US3727181A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle seat occupant sensor
Assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
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Filing: 1972-01-31
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Granted: 1973-04-10
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Expires: 1992-01-31
Abstract
Abstract An antenna embedded in the seat of a vehicle is coupled to the output of an oscillator to generate an electromagnetic field having a frequency at which the electromagnetic field is absorbed by a vehicle occupant when in the field. A receiving antenna is positioned within the generated electromagnetic field and is coupled to a detector. An indicator is coupled to the detector to indicate the presence of an occupant in the seat when the intensity of the electromagnetic field in proximity to the receiving antenna decreases due to absorption of the electromagnetic field by an occupant in the seat.
Inventors
- 👤 S Robbins
- 👤 Y Yoshida
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 09:24
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R22/00; B60R22/48; B60R21/00; B60R21/01; B60R21/015; B60R21/01512; B60R21/0153; B60R21/01534; H; H03; H03K; H03K17/00; H03K17/94; H03K17/945; H03K17/955; B60R2022/4808; B60R2022/4816; B60R2022/4858; H03K2217/00; H03K2217/0036; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S331/00; Y10S331/03
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
189 words
A motor vehicle seat occupant sensor comprising, in combination, means for generating in the proximity of the seat normally occupied by the occupant an electromagnetic field having a frequency of oscillation at which the electromagnetic field is absorbed by the occupant, said means including an oscillator for generating an output signal at said frequency and an electrical conductor forming an antenna coupled to the oscillator and carried by the seat in an area normally occupied by the occupant for generating the electromagnetic field having the frequency of oscillation in response to the output of the oscillator; a receiving antenna carried by the seat within the generated electromagnetic field, the electromagnetic field in proximity to the receiving antenna having an intensity greater than a threshold level in the absence of an occupant on the seat and less than the threshold level in the presence of an occupant on the seat resulting from the absorption of the electromagnetic field by the occupant; a detector coupled to the receiving antenna for generating an output signal having a magnitude related to the intensity of the electromagnetic field in proximity to the receiving antenna.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
189 words
A motor vehicle seat occupant sensor comprising, in combination, means for generating in the proximity of the seat normally occupied by the occupant an electromagnetic field having a frequency of oscillation at which the electromagnetic field is absorbed by the occupant, said means including an oscillator for generating an output signal at said frequency and an electrical conductor forming an antenna coupled to the oscillator and carried by the seat in an area normally occupied by the occupant for generating the electromagnetic field having the frequency of oscillation in response to the output of the oscillator; a receiving antenna carried by the seat within the generated electromagnetic field, the electromagnetic field in proximity to the receiving antenna having an intensity greater than a threshold level in the absence of an occupant on the seat and less than the threshold level in the presence of an occupant on the seat resulting from the absorption of the electromagnetic field by the occupant; a detector coupled to the receiving antenna for generating an output signal having a magnitude related to the intensity of the electromagnetic field in proximity to the receiving antenna.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
248 words
A motor vehicle seat occupant indicating circuit comprising, in combination, means for generating in the proximity of the seat normally occupied by the occupant an electromagnetic field having a frequency of oscillation at which the electromagnetic field is absorbed by the occupant, said means including an oscillator for generating an output signal at said frequency and an electrical conductor forming an antenna coupled to the oscillator and embedded under the surface of the seat normally occupied by the occupant for generating the electromagnetic field having the frequency of oscillation in response to the output of the oscillator; a receiving antenna embedded under the surface of the seat within the generated electromagnetic field, the electromagnetic field in proximity to the receiving antenna having an intensity greater than a threshold level in the absence of an occupant on the seat and less than the threshold level in the presence of an occupant on the seat resulting from the absorption of the electromagnetic field by the occupant; a detector coupled to the receiving antenna for generating an output signal having a magnitude related to the intensity of the electromagnetic field in proximity to the receiving antenna; and an indicator coupled to the detector for providing an indication when the magnitude of the output signal of the detector represents an electromagnetic field intensity in proximity to the receiving antenna less than the threshold level to thereby provide an indication of the presence of an occupant on the seat of the motor vehicle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
248 words
A motor vehicle seat occupant indicating circuit comprising, in combination, means for generating in the proximity of the seat normally occupied by the occupant an electromagnetic field having a frequency of oscillation at which the electromagnetic field is absorbed by the occupant, said means including an oscillator for generating an output signal at said frequency and an electrical conductor forming an antenna coupled to the oscillator and embedded under the surface of the seat normally occupied by the occupant for generating the electromagnetic field having the frequency of oscillation in response to the output of the oscillator; a receiving antenna embedded under the surface of the seat within the generated electromagnetic field, the electromagnetic field in proximity to the receiving antenna having an intensity greater than a threshold level in the absence of an occupant on the seat and less than the threshold level in the presence of an occupant on the seat resulting from the absorption of the electromagnetic field by the occupant; a detector coupled to the receiving antenna for generating an output signal having a magnitude related to the intensity of the electromagnetic field in proximity to the receiving antenna; and an indicator coupled to the detector for providing an indication when the magnitude of the output signal of the detector represents an electromagnetic field intensity in proximity to the receiving antenna less than the threshold level to thereby provide an indication of the presence of an occupant on the seat of the motor vehicle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
314 words
A motor vehicle seat occupant indicating circuit comprising, in combination, a power source; means for generating in the proximity of the seat normally occupied by the occupant an electromagnetic field having a frequency of oscillation at which the electromagnetic field is absorbed by the occupant, said means including an oscillator for generating an output signal at said frequency when coupled to the power source and an electrical conductor forming an antenna coupled to the oscillator and embedded under the surface of the seat normally occupied by the occupant for generating the electromagnetic field having the frequency of oscillation in response to the output signal of the oscillator; a receiving antenna embedded under the surface of the seat within the electromagnetic field, the electromagnetic field in proximity to the receiving antenna having an intensity greater than a threshold level in the absence of an occupant on the seat and less than the threshold level in the presence of an occupant on the seat resulting from the absorption of the electromagnetic field by the occupant; a detector coupled to the receiving antenna for generating an output signal having a magnitude related to the intensity of the electromagnetic field in proximity to the receiving antenna when coupled to the power source; an indicator coupled to the detector for providing an indication when coupled to the power source and when the magnitude of the output signal of the detector represents an electromagnetic field intensity in proximity to the receiving antennA less than the threshold level; a pair of selectively coupled or decoupled seat belt members; and a seat belt condition responsive switch coupled to the power source for coupling the power source to the oscillator, the detector and the indicator when the seat belt members are not coupled, whereby the indicator provides an indication of the failure of the vehicle seat occupant to couple the seat belt members.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
314 words
A motor vehicle seat occupant indicating circuit comprising, in combination, a power source; means for generating in the proximity of the seat normally occupied by the occupant an electromagnetic field having a frequency of oscillation at which the electromagnetic field is absorbed by the occupant, said means including an oscillator for generating an output signal at said frequency when coupled to the power source and an electrical conductor forming an antenna coupled to the oscillator and embedded under the surface of the seat normally occupied by the occupant for generating the electromagnetic field having the frequency of oscillation in response to the output signal of the oscillator; a receiving antenna embedded under the surface of the seat within the electromagnetic field, the electromagnetic field in proximity to the receiving antenna having an intensity greater than a threshold level in the absence of an occupant on the seat and less than the threshold level in the presence of an occupant on the seat resulting from the absorption of the electromagnetic field by the occupant; a detector coupled to the receiving antenna for generating an output signal having a magnitude related to the intensity of the electromagnetic field in proximity to the receiving antenna when coupled to the power source; an indicator coupled to the detector for providing an indication when coupled to the power source and when the magnitude of the output signal of the detector represents an electromagnetic field intensity in proximity to the receiving antennA less than the threshold level; a pair of selectively coupled or decoupled seat belt members; and a seat belt condition responsive switch coupled to the power source for coupling the power source to the oscillator, the detector and the indicator when the seat belt members are not coupled, whereby the indicator provides an indication of the failure of the vehicle seat occupant to couple the seat belt members.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3439358A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-04-09 | 1976-10-09 | 1977-04-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-09 | 1980-10-09 | 1981-04-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-09 | 1984-10-09 | 1985-04-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |