Abstract:
A frame-based occupant weight estimation apparatus for a vehicle seat (10) includes compliant load transfer mechanisms (20, 20') interposed between the seat frame (12) and floor brackets (16) bolted to the vehicle floor (14). The compliant load transfer mechanisms (20, 20') translate the seat loads to a central location for measurement by a set of force sensors (40a, 40b, 40c, 40d). The load transfer mechanisms (20, 20') preload the force sensor (40) to enable off-loading detection, and an overload device (50) securely anchors the seat (10) to the floor bracket (16) without interfering with normal load measurement.
Abstract:
A seat frame-based occupant weight estimation load cell (20) transfers the seat force to a floor bracket (16) through a spherical ball (30) and a ball actuator (32). The ball (30) is in contact with the force sensor (28) and has minimal contact area with either the ball actuator (32) or the force sensor (28) so that the transfer of forces not functionally related to occupant weight is minimized. The ball actuator (32) is coupled to the seat frame (12), and a sensor bracket (34) aligns the ball actuator (32) with respect to the sensor (28). The sensor bracket (34) is domed to securely anchor the seat (10) to the floor bracket (16) in the event of an inverse overload. A spring (36) disposed between the ball actuator (32) and the dome of the sensor bracket (34) biases the ball (30) against the force sensor (28) to preload the force sensor (28) for enabling off-loading detection.
Abstract:
A frame-based occupant weight estimation apparatus for a vehicle seat includes a compliant linkage assembly that translates vertically applied seat loads to a horizontal plane, where the horizontal forces are measured by a set of force sensors. A compliant member, which may be a spring or a linkage arm, preloads the force sensors to enable off-loading detection, and an overload device securely anchors the seat to the vehicle floor without interfering with normal load measurement.
Abstract:
A non-contact gesture recognition system (10) for recognizing gestures (28) made by an occupant (12) of a vehicle (14) using a first multiple-zone temperature sensor equipped with an array of temperature sensors (32). The sensor outputs an array signal indicative of a zone temperature for each of a plurality of zones (36) within the vehicle (14). The array may be oriented such that a sample direction on the array arising from the gesture (28) is characterized as diagonal. The sensor may include a multi-focal length Fresnel lens (34) panel formed of a plurality of Fresnel lens (34) elements (62) having various focal lengths.