Capacitive load cell apparatus having an annealed synthetic woven spring dielectric
US6999301B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 8, 2005 |
| Grant date | Feb 14, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 8, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01G7/06
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A capacitive load cell apparatus includes upper and lower capacitor plates and an intermediate dielectric in the form of a synthetic knit spacer material having upper and lower fabric layers interconnected by an array of deflectable synthetic fibers. When occupant weight is applied to the seat, the synthetic fibers deflect to locally reduce the separation between the upper and lower capacitor plates, and the consequent change in capacitance is detected as a measure of the applied weight. The load cell or just the dielectric may be encased in a polymeric sheath to prevent intrusion of foreign matter, and a fluid such as silicone may be dispersed in woven dielectric.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.