Weight determining systems and methods for vehicular seats

A method for obtaining an indication of the weight of an occupying item in a vehicular seat, comprising:

• arranging a cushion on a support structure of the seat, the cushion having an upper surface over which the occupying item is situated during occupancy of the seat;
• arranging a sensor system in a position in which it operatively senses downward deflection of the cushion;
• and
• determining the weight of the occupying item when it applies pressure to the upper surface of the cushion using the sensor system by sensing the downward deflection of the cushion and converting the downward deflection into an indication of the weight of the occupying item,
• the sensor system including:
• a variable length member which changes its length as a function of the weight of the occupying item applied to the cushion and a sensor arranged to detect a change in length of the variable length member, the detected change in length enabling the indication of the weight of the occupying item to be determined.

A control system for controlling a vehicle component based on occupancy of a seat having a seat support structure and a cushion arranged on the seat support structure, the cushion having an upper surface over which an occupying item is situated during occupancy of the seat and being arranged to be displaced downward during occupancy of the seat, the control system comprising:

• a sensor system arranged to sense the downward deflection of the cushion and convert the downward deflection into an indication of the weight of the occupying item;
• an adjustment system arranged to adjust the component in the vehicle;
• and
• a processor coupled to said sensor system and to said adjustment system for determining an adjustment for the component by said adjustment system based at least in part on the indication of the weight of the occupying item provided by said sensor system,
• said sensor system including:
• a variable length member which changes its length as a function of the weight of the occupying item applied to the cushion and a sensor arranged to detect a change in length of said variable length member, the detected change in length enabling the indication of the weight of the occupying item to be provided.