Patent ID: 7330784
Filing Date: 2008-02-12
Classification: B60N,B60R

Abstract:
1. A seat assembly in a vehicle adapted to be attached to a substrate of the vehicle, comprising: a seat having a bottom portion and a back portion coupled at an angle to a rear portion of said bottom portion; a support structure arranged at least partially under said bottom portion of said seat and to support said seat on the substrate at a plurality of locations including two rearward locations on opposite lateral sides of said seat and at least one forward location, said support structure comprising a support member arranged at each of said locations and which is deformed or strained when an occupying item is situated in said seat; and a weight measuring system arranged in connection with said support structure for determining an approximate weight of an occupying item of said seat, said weight measuring system consisting of only one or two strain gage sensors arranged on said support structure each on one of said support members at a respective one of said rearward locations at which said support structure supports said seat on the substrate without any sensors in front of said rearward locations or at said at least one forward location or said weight measuring system consisting of only one or two strain gage sensors arranged on said support structure each on one of said support members at a respective one of said at least one forward location at which said support structure supports said seat on the substrate without any sensors rearward of said at least one forward location or at said rearward locations, each of said one or two strain gage sensors providing data relating to strain in said support member resulting from the force or pressure being applied at the respective location which is used to derive the approximate weight of the occupying item.