Patent ID: 6400145
Filing Date: 2002-06-04
Classification: B60R,G01L,Y10T

Abstract:
A force sensor (50a) for generating a signal indicative of the usage of a seat belt comprising:a first housing (70a) having first and a second housing part, the first and second housing parts each including a first bridge portion (400) and a second bridge portion (402), the first bridge portions defining a first passage and the second bridge portions defining a second passage; a cable anchor (90) slidably received within the first and second passages formed by the bridge portions, the cable anchor adapted to be connected to a cable (54), the cable anchor, at a first anchor end, includes an annular portion (44); the cable (54) having a first cable end operatively secured to a second anchor end and a second cable end operatively connected to an anchor point; a magnet (120) operatively connected to annular portion of the cable anchor and movable with the cable anchor; first means for biasing the cable anchor to resist motion of the cable anchor toward an end of the first housing opposite the location of the magnet; a sensor housing (180) fixedly positioned between the second bridge portions and located within the second passage, the annular portion of the cable anchor surrounding the sensor housing; a magnetic sensor (200), located within the sensor housing for generating a signal indicative of the distance between it and the magnet, such distance proportional to a force applied to the seat belt; the magnet and the magnetic sensor being relatively movable when a force of a determinable level is applied to the end cap thereby causing the relative movement of the magnet and the magnetic sensor.