Patent ID: 7048085

Claim:
A vehicle weight classification system comprising: a seat assembly having a seat frame for supporting a seat bottom; a seat belt assembly for securing a seat occupant to said seat assembly; a rigid member attached to said sear belt assembly and having a first end for supporting a seat belt portion and a second end integrally formed with said first end for attachment to a vehicle structure; a plurality of weight sensors mounted to said seat frame for generating a plurality of weight signals in response to a weight force applied to said seat bottom; at least one seat belt force sensor for generating a seat belt force signal, said seat belt force sensor being mounted on said rigid member between said first and second ends for measuring a force exerted on said rigid member by a tension force applied to said seat belt portion; an electronic control unit for receiving said weight signals and seat belt force signals to determine occupant weight and center of gravity, generating an occupant classification based on said occupant weight and center of gravity, and transmitting an output control signal based on said occupant classification; an airbag module for receiving said output control signal to control airbag deployment based on said occupant classification; said seat assembly including a seat mount for attachment to a vehicle floor and said plurality of weight sensors comprises a first sensor mounted at a front right side corner of said seat bottom between said seat frame and said seat mount, a second sensor mounted at a front left side corner of said seat bottom between said seat frame and said seat mount a third sensor mounted at a rear right side corner of said seat bottom between said seat frame and said seat mount and a fourth sensor mounted at a rear left side corner of said seat bottom between said seat frame and said seat mount; and said first end of said rigid member being positioned at an angle relative to said second end of said rigid member with said seat belt force sensor being directly mounted to said rigid member adjacent said second end.