Appeal No. 2002-1911 Page 7
Application No. 09/598,087
power lines are supplied to the bridge by the connector 42. Bridge output lines are
coupled to a signal conditioning and amplification integrated circuit 48 which has its
output connected to the connector. A cover 50 fits on the housing to protect the circuit.
The steel substrate extends beyond the housing sufficiently to permit welding to a
structural member of the seat. The gauge responds to a bending moment and is
mounted to a seat member subject to bending due to occupant weight.
Verma's strain gauges 30 are inputs to a circuit, as shown in Figure 7,
comprising a microprocessor 52 which processes the strain signals to determine
whether the deployment of the passenger airbag should be inhibited, and the
microprocessor output is connected to an airbag control module 54 which decides
whether to deploy the driver airbag 56 and/or the passenger airbag 58.
Claim 1
Claim 1 reads as follows:
A system for measuring a weight on a vehicle seat comprising:
a seat element mounted to a vehicle structure;
a seat support member for supporting a seat bottom; and
a plurality of weight sensor assemblies mounted between said seat
element and said seat support member, each of said weight sensor assemblies
having a bottom surface and a top surface with a full bridge strain gage mounted
on one of said top or bottom surfaces.
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Last modified: November 3, 2007