Trw Limited

Michael G Fullerton

Michael C McCarthy

George B Wolfe

Thomas J Lemense

Floyd J Malecke

Mark A Mehney

An apparatus ( ) includes seat belt webbing ( ), a parallelogram linkage ( ), a sensor lever ( ), and a sensor ( ). The seat belt webbing ( ) helps to protect the occupant ( ) of the vehicle ( ). The parallelogram linkage ( ) includes a first beam ( ) and a second beam ( ) parallel to the first beam ( ). The first and second beams ( ) each bend in response to at least part of a load applied by the seat belt webbing ( ). The sensor lever ( ) is interposed between the first and second beams ( ). The sensor lever ( ) has a connection with the first and second beams ( ). The connection causes the sensor lever ( ) to deflect upon bending of the first and second beams ( ). The sensor ( ) senses the deflection of the sensor lever ( ) and provides an output signal indicative of the amount bending of the first and second beams ( ).

Parallelogram load sensing apparatus for a seat belt webbing

The present invention is directed to a weight sensing apparatus (,) for a vehicle seat (,). The weight sensing apparatus (,) includes a differential capacitor (,) including a first capacitor (,) and a second capacitor (,). The first capacitor (,) includes first and second opposed plate assemblies (,and,). The second capacitor (,) includes a third plate assembly (,) and the second plate assembly (,). Each plate assembly (,and,) includes a plurality of electrically conductive elongated members that extend in an axial direction. The second plate assembly (,) is interposed between the first and third plate assemblies (,and,) and is movable in an axial direction relative to the first and third plate assemblies (,and,) in response to a load being applied to a vehicle seat. A source of alternating current supplies electrical energy to the differential capacitor (,) and an output circuit is electrically connected with the differential capacitor (,).

Capacitive weight sensor

An apparatus (10) has a vehicle seat frame (30), a weight sensor apparatus (22, 22, 22, 22), and a vehicle occupant protection device (102) responsive to the weight sensor apparatus (22, 22, 22, 22). The seat frame (30) has a bottom portion (32) and a back portion (34) which together bear a vehicle occupant weight load. A deflectable seat cushion (38) covers the bottom portion (32) of the frame (30). The weight sensor apparatus (22, 22, 22, 22) measures the entire magnitude of the vehicle occupant weight load acting on the frame (30) independently of deflection of the cushion (38).

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Ypsilanti, MI, United States of America

Michael G Fullerton