The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 29, 2000
Filed:
Dec. 18, 1997
James G Stanley, Novi, MI (US);
James A Campbell, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Timothy E Hughes, Livonia, MI (US);
Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc., Farmington Hills, MI (US);
Abstract
A variable resistance weight sensor incorporates a plurality of force sensitive resistance elements disposed between a pair of force distributing plates. One of the force distributing plates incorporates an associated plurality of protrusions for transferring, in cooperation with the second force distributing plate, an associated component of the compressive load to the associated force sensitive resistive element, whereby the resulting resistance of the force sensitive resistive element is inversely related to the magnitude of the associated compressive load component. The force sensitive resistive elements are interconnected in series, whereby a signal processor measures the applied load from the associated series resistance. A diode connected in parallel with the series combination of force sensitive resistive elements provides a means for diagnosing the sensor.