Vehicle Seat Load Sensor Positioning for Low Seating
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Solution Overview
Problem
In sports car type vehicles with low seating, it is challenging to install a load sensor between the vehicle floor and seat to measure the occupant's weight due to spatial constraints.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle seat design featuring a load sensor positioned at the lower portion of side frames, with a supporting member below the sensor to receive the occupant's weight and a protecting member to prevent damage from the seat pad, allowing weight measurement even with low seating and maintaining the center of gravity without increasing the seat width.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a load sensor is installed between the vehicle floor and seating portion to measure occupant weight, then weight measurement is enabled, but the seating portion cannot be positioned low enough for sports car type vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The load sensor is repositioned from the conventional location between the vehicle floor and seating portion to a lower position at the side frame or below the side frame. This spatial reconfiguration in the vertical dimension enables both low seating portion positioning and weight measurement functionality to coexist without spatial conflict.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the seating portion is positioned as low as possible to lower the center of gravity, then vehicle stability is improved, but it becomes impossible to install a load sensor between the vehicle floor and seating portion
Solution Approach 1:
The load sensor installation location is shifted to the side frame structure at a lower vertical position, allowing the seating portion to be positioned as low as possible for optimal center of gravity and vehicle stability, while the sensor remains functional at its alternative location.
3Reliability
If a protecting member is added to protect the load sensor from the seat pad, then sensor damage is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A protecting member is introduced as an intermediary element positioned between the seat pad and the load sensor. This mediator prevents direct contact and potential damage from the seat pad to the sensor, while maintaining the functional relationship between the seating system and the measurement device.
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
Enables accurate weight measurement of occupants with low seating while protecting the load sensor from pressure, effectively lowering the center of gravity without widening the seat, and preventing damage to the sensor.
Implementation Method 1
a load sensor between a vehicle floor and a seating portion of a vehicle seat to measure the weight of an occupant based on the amount of deformation of the vehicle seat
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle seat includes a pair of side frames and a load sensor. The load sensor is provided at a lower portion of the side frame or below the side frame. The vehicle seat further includes a supporting member which is connected to the side frame and which supports a seated person. The supporting member includes a seat portion which receives a weight of a seated person. The seat portion is provided below the load sensor.