate, the electrical signal changing as a function of tension on the seat belt.
A seat belt tension sensor comprising:
- a) a housing mounted to a seat belt;
- b) an anchor plate mounted between the seat belt and a fixed point on a vehicle, the anchor plate further being partially mounted in housing;
- c) a spring mounted between the housing and the anchor plate, tension on the seat belt causing the spring to be compressed and the anchor plate to move relative to the housing;
- d) a magnetic field generator mounted to the anchor plate, the magnetic field generator moving as the anchor plate moves;
- and
- e) a magnetic field sensor mounted to the housing, the sensor generating an electrical signal in response to movement of the magnetic field generator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.