Patent ID: 6351994
Filing Date: 2002-03-05
Classification: G01V

Abstract:
A sensor system for determining a relative position of a vehicle seat, wherein the vehicle seat is fixed to a vehicle floor by a seat track, the seat track having an upper seat track portion connected to the vehicle seat and a lower seat track portion connected to a vehicle floor, the sensor system comprising:a sensor housing having at least one downwardly extending side wall; a sensing element affixed to one of the upper seat track portion and the lower seat track portion; at least one receiver element in selective communication with the sensing element, wherein the sensing element is disposed adjacent the at least one receiver element; and an enabler disposed adjacent to the other of the upper seat track portion and the lower seat track portion, the enabler having at least one activation zone for allowing the sensing element to communicate with the at least one receiver element, and at least one deactivation zone for preventing the sensing element from communicating with the at least one receiver element, the at least one activation zone defining at least one position of the vehicle seat and the at least one de activation zone defining at least one other position of the vehicle seat, wherein the at least one activation zone is a longitudinally extending light reflecting area having a varying concentration of reflective particles.