Patent ID: 6101436
Filing Date: 2000-08-08
Classification: B60N,B60R,G01G,G01L

Abstract:
Apparatus for estimating the weight of an occupant of a seat in a motor vehicle, the seat having a foam cushion bottom, the apparatus comprising:a fluid-filled bladder disposed in the foam cushion bottom, the bladder comprising top and bottom sheets of elastomeric material with a continuous seam about their periphery to form a closed volume, a plurality of spot welds between said top and bottom sheets, said spot welds being distributed over said bladder, thereby dividing said bladder into a contiguous array of generally circular cells with free flow of said fluid between adjacent cells, the bladder being substantially filled with fluid, and an exit port disposed in said bottom sheet, substantially centered in a central one of said cells positioned at a center of gravity of said fluid;a pressure sensor coupled to said exit port for sealing said exit port and for sensing the pressure of said fluid; andcontrol means for estimating the weight of the occupant based on the sensed fluid pressure.