Bladder and support structure for occupant weight estimation
    1.
    发明授权
    Bladder and support structure for occupant weight estimation 有权
    膀胱和支撑结构为乘员体重估计

    公开(公告)号:US06490936B1

    公开(公告)日:2002-12-10

    申请号:US09311576

    申请日:1999-05-14

    IPC分类号: G01L102

    摘要: An improved weight estimation apparatus in which an elastomeric bladder is supported on a semi-rigid backer board which is installed in a vehicle seat between the seat cushion and an underlying spring suspension. The bladder is secured onto the backer board, and the backer board is attached to the seat, enabling proper and consistent placement of the bladder relative to the seat surface. The backer board provides the reaction surface for the bladder, and masks non-uniformities of the seat structure. Additionally, the backer board will reduce or eliminate the effect of objects lying on the floor under the seat, which might otherwise pinch the bladder and produce weight estimation errors. Further, the board tends to protect the bladder from damage due to sharp objects, pinching by the suspension elements, and the effects of wires or cables routed through the seat. The backer board may be smooth to provide a uniform reaction surface, or contoured to increase or decrease sensitivity to weight applied on certain areas of the seating surface.

    摘要翻译: 一种改进的重量估计装置,其中弹性体囊被支撑在半刚性支撑板上,该半刚性支撑板安装在座垫和下面的弹簧悬架之间的车辆座椅中。 气囊被固定在支承板上,并且支撑板附接到座椅上,使得气囊相对于座椅表面的适当和一致的放置。 支撑板提供了膀胱的反应表面,并掩盖座椅结构的不均匀性。 此外,背板将减少或消除躺在座椅下面的地板上的物体的作用,否则可能会夹住膀胱并产生重量估计误差。 此外,板倾向于保护膀胱免受尖锐物体的伤害,由悬挂元件夹住,以及穿过座椅的电线或电缆的影响。 支撑板可以是平滑的以提供均匀的反应表面,或者轮廓以增加或降低施加在座面的某些区域上的重量的灵敏度。

    Vehicle occupant weight estimation apparatus having controlled volume
seat bladder
    3.
    发明授权
    Vehicle occupant weight estimation apparatus having controlled volume seat bladder 失效
    具有受控体积座椅膀胱的车辆乘员体重估计装置

    公开(公告)号:US06058341A

    公开(公告)日:2000-05-02

    申请号:US39238

    申请日:1998-03-16

    摘要: A weight estimation apparatus for the passenger seat of a motor vehicle, in which a single bladder substantially encompassing the seat bottom is evacuated and then inflated with a known volume of air. The average pressure in the bladder is determined to estimate the passenger weight. According to a first embodiment, the apparatus continues to monitor the average pressure, and the process is re-initiated if the average pressure changes by at least a predetermined percentage. According to a second embodiment, a bleed valve allows the pressure in the bladder to slowly escape, and the apparatus monitors the rate of change in pressure as a corresponding indication of passenger weight; in this embodiment, the process of evacuating and inflating is re-initiated if the monitored change in pressure does not correspond with the estimated weight. The sides of the bladder may be pleated to permit the bladder to expand under the weight of an occupant without stretching the bladder, and thereby affecting the average pressure. A temperature sensor may be disposed in proximity to the bladder provides a temperature signal for compensating the weight estimation for temperature variations. Also, the pressure sensor may be configured to sense the gage pressure--that is, the differential pressure between the bladder pressure and atmospheric pressure; alternatively, the pressure sensor may be configured to detect absolute pressure, and a second absolute pressure sensor responsive to atmospheric pressure may be used to compensate for changes in atmospheric pressure.

    摘要翻译: 一种用于机动车辆的乘客座椅的重量估计装置,其中基本上围绕座椅底部的单个囊被抽真空,然后用已知体积的空气充气。 确定膀胱中的平均压力以估计乘客体重。 根据第一实施例,设备继续监视平均压力,并且如果平均压力改变至少预定百分比,则重新启动该过程。 根据第二实施例,排气阀允许气囊中的压力缓慢地逸出,并且该装置监测作为乘客重量的相应指示的压力变化率; 在该实施例中,如果所监视的压力变化与所估计的重量不对应,则重新启动排气和充气过程。 膀胱的侧面可以打褶以允许膀胱在乘员的重量下膨胀而不拉伸膀胱,从而影响平均压力。 温度传感器可以设置在靠近气囊的位置,提供用于补偿温度变化的重量估计的温度信号。 此外,压力传感器可以被配置为感测压力压力,即,气囊压力和大气压力之间的压差; 或者,压力传感器可以被配置为检测绝对压力,并且可以使用响应于大气压力的第二绝对压力传感器来补偿大气压力的变化。

    Vehicle occupant weight estimation apparatus having fluid-filled
multi-cell seat bladder
    4.
    发明授权
    Vehicle occupant weight estimation apparatus having fluid-filled multi-cell seat bladder 失效
    车载乘员体重估计装置具有流体填充的多单元座椅气囊

    公开(公告)号:US6101436A

    公开(公告)日:2000-08-08

    申请号:US28869

    申请日:1998-02-18

    摘要: An improved weight estimation apparatus in which a closed, multiple cell elastomeric bladder filled with fluid is installed in the foam cushion of a vehicle seat bottom, with at least one pressure sensor installed in a closed exit port of the bladder. The multiple cells of the bladder are formed by a pattern of spot welds between the top and bottom layers of the bladder, creating an array of generally circular or hexagonal cells between which the fluid can freely flow. The array of cells maximizes the pressure response for improved sensitivity, and minimizes the amount of fluid required to detect occupant weight, thereby minimizing the weight of the fluid-filled bladder. The pattern of spot welds in the vicinity of the pressure sensing location may be altered to reduce sensitivity to forces applied in proximity to the exit port. In a first embodiment, a more dense pattern of spot welds is provided in the vicinity of the exit port, while in a second embodiment, continuous welding is used to form a pattern of closed fluid-free pockets in the vicinity of the exit port.

    摘要翻译: 一种改进的重量估计装置,其中填充有流体的封闭的多单元弹性体囊被安装在车辆座椅底部的泡沫垫中,其中至少一个压力传感器安装在气囊的封闭出口中。 膀胱的多个细胞通过膀胱的顶层和底层之间的点焊图案形成,产生大致圆形或六边形细胞的阵列,流体可在其间自由流动。 细胞阵列使压力响应最大化以提高灵敏度,并且最小化检测乘员重量所需的流体量,从而使流体填充的膀胱的重量最小化。 可以改变压力感测位置附近的点焊模式,以降低对靠近出口施加的力的敏感性。 在第一实施例中,在出口附近提供更密集的点焊图案,而在第二实施例中,使用连续焊接在出口附近形成封闭的无流体袋的图案。