Mass profiling system
US6497430B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 3, 1999 |
| Grant date | Dec 24, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 3, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB60R21/01526
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An air bag system has an array of detectors positioned under the seat material of a vehicle seat upon which a person or mass can be positioned. The array has a plurality of sensor leaves extending from a plurality of sensor branches. The branches extend from a trunk. Each sensor is of the type which predictably changes resistance upon the mechanical deflection thereof. A deflector is positioned to concentrate the deflection forces on the sensor leaf. Each sensor leaf has a substrate with conductive material on one side and a backer on the other. The sensor array output is supplied to a terminal and then to operation means which are connected to arm or disarm an air bag actuator to regulate the operation of the air bag in accordance with the mass such as an occupant or a child car seat on the vehicle seat. Each sensor leaf senses the force of the mass in a segment or quadrant and supplies the signals to a computer which processes and compares to known data to regulate the enabling or disabling of the air bag actuator.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.