Pneumatic Seat Occupant Weight Sensing for Accurate Airbag Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing seat occupancy detection systems cannot accurately determine human body type, leading to inadequate airbag deployment in vehicle safety systems, as they only detect seat occupancy without considering the occupant's body type.
Innovation Solution
A pneumatic identification apparatus comprising a soft elastic hollow structure with a sensing unit and an auxiliary sensing apparatus, using air pressure sensors to differentiate between various human body weights by comparing detected air pressure values with standard threshold values, enabling precise determination of occupant type.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If only simple occupancy detection is used, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision of human body type detection deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The detection system is segmented into multiple independent sensing units, each equipped with air pressure sensors that detect pressure values at different locations. These segmented sensing units work together to comprehensively determine human body type, achieving high measurement precision without requiring a single complex detection system.
Solution Approach 2:
The air pressure sensing apparatus serves multiple functions: it detects both seat occupancy status and human body type characteristics. By making the sensing system multi-functional, the patent avoids the need for separate detection systems for different purposes, thereby maintaining device simplicity while achieving accurate human body type detection.
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensing apparatuses are deployed, then measurement precision of human body type is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple air pressure sensing apparatuses are merged into an integrated detection system that shares common control units and data processing mechanisms. The sensing units are combined to form a unified human body type determination system, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining high measurement precision through coordinated operation of multiple sensors.
3Measurement precision
If air pressure sensing is used, then measurement precision of human body weight is improved, but device complexity remains low
Solution Approach 1:
Traditional mechanical weight sensors are replaced with air pressure sensing technology. The air pressure sensors detect pressure changes caused by occupant weight, which are then processed to determine human body type. This substitution achieves high measurement precision while maintaining low device complexity, as air pressure sensing components are simpler than traditional mechanical sensor systems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution allows for accurate detection of human body type, enhancing safety performance and vehicle safety by ensuring appropriate airbag deployment based on the occupant's weight, thereby improving ride safety.
Implementation Method 1
the first air pressure sensor is configured to detect a first air pressure value Pa in the soft elastic hollow structure body
Implementation Method 2
at least one soft elastic hollow structure body with an intermediate air space structure
Data Source
AI summary
A pneumatic identification apparatus for the body weight of a seat occupant includes a control unit and at least one sensing apparatus each including a pneumatic sensing apparatus and an auxiliary sensing apparatus; the pneumatic sensing apparatus includes at least one soft elastic hollow structure body and a sensing unit; the soft elastic hollow structure body communicates with a first air pressure sensor, the first air pressure sensor being configured to measure a first air pressure value Pa in the soft elastic hollow structure body; the control unit is configured to compare the first air pressure value Pa with standard set values and correspondingly output a body weight type; and the auxiliary sensing apparatus includes a top pressure-bearing plate and a bottom carrying plate respectively mounted on two end faces of the soft elastic hollow structure body. Further provided is a pneumatic identification seat provided with the pneumatic identification apparatus.