Control of air bag activation in vehicles by occupancy weight

A weight pressure sensor device for controlling the operation of an air bag system for use in automotive vehicles, said air bag system comprising an air bag positioned within a vehicle opposite a predetermined vehicle seat position, said air bag being coupled to inflation means activated by control means for deploying the air bag in the event of vehicle impact, said device comprising:

• (a) compressible means connected to said vehicle seat for registering a weight pressure exerted on said seat, said compressible means including a ram and cylinder combination, said compressible means including a vessel containing a fluid adapted to flow in response to said weight pressure exerted on said seat;
• (b) sensor means coupled to said compressible means for sensing said weight pressure registered by said compressible means with reference to a predetermined adjustable pressure setpoint;
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• (c) switch means coupled to said sensor means for enabling said air bag system when said weight pressure sensed by said sensor means is at least equal to said predetermined pressure setpoint.

A weight pressure sensor device for controlling the operation of an air bag system for use in automotive vehicles, said air bag system comprising an air bag positioned within a vehicle opposite a predetermined vehicle seat position, said air bag being coupled to inflation means activated by control means for deploying the air bag in the event of vehicle impact, said device comprising:

• (a) compressible means connected to said vehicle seat for registering a weight pressure exerted on said seat, said compressible means including a ram and cylinder combination, said cylinder containing a fluid having a pressure, said ram being in contact with said fluid and being capable of being pushed by said weight pressure exerted on said seat to thereby increase said fluid pressure, said compressible means including a vessel containing a fluid adapted to flow in response to said weight pressure exerted on said seat;
• (b) sensor means coupled to said compressible means for sensing said weight pressure registered by said compressible means with reference to a predetermined pressure setpoint, said sensor means being in fluidic communication with said fluid inside said cylinder via a conduit connected thereto, said sensor means being capable of sensing said fluid pressure, comparing said fluid pressure to said predetermined pressure setpoint and issuing a control signal based upon said comparison;
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• (c) switch means coupled to said sensor means for enabling said air bag system when said weight pressure sensed by said sensor means is at least equal to said predetermined pressure setpoint.

A weight pressure sensor device for controlling the operation of an air bag system for use in automotive vehicles, said air bag system comprising an air bag positioned within a vehicle opposite a predetermined vehicle seat position, said air bag being coupled to inflation means activated by control means for deploying the air bag in the event of vehicle impact, said device comprising:

• (a) compressible means connected to said vehicle seat for registering a weight pressure exerted on said seat, said compressible means including a vessel containing a fluid adapted to flow in response to said weight pressure exerted on said seat;
• (b) sensor means coupled to said compressible means for sensing said weight pressure registered by said compressible means with reference to a predetermined adjustable pressure setpoint, said predetermined adjustable pressure setpoint corresponding to an occupant weight within the range of 50 and 100 pounds;
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• (c) switch means coupled to said sensor means for enabling said air bag system when said weight pressure sensed by said sensor means is at least equal to said predetermined adjustable pressure setpoint.

A weight pressure sensor device for controlling the operation of an air baa system for use in automotive vehicles, said air bag system comprising an air bag positioned within a vehicle opposite a predetermined vehicle seat position, said air bag being coupled to inflation means activated by control means for deploying the air bag in the event of vehicle impact, said device comprising;

• (a) compressible means connected to said vehicle seat for registering a weight pressure exerted on said seat, said compressible means including a vessel containing a fluid adapted to flow in response to said weight pressure exerted on said seat, said fluid being hydraulic fluid;
• (b) sensor means coupled to said compressible means for sensing said weight pressure registered by said compressible means with reference to a predetermined adjustable pressure setpoint;
• and
• (c) switch means coupled to said sensor means for enabling said air bag system when said weight pressure sensed by said sensor means is at least equal to said predetermined adjustable pressure setpoint.

A weight pressure sensor device for controlling the operation of an air bag system for use in automotive vehicles, said air bag system comprising an air bag positioned within a vehicle opposite a predetermined adjustable vehicle seat position, said air bag being coupled to inflation means activated by control means for deploying the air bag in the event of vehicle impact, said device comprising;

• (a) compressible means connected to said vehicle seat for registering a weight pressure exerted on said seat, said compressible means including a vessel containing a fluid adapted to flow in response to said weight pressure exerted on said seat;
• (b) sensor means coupled to said compressible means for sensing said weight pressure registered by said compressible means with reference to a predetermined adjustable pressure setpoint;
• and
• (c) switch means coupled to said sensor means for enabling said air bag system when said weight pressure sensed by said sensor means is at least equal to said predetermined adjustable pressure setpoint, wherein there is a predetermined adjustable time delay between the removal of said weight pressure exerted on said seat and said switch means returning said air bag system to its pre-enabled state, said predetermined adjustable time delay being at least one second.

An air bag system for use in automotive vehicles, said air bag system including an air bag positioned within a vehicle opposite a front passenger seat, said air bag being connected with control electronics that activate said air bag upon receipt of an electrical signal from a power source such that said air bag inflates in the event of vehicle impact, said air bag system further including a weight pressure sensor device to sense the weight of an occupant of said front passenger seat and to control whether said electrical signal is received by said control electronics based upon said weight, said weight pressure sensor device comprising:

• (a) a cylindrical vessel containing hydraulic fluid and having a wall and an end, said wall defining a first opening in the vessel, said hydraulic fluid having a pressure;
• (b) a ram in contact with said hydraulic fluid, said ram extending in a substantially linear fashion from said fluid contact inside said vessel to a point outside said vessel, wherein said ram is capable of being pushed against said fluid contact by the weight of said occupant of the front passenger seat, thereby increasing said fluid pressure;
• (c) a pressure sensor in fluidic communication with said hydraulic fluid inside said vessel via a conduit connected to said first opening, said pressure sensor being capable of sensing said fluid pressure, comparing said fluid pressure to a set pressure and issuing a control signal if said fluid pressure equals or exceeds said set pressure;
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• (d) a switch connected to said pressure sensor for receiving said control signal, said switch being connected in series with said control electronics, said control signal directing said switch to close such that said electrical signal is received by the control electronics and said air bag is activated.

A method for controlling whether an air bag for use in automotive vehicles is activated based upon vehicle occupancy weight, said air bag being positioned within a vehicle opposite a predetermined vehicle seat position, and being coupled to inflation means activated by control means for deploying said air bag in the event of vehicle impact, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) connecting compressible means to said vehicle seat for registering a weight pressure exerted on said seat, said compressible means including a vessel containing a fluid adapted to flow in response to said weight pressure exerted on said seat;
• (b) sensing said weight pressure with reference to a predetermined adjustable pressure setpoint using a sensor means coupled to said compressible means for sensing said weight pressure registered by said compressible means;
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• (c) enabling said air bag system when said weight pressure sensed by said sensor means is at least equal to said predetermined adjustable pressure setpoint.