Patent ID: 7890234
Filing Date: 2011-02-15
Classification: B60N,B60R,G01B

Abstract:
1. A vehicle seat pressure sensor comprising: a light source; a non-fiber optical polymer sheet of non-woven flexible optical polymer material having a first surface with a peripheral edge surrounding the first surface aligned with the light source such that light emitted from the light source projects into the optical polymer sheet through the peripheral edge; a boundary layer disposed along the first surface of the optical polymer sheet; and a detection unit disposed relative to the optical polymer sheet to detect changes in attenuation of light emitted from the peripheral edge of the optical polymer sheet in response to elastic deformation of the boundary layer and the optical polymer sheet, a processing unit connected to the detection unit to estimate a weight and location of a load placed on the cushion portion and presence of a passenger based upon signals outputted by the detection unit.