Methods for Sensing Weight of an Occupying Item in a Vehicular Seat

Abstract

Method for determining weight of an occupant of an automotive seat involves arranging a bladder having at least one chamber in a seat portion of the seat, measuring the pressure in each chamber and deriving the weight of the occupant based on the measured pressure. The pressure in each chamber may be measured by a respective transducer associated therewith. The weight distribution of the occupant, the center of gravity of the occupant and/or the position of the occupant can be determined based on the pressure measured by the transducer(s). In one embodiment, the bladder is arranged in a container and fluid flow between the bladder and the container is permitted and optionally regulated, for example, via an adjustable orifice between the bladder and the container.

1 . A method for determining the weight of an occupant of an automotive seat, comprising: 
 arranging a bladder having at least one chamber in a seat portion of the seat;    measuring the pressure in each of the at least one chamber; and    deriving the weight of the occupant based on the measured pressure.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one chamber comprises a plurality of individual chambers.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the pressure in each of the chambers is measured by a respective transducer associated with the chamber.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising determining a distribution of the weight of the occupant based on the pressure measured by the transducers.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising determining a position of the occupant based on the weight distribution.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising determining a center of gravity of the occupant based on the weight distribution.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 arranging the bladder in a container; and    permitting fluid flow between the bladder and the container.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising the step of regulating the flow of fluid between the bladder and the container.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the bladder includes an adjustable orifice leading to the container, the flow of fluid being regulated by adjusting the orifice.  
     
     
         10 . A method for controlling a component in a vehicle based on weight of an occupying item of the vehicle, comprising: 
 arranging a seat in a compartment of the vehicle which has a seat portion upon which the occupying item rests and applies weight thereto;    arranging a bladder having at least one chamber in the seat portion of the seat;    measuring the pressure in each of the at least one chamber;    deriving the weight of the occupying item based on the measured pressure; and    controlling the component based at least in part on the derived weight of the occupying item.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one chamber comprises a plurality of individual chambers.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the pressure in each of the chambers is measured by a respective transducer associated with the chamber.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising determining a distribution of the weight of the occupying item based on the pressure measured by the transducers.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising determining a position of the occupying item based on the weight distribution.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising determining a center of gravity of the occupying item based on the weight distribution.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 arranging the bladder in a container; and    permitting fluid flow between the bladder and the container.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of regulating the flow of fluid between the bladder and the container.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the bladder includes an adjustable orifice leading to the container, the flow of fluid being regulated by adjusting the orifice.  
     
     
         19 . A method for estimating the weight of an occupant of an automotive seat, comprising: 
 arranging a bladder having at least one chamber in a seat portion of the seat;    arranging a transducer in connection with the bladder to provide a measurement of the pressure in the at least one chamber; and    determining an estimate of the weight of the occupant based on the measurement of pressure provided by the transducer.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising: 
 coupling the transducer to a control module; and    providing the measurement of the pressure to the control module which determines the estimate of the weight of the occupant.