Seat for sensing a load
AssigneeCherry GmbH
InventorsDaniel J. Mattson, William G. Rodseth, Thomas C. Herrmann, James E. Mraz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automotive seat includes optical sensors for determining a load on the seat, such as a person. The sensors may be used with a computer and computer software to analyze data from the sensors in determining a weight of the load, and the sensors may also be used to determine a shape of the load. From the weight and shape of the load, the computer may decide whether the load is suitable for safe deployment of an automatic restraining device, such as an airbag.
Claims66
A sensing system for sensing a load, comprising:
- a sensing pad, the sensing pad further comprising a laminate structure and an array of optical sensors, each optical sensor comprising a discrete pair of optical fibers fused side by side at one end, and wherein sensor response depends on the load in the vicinity of each sensor.
A sensing system for sensing a load, comprising:
- a sensing pad, the sensing pad further comprising a laminate structure comprising two layers of silicone foam and an adhesive inbetween and an array of optical sensors, each optical sensor comprising a discrete pair of optical fibers, wherein at least one sensor includes a strain relief.
A sensing system for sensing a load, comprising:
- an array of optical sensors in a sensing pad, each optical sensor comprising a pair of optical fibers joined side by side at an end, and wherein sensor response depends on the load in the vicinity of each sensor;
- an optical control sensor for adjusting the array of optical sensors;
- and
- a liquid barrier material covering the pad.
A method of manufacturing a system for sensing a load, the method comprising:
- placing a plurality of optical sensors onto an adhesive surface;
- assembling ends of the optical sensors into terminations;
- trimming two optical fibers at a time, wherein the step of trimming coins ends of the fibers to form an optical sensor;
- adhering a foam layer to the adhesive surface;
- and
- adhering a second layer over the sensors to form a sensing pad.
A system for sensing a load, comprising
- a sensing pad comprising two layers of silicone foam joined by an adhesive, and an array of optical sensors adhered to the adhesive;
- and
- a first interface gathering an end of a first fiber from each sensor and a second interface gathering an end of a second fiber from each sensor.
A system for sensing a load on a seat, the system comprising:
- a seat;
- a sensing pad atop the seat, the sensing pad further comprising an array of optical sensors made from optical fibers between layers of reflective material and further comprising preformed cutouts for a trench;
- a trim cover;
- a first interface gathering an end of one of said fibers from each sensor and a second interface gathering an end of another of said fibers from each sensor;
- a microprocessor controller for sensing outputs of the sensor;
- and
- software embodied on a computer-readable medium and accessible to the microprocessor controller for computing at least one of a mass and a shape of a load on the seat.
A method for sensing a load on a seat, the method comprising:
- forming a seat, the seat comprising a sensing pad having an array of optical sensors within the pad, each optical sensor comprising a discrete pair of optical fibers fused side by side on one end;
- placing a load on the seat;
- and
- operating the optical sensors and a machine vision computer program to determine at least one of a mass and a shape of the load.
A method for classifying an occupant of a seat, the method comprising:
- occupying the seat;
- operating a sensing pad with an array of optical sensors within the seat, each sensor comprising a pair of optical fibers joined at ends of the optical fibers;
- adjusting the array of optical sensors using a control optical sensor;
- storing data from said optical sensors in a memory accessible to a computer;
- calculating at least one of a mass and a shape of the occupant;
- deciding whether the occupant is a human or a non-human;
- and sending a signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.