Automotive seat weight sensing system

A system for sensing an occupant on a vehicle seat and for controlling a safety restraint system responsive thereto, comprising:

• a. a plurality of hydrostatic weight sensors incorporated in the vehicle seat, incorporating an associated plurality of pressure sensors, each one of said plurality of pressure sensors responsive to a corresponding component of occupant weight applied by the occupant on the vehicle seat to the associated hydrostatic weight sensor;
• and
• b. a signal processor for measuring the position of the occupant on the vehicle seat responsive to the distribution of pressure measurements from said plurality of pressure sensors for generating a control signal for controlling the safety restraint system responsive to said position measurement.

A method of sensing an occupant on a vehicle seat, comprising:

• a. generating a plurality of signals from an associated plurality of hydrostatic weight sensors, whereby each said signal is responsive to the associated component of occupant weight applied to each of said plurality of hydrostatic weight sensors;
• and
• b. calculating the distribution of occupant weight on the vehicle seat from said plurality of signals.

A method of sensing an occupant on a vehicle seat and for controlling a safety restraint system responsive thereto, comprising:

• a. generating a plurality of signals from an associated plurality of hydrostatic weight sensors, whereby each said signal is responsive to the associated component of occupant weight applied to each of said plurality of hydrostatic weight sensors;
• and
• b. generating a control signal for controlling the safety restraint system responsive to said plurality of signals.

A sensor for sensing the weight of an occupant in a vehicle seat, comprising:

• a. a bladder mounted beneath the cushion of the seat and supported by the base of the seat, whereby said bladder is constructed from a flexible material and further comprises a plurality of distinct chambers;
• b. a fluid contained by said bladder within each of said chambers;
• c. a plurality of pressure sensors operatively coupled to respective ones of said chambers of said bladder for generating respective signals responsive to the pressure of said fluid within said chambers of said bladder responsive to the associated component of occupant weight applied to each of said chambers of said bladder.