Patent ID: 7383744

Claim:
A seat belt tension sensor assembly comprising: a pull plate having portions defining a belt loop opening for receiving seat belt webbing and a sensor opening; first and second magnets coupled to said pull plate on opposite sides of said sensor opening, each of said first and second magnets being oriented with a first pole adjacent said sensor opening and second pole positioned away from said opening toward a side of said sensor assembly; a sensor at least partially disposed in said sensor opening, said sensor being configured to provide an output in response to flux imparted thereto by said first and second magnets, and at least one projection extending from a side of said sensor opening generally towards said sensor, said at least one projection configured to direct magnetic flux from said first and second magnets through said sensor; whereby upon application of tension to said seat belt webbing, said pull plate is configured to move along a first axis of said seat belt tension sensor assembly relative to said sensor, said output of said sensor being indicative of a level of said tension.