Abstract:
System and method for measuring the weight of an occupant in a vehicle seat and for controlling a safety restraint system responsive thereto includes at least one fluid-containing structure arranged mounted within or beneath an upper surface of a bottom portion of the seat and supported by a base of the seat and at least one pressure sensor operatively coupled to the fluid-containing structure(s) for generating a signal responsive to pressure of the fluid within the fluid-containing structure(s) caused by pressure applied to the upper surface of the seat by the occupant. A processor is coupled to the pressure sensor(s) and provides an indication of the weight of the occupant from the signal and generates a control signal for controlling the safety restraint system based on the weight. The fluid-containing structure may be a bladder arranged in the bottom of the seat and/or include a plurality of interconnected chambers.
Abstract:
Vehicle seat including a seat portion including a container having an interior containing fluid and a mechanism, material or structure therein to restrict flow of the fluid from one portion of the interior to another portion of the interior, a back portion arranged at an angle to the seat portion, and a measurement system arranged to obtain an indication of the weight of the occupant when present on the seat portion based at least in part on the pressure of the fluid in the container. The weight of the occupant can be used to control components in the vehicle or the seat itself.
Abstract:
An end edge of a roof lining is engaged in a roof lining engaging groove extending along a side surface of an upper end portion of a pillar garnish at a side of a pillar, thereby eliminating a gap in a connecting portion between the pillar garnish and the roof lining to improve the appearance. Airbag deployment guide walls extend to an outside of a vehicle compartment from an upper end of a roof lining engaging groove at the side of the pillar, and an airbag module is disposed at a position sandwiched by the pillar and the roof lining, above the airbag deployment guide walls. Therefore, an inflating airbag is guided to the side of the vehicle compartment so as not to be caught by the upper end of the pillar garnish and can be deployed into the vehicle compartment by reliably pressing to open the roof lining, without providing a special guide member.
Abstract:
Arrangement and method for determining weight of an occupying item in a seat including one or more weight sensors arranged to obtain a measurement of the force applied to the seat, a forcing function determination arrangement for measuring a forcing function of the seat and a processor coupled to the weight sensor(s) and forcing function determination arrangement for receiving the measurement of the force applied to the weight sensor(s) and the measurement of the forcing function from the forcing function measurement system and determining the weight of the occupying item based thereon. The forcing function determination arrangement may include an accelerometer and measures effects on the seat caused by load of a seatbelt associated with the seat and/or effects on the seat of road roughness, steering maneuvers, and a vehicle suspension system.
Abstract:
System and method for wirelessly controlling systems in an asset, such as a house or trailer, in which a movable device, such as a PDA, cellular telephone or vehicle, includes a transmitter arranged to transmit signals, and a control unit is arranged on or in connection with the asset and includes a receiver which communicates with the transmitter and a processor coupled to the receiver and which generates different command signals based on signals generated by the transmitter and received by the receiver. Each system is arranged on or in connection with the asset and coupled to the control unit and is responsive to command signals from the processor to perform a function relating to or affecting the asset.
Abstract:
The invention relates to an arrangement and a method for height adjustment of the upper attachment point of a safety belt, arranged in a vehicle with a vehicle seat which is spring-mounted in the vertical direction, where the upper attachment point is arranged displaceably in the vertical direction on the body of the vehicle. Said height adjustment takes place as a function of the springing movement of the vehicle seat, which results in the upper attachment point always remaining correctly positioned in the vertical direction.
Abstract:
Weight sensor for determining the weight of an occupant of a seat including a bladder arranged in a seat portion of the seat and including material or structure in an interior thereof which constrains fluid flow therein and one or more transducers for measuring the pressure of the fluid in the bladder. The material or structure might be open cell foam. The bladder may include one or more chambers, and if more than one chamber is formed, each chamber can be arranged at a different location in the seat portion of the seat.
Abstract:
A wheelchair restraint system which includes a floor mounting track, anchor means slidably mountable in said mounting track, and a seat belt retractor means directly swivelly mounted on the anchor means for movement in a single plane. In a preferred embodiment the seat belt retractor means has a planar lower surface which lies in a substantially horizontal plane which is parallel to the mounting track when in operative position.
Abstract:
Optical classification method for classifying an occupant in a vehicle by acquiring images of the occupant from a single camera and analyzing the images acquired from the single camera to determine a classification of the occupant. The single camera may be a digital CMOS camera, a high-power near-infrared LED, and the LED control circuit. It is possible to detect brightness of the images and control illumination of an LED in conjunction with the acquisition of images by the single camera. The illumination of the LED may be periodic to enable a comparison of resulting images with the LED on and the LED off so as to determine whether a daytime condition or a nighttime condition is present. The position of the occupant can be monitored when the occupant is classified as a child, an adult or a forward-facing child restraint.
Abstract:
The seat belt incorporates a self-adjusting retractable shoulder belt and a continuous lap belt into an arrangement that is easy to use and provides increased safety in the case of front end collision or roll over.