Texas Instruments Corporation

Sensata Technologies, Inc.

Timothy M McBride

Thomas Richard Maher

Paulus Thomas Johannes Gennissen

David P Hatch

Marc Gerard Johan Borgers

David J DiPaola

Edward O'Brien

David E Hyland

Nathan Smith

Chetak Reshamwala

William S Boyce

Jonas M Bautista

Brian J Wilkie

Peter H Frackelton

An occupant weight sensor () for placement between a frame () fixed to the chassis of a vehicle and a second frame () supporting a vehicle seat has a sense element having a first body () formed with a planar sense surface on which are mounted piezoresistors electrically connected in a Wheatstone bridge configuration. A post () extends outwardly from the first body for attachment to the first frame. A second body is formed with a force transfer portion () permanently attached to the first body along an outer periphery circumscribing the sense surface. The piezoresistors are electrically connected to conditioning electronics received in a chamber formed between the two bodies. The effects of parasitic loads on the sense element are minimized by selected placement of the piezoresistors on the sense surface. Several variations are disclosed for attaching the sensor to the first and second frames and both longitudinally and laterally extending electrical connectors are shown.

Occupant weight sensor for vehicular seats, method for making and system therefor

A compliant interface () for vehicular seat weight sensors minimizes parasitic stresses affecting sensor output. In one embodiment, an integral compliant interface () has an annular flange () attached to a post extending from the sensor body with a first compliant member () disposed between the annular flange and an upper elongated flange () of a mounting bracket () and a second compliant member () disposed between the annular plate and a lower elongated flange () to allow pivotal movement of the sensor limited by a motion stop member () of annular flange () engaging the lower flange. An overload cage () may be placed over the sensor and attached to an additional flange () to contain the sensor in the event of a failure of the mount in a catastrophic high speed crash. According to another preferred embodiment, an interface having upper and lower body members are formed with a sensor post receiving bore () for attachment to the post. The body members are formed with spaced apart, radially extending face surfaces, each formed with an annular recess aligned with each other and with a compliant member received therein and fixed to the respective body members and extending beyond the face surfaces. The interface is received through a bore of a support plate to which the sensor is mounted with the compliant members engaging opposite face surfaces of the support plate allowing limited pivotal motion and with a compliant member limiting lateral movement of the interface relative to the support plate.

Sensor mounting apparatus for minimizing parasitic stress

An occupant weight sensor () for placement between a frame () fixed to the chassis of a vehicle and a second frame () supporting a vehicle seat has a sense element having a first body () formed with a planar sense surface on which are mounted piezoresistors electrically connected in a Wheatstone bridge configuration. A post () extends outwardly from the first body for attachment to the first frame. A second body is formed with a force transfer portion () permanently attached to the first body along an outer periphery circumscribing the sense surface. The piezoresistors are electrically connected to conditioning electronics received in a chamber formed between the two bodies. The effects of parasitic loads on the sense element are minimized by selected placement of the piezoresistors on the sense surface. In one embodiment, attachment stresses of an electronic module assembly () are isolated from the sense surface by attaching the assembly to a support ring end wall () welded to a portion of the first body removed from the sense surface and providing a control gap between the support ring and the sense surface. Several variations are disclosed for attaching the sensor to the first and second frames and both longitudinally and laterally extending electrical connectors are shown.

Apparatus for mounting electronic module assembly in sensor

A port fitting ( ) is formed with a closed, pedestal end forming a diaphragm ( ) on which a strain gauge sensor is mounted. A support member ( ) is received on the pedestal end and is formed with a flat end wall ( ) having an aperture ( ) aligned with the sensor. A circuit assembly ( ) is bonded to the flat end wall and the sensor wire bonded to the electronic circuit. A cover member ( ) placed on the support member, is provided with a cavity for a metal shield member ( ) fitted inside the cover member before assembly. The shield member is formed with spring members ( ) extending outside the perimeter of the cover member. The cover member is formed with circular cavities ( ) extending in an axial direction to provide seating for contact spring members ( ), making electronic contact to the sensor electronics and protruding beyond the body of the cover member. The cover member is also fitted with a circular elastomer gasket member ( ), providing an environmental seal. A connector member ( ), comprised of an integrally formed metal housing member ( ) and bent terminals ( ), is then placed over the cover member in such a manner that the terminals are aligned with the spring contact members, making electrical contact with the spring members. The bottom portion ( ) of the metal housing is welded to a support flange ( ) of the port fitting while its top portion ( ) places a selected load on the elastomer seal member seated on the cover member of the transducer.

Hermetic pressure transducer

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Sharon, MA, United States of America

Timothy M McBride