Seat weight sensor having fluid filled bladder

A system for measuring the weight of an occupant in a vehicle seat and for controlling a safety restraint system responsive thereto, comprising:

• a. a bladder mounted beneath the cushion of the seat and supported by the base of the seat, wherein said bladder comprises a plurality of sheets of coated fabric sealably connected to one another at a periphery so as to form an inflatable confinement within said periphery whereby said sheets of coated fabric are further connected to one another at one or more locations within said periphery so as to create a plurality of fluid containing zones within said inflatable confinement which are in fluid communication with one another;
• b. a fluid contained by said bladder;
• c. a pressure sensor operatively coupled to said bladder for generating a signal responsive to the pressure of said fluid within said bladder;
• and
• d. a signal processor for measuring the weight of the occupant from said signal for generating a control signal for controlling the safety restraint system responsive to said weight measurement.

A system for measuring the weight of an occupant in a vehicle seat and for controlling a safety restraint system responsive thereto, comprising:

• a. a bladder mounted beneath the cushion of the seat and supported by the base of the seat, wherein said bladder is constructed from a flexible material,
• b. a sheet of semi-rigid material proximate a load bearing surface of said bladder;
• c. a fluid contained by said bladder;
• d. a pressure sensor operatively coupled to said bladder for generating a signal responsive to the pressure of said fluid within said bladder;
• and
• e. a signal processor for measuring the weight of the occupant from said signal for generating a control signal for controlling the safety restraint system responsive to said weight measurement.

A system for measuring the weight of an occupant in a vehicle seat and for controlling a safety restraint system responsive thereto, comprising:

• a. a bladder mounted beneath the cushion of the seat and supported by the base of the seat wherein said bladder is constructed from a flexible material;
• b. a coating on the outside of at least one load bearing surface of said bladder;
• c. a fluid contained by said bladder;
• d. a pressure sensor operatively coupled to said bladder for generating a signal responsive to the pressure of said fluid within said bladder;
• and
• e. a signal processor for measuring the weight of the occupant from said signal for generating a control signal for controlling the safety restraint system responsive to said weight measurement.

A system for measuring the weight of an occupant in a vehicle seat and for controlling a safety restraint system responsive thereto, comprising:

• a. a bladder mounted beneath the cushion of the seat and supported by the base of the seat, wherein said bladder is constructed from a flexible material;
• b. a fluid contained by said bladder, wherein said fluid is a liquid;
• c. a pressure sensor operatively couipled to said bladder for generating a signal responsive to the pressure of said fluid within said bladder;
• and
• d. a signal processor for measuring the weight of the occupant from said signal for generating a control signal for controlling the safety restraint system responsive to said weight measurement.

A system for measuring the weight of an occupant in a vehicle seat and for controlling a safety restraint system responsive thereto, comprising:

• a. a bladder mounted beneath the cushion of the seat and supported by the base of the seat, wherein said bladder is constructed from a flexible material;
• b. a fluid contained by said bladder;
• c. a pressure sensor operatively coupled to said bladder for generating a signal responsive to the pressure of said fluid within said bladder, wherein said pressure sensor is responsive to the strain in the surface of said bladder;
• and
• d. a signal processor for measuring the weight of the occupant from said signal for generating a control signal for controlling the safety restraint system responsive to said weight measurement.

A system for measuring the weight of an occupant in a vehicle seat and for controlling a safety restraint system responsive thereto, comprising:

• a. a bladder mounted beneath the cushion of the seat and supported by the base of the seat, wherein said bladder is constructed from a flexible material,
• b. a fluid contained by said bladder;
• c. a pressure sensor operatively coupled to said bladder for generating a signal responsive to the pressure of said fluid within said bladder, wherein said pressure sensor is internally integrated within said bladder and
• d. a signal processor for measuring the weight of the occupant from said signal for generating a control signal for controlling the safety restraint system responsive to said weight measurement.

A system for measuring the weight of an occupant in a vehicle seat and for controlling a safety restraint system responsive thereto, comprising:

• a. a bladder mounted beneath the cushion of the seat and supported by the base of the seat, wherein said bladder is constructed from a flexible material;
• b. a fluid contained by said bladder;
• c. a pressure sensor operatively coupled to said bladder for generating a signal responsive to the pressure of said fluid within said bladder, wherein said pressure sensor is isolated from said fluid by the surface of said bladder and
• d. a signal processor for measuring the weight of the occupant from said signal for generating a control signal for controlling the safety restraint system responsive to said weight measurement.

A system for controlling a safety restraint system responsive to the weight on a vehicle seat, comprising:

• a. a fluid containing means operatively coupled to the vehicle seat for generating a pressure within said fluid responsive to the weight on the vehicle seat, wherein said fluid containing means is partially filled with said fluid;
• b. a means for sensing the pressure of said fluid;
• and
• c. a means for controlling the safety restraint system responsive to the pressure of said fluid.

A system for controlling a safety restraint system responsive to the weight on a vehicle seat, comprising:

• a. a fluid confinement operatively coupled to the vehicle seat whereby the pressure of said fluid is responsive to the weight on the vehicle seat, wherein said fluid confinement is partially filled with said fluid;
• b. a pressure sensor operatively coupled to said fluid confinement for generating a signal responsive to the pressure of said fluid;
• and
• c. a signal processor operatively coupled to said pressure sensor for controlling the safety restraint system responsive to said signal.

A method of manufacturing a hydrostatic occupant weight sensor, comprising:

• a. securing first and second portions of coated fabric to one another along a periphery, so as to form a confinement, said confinement having an opening;
• b. securing said first and second portions of said coated fabric to one another within said periphery so as to create a plurality of zones within said periphery in fluid communication with one another;
• c. operatively coupling a pressure sensor to said confinement;
• d. at least partially filling said confinement with a fluid through said opening in said confinement;
• and
• e. sealing said opening in said confinement.