Patent ID: 6450534
Filing Date: 2002-09-17
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
A seat belt tension sensor for attachment to a seat belt in a vehicle comprising:a) a substrate having a top surface, a bottom surface and a pair of slots therethrough, the seat belt passing through the slots, the substrate further having a pair of apertures; b) an actuator bar located adjacent the top surface, the actuator bar having a first and second end, the ends passing through the apertures, the seat belt passing over the actuator bar; c) a load beam attached to the substrate, the load beam having a first and second end, the ends of the actuator bar contacting the ends of the load beam; and d) at least one strain sensitive resistor located on the load beam, the seat belt when placed in tension causes the actuator bar ends to flex the ends of the load beam placing stress on the strain sensitive resistor, the strain sensitive resistor generating an electrical signal in response to being placed under stress, the electrical signal changing as a function of tension on the seat belt.