Apparatus and method for sensing and restraining an occupant of a vehicle seat

Apparatus comprising:

• a vehicle seat;
• means for sensing a sensed weight of an occupant of said seat, said sensed weight differing from the actual weight of the occupant by a first amount;
• means for sensing a characteristic which affects the difference between said sensed weight and the actual weight of the occupant;
• controller means for determining a computed weight of the occupant as a function of both said sensed weight and said characteristic, said computed weight differing from the actual weight of the occupant by a second amount which is less than said first amount;
• and
• restraint means for restraining the occupant, said restraint means being responsive to said controller means.

Apparatus comprising:

• an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint;
• a source of inflation fluid;
• means for directing inflation fluid from said source into said restraint to inflate said restraint;
• a vehicle seat including a seat cushion assembly and a seat back assembly supported for inclination relative to said seat cushion assembly;
• means for sensing a sensed weight of an occupant of said seat, said sensed weight differing from the actual weight of the occupant by a first amount;
• means for sensing said inclination of said seat back assembly;
• controller means for determining a computed weight as a function of both said sensed weight and said inclination of said seat back assembly, said computed weight differing from the actual weight of the occupant by a second amount which is less than said first amount;
• and
• means for controlling said inflation fluid directed into said restraint in response to said computed weight.

Apparatus comprising:

• a vehicle seat cushion having a bottom surface;
• support means for supporting said seat cushion, said support means including a support structure extending beneath said bottom surface;
• weight sensor means for sensing a sensed weight of a vehicle occupant seated on said seat cushion, said weight sensor means including a sensor member which responds to the occupant's weight, said sensor member being located above said support structure and adjacent to said bottom surface;
• and
• controller means for determining a computed weight of the occupant in response to an output signal from said weight sensor means, wherein said sensed weight differs from the actual weight of the occupant, said apparatus further comprising means for sensing a characteristic which affects the difference between said sensed weight and the actual weight of the occupant, said controller means determining said computed weight of the occupant as a function of both said sensed weight and said characteristic.

A method of determining the weight of an occupant of a vehicle seat, said method comprising the steps of:

• sensing a sensed weight of the occupant of the seat, said sensed weight differing from the actual weight of the occupant;
• sensing a characteristic which affects the difference between said sensed weight and the actual weight of the occupant;
• and
• determining a computed weight of the occupant as a function of both said sensed weight and said characteristic.