Seat belt tension sensor assembly
AssigneeCustom Sensors & Technologies, Inc.
InventorGary L. Casey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Described herein is a seat belt tension sensor assembly that includes an anchor plate adapted to be secured to an object, a housing associated with and movable with respect to the anchor plate, wherein the housing defines a cavity therein, and a sense element disposed in the cavity. The sense element is adapted to produce an output in response to a force placed thereon. The output provided by the sense element is a function of the force placed on the housing by a seat belt up to a predetermined maximum value. The housing does not move until the maximum value is reached, and, after the maximum value is reached, the output of the sense element does not substantially change from the maximum value.
Claims18
A seat belt tension sensor assembly for use with a seat belt comprising:
- a. an anchor plate that is adapted to be secured to an object, wherein the anchor plate includes a sensor opening defined therethrough,
- b. a housing that includes first and second housing halves that define a cavity therebetween, wherein a portion of each of the housings halves are received in the sensor opening of the anchor plate, wherein the housing is movable with respect to the anchor plate, and wherein the housing and the anchor plate cooperate to define a seat belt opening,
- c. a sense element disposed in the cavity, wherein the sense element is adapted to produce an electrical signal in response to a force placed thereon, and
- d. a preloaded spring disposed in the cavity between the sense element and the anchor plate, wherein the preloaded spring has a spring force, wherein the spring is adapted to compress when the force placed on the housing by the seat belt is greater than the spring force.
A seat belt tension sensor assembly comprising:
- an anchor plate adapted to be secured to an object,
- a housing associated with and movable with respect to the anchor plate, wherein the housing defines a cavity therein, and
- a sense element disposed in the cavity, wherein the sense element is adapted to produce an output in response to a force placed thereon,
- wherein the output provided by the sense element is a function of the force placed on the housing by a seat belt up to a predetermined maximum value, wherein the housing does not move until the maximum value is reached, and wherein after the maximum value is reached, the output of the sense element does not substantially change from the maximum value.
A method comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a seat belt tension sensor assembly that comprises
- an anchor plate secured to an object,
- a housing associated with and movable with respect to the anchor plate, wherein the housing defines a cavity therein, and
- a sense element disposed in the cavity, wherein the sense element is adapted to produce an output in response to a force placed thereon,
- wherein the output provided by the sense element is a function of the force placed on the housing by a seat belt up to a predetermined maximum value,
- b) placing a first force on the housing that is less than the maximum value, thereby providing a first output, wherein the first output is directly proportional to the first force and the housing does not move as a result of the first force, and
- c) placing a second force on the housing that is greater than the maximum value, thereby providing a second output, wherein the second output is not directly proportional to the second force and wherein the placement of the second force on the housing causes the housing to move.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.