Abstract:
A capacitive load cell apparatus (12) includes upper and lower capacitor plates (30, 28) and an intermediate dielectric (22) in the form of a synthetic knit spacer material having upper and lower fabric layers (22a, 22b) interconnected by an array of deflectable synthetic fibers (22c). When occupant weight is applied to the seat (10), the synthetic fibers (22c) deflect to locally reduce the separation between the upper and lower capacitor plates (30, 28), and the consequent change in capacitance is detected as a measure of the applied weight (14). The load cell (12) or just the dielectric (22) may be encased in a polymeric sheath (40, 42) to prevent intrusion of foreign matter, and a fluid such as silicone may be dispersed in woven dielectric (22).
Abstract:
A circuit board (28) is inserted into an open-ended housing (10) and potting material (56) is dispensed onto the exposed face of the circuit board (28) in a single step to seal the circuit board (28) to the housing (10). One or more electrical interconnects such as a connector header (50) or a ribbon cable (42) attached to the circuit board (28) extend upward through the potting material (56) so that the potting material (56) also forms an environmental seal around the electrical interconnects (42/50).
Abstract:
A child seat anchor apparatus includes at least one sensor (30a, 30b; 52) for measuring tension exerted on a system including a pair of anchor brackets (24a, 24b) disposed between the bottom and back cushions (22, 28) of a vehicle seat (10). In a first mechanization, the anchor brackets (24a, 24b) are directly coupled to individual sensors (30a, 30b) mounted on an anchor frame (32) that is bolted to the seat frame (20). In a second mechanization, the anchor brackets (24a, 24b) are fastened to an anchor frame (50) that is pivotably mounted on the seat frame (20), and the anchor frame (50) is additionally coupled to the seat frame (20) through a single sensor (52) responsive to the tension exerted on the anchor frame (50) by the anchor brackets (24a, 24b). (50) by the anchor brackets (24a, 24b).anchor bracket.
Abstract:
An occupant sensor mat (40) configured to be located proximate to a seating surface (34) of a vehicle seat assembly (12). The mat (40) includes a sensor electrode (24) formed of conductive material and configured to radiate an electric field (25) in response to an excitation signal (26) for determining an occupant (16) presence proximate to the seating surface (34). A heater element (28) is configured to underlie the sensor electrode (24). The heater element (28) is formed of conductive material and configured to radiate heat in response to electrical current for warming an occupant (16) residing on the seating surface (34). An incompressible spacer (46) is interposed between the sensor electrode (24) and the heater element (28). The incompressible spacer (46) formed of a material sufficiently flexible for locating proximate to a seating surface (34), and sufficiently incompressible to prevent a substantial change in capacitive coupling between the sensor electrode (24) and the heater element (28) from before to while an occupant (16) resides on the seating surface (34).
Abstract:
A sealed electronic module includes a housing (10) having an open end for receiving a circuit board (26), and a slotted side wall (14) for receiving a connector header (34) mounted on the circuit board (26). The connector header (34) fits snugly in the side wall slot (32) and includes an integral trough (44) that engages the interior face of the side wall (14) to form a U-shaped channel that surrounds the sides and bottom of the slot (32). The housing (10) is positioned with its open end upward, and potting material (52) is dispensed onto the exposed surface of the circuit board (26) in a single step to seal the circuit board (26) to the housing (10). A portion of the potting material (52) flows into and fills the U-shaped channel to seal the connector header (34) to the housing (10).
Abstract:
An elastomeric seat bladder (44, 52, 62) has upper and lower sheets of peripherally welded elastomeric material (44a, 44b; 52a, 52b; 62a, 62b), and at least one of the upper and lower sheets of elastomeric material is sufficiently thick to effectively serve as an integral interface panel. In a first configuration, the lower sheet (44b) is formed of elastomeric material having a thickness in the range of 1mm (0.04 inch) to 2.54mm (0.100 inch), and the upper sheet (44a) is formed of elastomeric material having a thickness of approximately 0.375mm (0.015 inch). In second configuration, the relatively thick sheet of elastomeric material (52a) is utilized as the upper sheet of the bladder (52) instead of the lower sheet; and in a third configuration, both upper and lower sheets (62a, 62b) of the bladder (62) are formed of elastomeric material in the range of 1mm (0.04 inch) to 2.54mm (0.100 inch) in thickness.