Patent ID: 7900736
Filing Date: 2011-03-08
Classification: B60J,B60N,B60R,E05F,E05Y,G01S,G06K,G10K

Abstract:
1. In a vehicle including a frame defining a compartment and including at least one vehicle seat in the compartment which at least one occupant is seated during use of the vehicle, each of the at least one vehicle seat having a bottom portion and a back portion at an angle to the bottom portion, a system for measuring the weight of an occupant in the vehicle seat and for controlling an actuatable safety restraint system responsive thereto, the vehicle further including a crash sensor system that detects when the vehicle is experiencing a crash involving the vehicle for which the safety restraint system may be actuated, the system comprising: at least one fluid-containing structure arranged mounted within or beneath an upper surface of the bottom portion of the seat and supported by a base of the seat; at least one pressure sensor operatively coupled to said at least one fluid-containing structure for generating a signal responsive to pressure of the fluid within said at least one fluid-containing structure caused by pressure applied to the upper surface of the seat; and a processor coupled to said at least one pressure sensor for providing an indication of the weight of the occupant from said signal, said processor being further coupled to the crash sensor system and being arranged to receive from the crash sensor system, a signal indicative of a crash involving the vehicle and generate a control signal for controlling the safety restraint system based on the weight and the signal indicative of the crash involving the vehicle from the crash sensor system, the safety restraint system being an airbag arranged to deploy to protect the occupant from injury arising from the crash involving the vehicle upon generation of the control signal by said processor.