US5573269A — Apparatus and method for sensing and restraining …

Claim 1

Independent Claim 68 words

Apparatus comprising: means for sensing a sensed weight of an occupant of a vehicle seat, said sensed weight differing from the actual weight of the occupant; means for sensing a characteristic which affects the difference between said sensed weight and the actual weight of the occupant; and controller means for determining a computed weight of the occupant as a function of both said sensed weight and said characteristic.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 68 words

Apparatus comprising: means for sensing a sensed weight of an occupant of a vehicle seat, said sensed weight differing from the actual weight of the occupant; means for sensing a characteristic which affects the difference between said sensed weight and the actual weight of the occupant; and controller means for determining a computed weight of the occupant as a function of both said sensed weight and said characteristic.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 44 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said sensed weight differs from the actual weight of the occupant by a first amount, said computed weight differing from the actual weight of the occupant by a second amount which is less than said first amount.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 41 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said controller means stores a plurality of empirical weight values, a plurality of characteristic effect values, and a plurality of computed weight values corresponding to said empirical weight values and said characteristic effect values.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 28 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said controller means comprises means for computing said computed weight as a function of both said sensed weight and said characteristic.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 20 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said characteristic is the inclination of a seat back portion of the seat.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 20 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said characteristic is the location of the occupant's feet relative to the seat.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 26 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said means for sensing said characteristic includes means for sensing the distance between the occupant's feet and the seat.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 23 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising restraint means for restraining the occupant, said restraint means being responsive to said controller means.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 111 words

Apparatus comprising: a vehicle seat; means for sensing a sensed weight of an occupant of said seat, said sensed weight differing from the actual weight of the occupant by a first amount; means for sensing a characteristic which affects the difference between said sensed weight and the actual weight of the occupant; controller means for determining a computed weight of the occupant as a function of both said sensed weight and said characteristic, said computed weight differing from the actual weight of the occupant by a second amount which is less than said first amount; and restraint means for restraining the occupant, said restraint means being responsive to said controller means.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 111 words

Apparatus comprising: a vehicle seat; means for sensing a sensed weight of an occupant of said seat, said sensed weight differing from the actual weight of the occupant by a first amount; means for sensing a characteristic which affects the difference between said sensed weight and the actual weight of the occupant; controller means for determining a computed weight of the occupant as a function of both said sensed weight and said characteristic, said computed weight differing from the actual weight of the occupant by a second amount which is less than said first amount; and restraint means for restraining the occupant, said restraint means being responsive to said controller means.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 53 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said restraint means includes an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint, a source of inflation fluid, means for directing inflation fluid from said source into said restraint to inflate said restraint, and means for controlling said inflation fluid directed into said restraint in response to said computed weight.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 24 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said means for controlling said inflation fluid includes means for venting inflation fluid away from said restraint.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 44 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said seat includes a seat cushion assembly and a seat back assembly supported for inclination relative to said seat cushion assembly, said characteristic being the inclination of said seat back assembly relative to said seat cushion assembly.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 39 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein said controller means stores a plurality of empirical weight values, a plurality of inclination values, and a plurality of computed weight values corresponding to said empirical weight values and said inclination values.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 25 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein said controller means determines said computed weight as a function of both said sensed weight and said inclination.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 27 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said seat is supported on a vehicle floor, said characteristic being the location of the occupant's feet on said floor.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 26 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein said means for sensing said characteristic includes means for sensing the distance between the occupant's feet and said seat.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 39 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said controller means stores a plurality of empirical weight values, a plurality of distance values, and a plurality of computed weight values corresponding to said empirical weight values and said distance values.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 28 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said controller means includes means for calculating said computed weight as a function of both said sensed weight and said distance.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 69 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said seat includes a seat cushion having a bottom surface and support means for supporting said seat cushion, said support means including a support structure extending beneath said bottom surface, said means for sensing said sensed weight including a sensor member which responds to the occupant's weight, said sensor member being located above said support structure and adjacent to said bottom surface.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 20 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 19 wherein said sensor member is located beneath the upper half of said seat cushion.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 20 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 19 wherein said sensor member is located between said support structure and said bottom surface.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 18 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 19 wherein said support structure holds said sensor member against said bottom surface.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 35 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 19 wherein said sensor member bends under the influence of the occupant's weight, said means for sensing said sensed weight further including means for sensing bending of said sensor member.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 27 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 23 wherein said means for sensing said sensed weight includes a plurality of strain gauges for sensing bending of said sensor member.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 148 words

Apparatus comprising: an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint; a source of inflation fluid; means for directing inflation fluid from said source into said restraint to inflate said restraint; a vehicle seat including a seat cushion assembly and a seat back assembly supported for inclination relative to said seat cushion assembly; means for sensing a sensed weight of an occupant of said seat, said sensed weight differing from the actual weight of the occupant by a first amount; means for sensing said inclination of said seat back assembly; controller means for determining a computed weight as a function of both said sensed weight and said inclination of said seat back assembly, said computed weight differing from the actual weight of the occupant by a second amount which is less than said first amount; and means for controlling said inflation fluid directed into said restraint in response to said computed weight.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 148 words

Apparatus comprising: an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint; a source of inflation fluid; means for directing inflation fluid from said source into said restraint to inflate said restraint; a vehicle seat including a seat cushion assembly and a seat back assembly supported for inclination relative to said seat cushion assembly; means for sensing a sensed weight of an occupant of said seat, said sensed weight differing from the actual weight of the occupant by a first amount; means for sensing said inclination of said seat back assembly; controller means for determining a computed weight as a function of both said sensed weight and said inclination of said seat back assembly, said computed weight differing from the actual weight of the occupant by a second amount which is less than said first amount; and means for controlling said inflation fluid directed into said restraint in response to said computed weight.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 24 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 25 wherein said means for controlling said inflation fluid includes means for venting inflation fluid away from said restraint.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 154 words

Apparatus comprising: a vehicle seat cushion having a bottom surface; support means for supporting said seat cushion, said support means including a support structure extending beneath said bottom surface; weight sensor means for sensing a sensed weight of a vehicle occupant seated on said seat cushion, said weight sensor means including a sensor member which responds to the occupant's weight, said sensor member being located above said support structure and adjacent to said bottom surface; and controller means for determining a computed weight of the occupant in response to an output signal from said weight sensor means, wherein said sensed weight differs from the actual weight of the occupant, said apparatus further comprising means for sensing a characteristic which affects the difference between said sensed weight and the actual weight of the occupant, said controller means determining said computed weight of the occupant as a function of both said sensed weight and said characteristic.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 154 words

Apparatus comprising: a vehicle seat cushion having a bottom surface; support means for supporting said seat cushion, said support means including a support structure extending beneath said bottom surface; weight sensor means for sensing a sensed weight of a vehicle occupant seated on said seat cushion, said weight sensor means including a sensor member which responds to the occupant's weight, said sensor member being located above said support structure and adjacent to said bottom surface; and controller means for determining a computed weight of the occupant in response to an output signal from said weight sensor means, wherein said sensed weight differs from the actual weight of the occupant, said apparatus further comprising means for sensing a characteristic which affects the difference between said sensed weight and the actual weight of the occupant, said controller means determining said computed weight of the occupant as a function of both said sensed weight and said characteristic.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 20 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 27 wherein said sensor member is located beneath the upper half of said seat cushion.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 20 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 27 wherein said sensor member is located between said support structure and said bottom surface.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 18 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 27 wherein said support structure holds said sensor member against said bottom surface.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 32 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 27 wherein said sensor member bends under the influence of the occupant's weight, said weight sensor means further including means for sensing bending of said sensor member.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 24 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 31 wherein said weight sensor means includes a plurality of strain gauges for sensing bending of said sensor member.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 23 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 27 further comprising restraint means for restraining the occupant, said restraint means being responsive to said controller means.

Claim 38

Independent Claim 77 words

A method of determining the weight of an occupant of a vehicle seat, said method comprising the steps of: sensing a sensed weight of the occupant of the seat, said sensed weight differing from the actual weight of the occupant; sensing a characteristic which affects the difference between said sensed weight and the actual weight of the occupant; and determining a computed weight of the occupant as a function of both said sensed weight and said characteristic.

Claim 39

Independent Claim 77 words

A method of determining the weight of an occupant of a vehicle seat, said method comprising the steps of: sensing a sensed weight of the occupant of the seat, said sensed weight differing from the actual weight of the occupant; sensing a characteristic which affects the difference between said sensed weight and the actual weight of the occupant; and determining a computed weight of the occupant as a function of both said sensed weight and said characteristic.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 45 words

A method as defined in claim 34 wherein said sensed weight differs from the actual weight of the occupant by a first amount, said computed weight differing from the actual weight of the occupant by a second amount which is less than said first amount.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 62 words

A method as defined in claim 34 further comprising the step of storing a plurality of sensed weight values, a plurality of characteristic effect values, and a plurality of computed weight values corresponding to said sensed weight values and said characteristic effect values, said step of determining said computed weight comprising the step of identifying one of said stored computed weight values.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 34 words

A method as defined in claim 34 wherein said step of determining said computed weight includes the step of computing said computed weight as a function of both said sensed weight and said characteristic.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 21 words

A method as defined in claim 34 wherein said characteristic is the inclination of a seat back portion of the seat.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 21 words

A method as defined in claim 34 wherein said characteristic is the location of the occupant's feet relative to the seat.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 28 words

A method as defined in claim 39 wherein said step of sensing said characteristic comprises the step of sensing the distance between the occupant's feet and the seat.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 21 words

A method as defined in claim 34 further comprising the step of restraining the occupant in response to said computed weight.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1999-11-12	2000-05-13	2000-11-12	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2003-11-12	2004-05-13	2004-11-12	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2007-11-12	2008-05-13	2008-11-12	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Apparatus and method for sensing and restraining an occupant of a vehicle seat

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