Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110239731 | FORCE MEASUREMENT SYSTEM - A system for measuring forces during a simulated dynamic vehicle event includes a plurality of sensors, a controller, and a plurality of conductors that electrically couple each sensor to the controller. Each sensor includes a layer of pressure sensitive material arranged between an outer sheet of carrier material and an inner sheet of carrier material. The pressure sensitive material changes resistance in response to forces acting upon the outer sheet of carrier material. Each of the plurality of sensors is configured to be coupled to a surface of a crash test dummy or to a surface of a vehicle. The controller is configured to provide an electrical signal to each sensor, to measure the voltage across each sensor, and to determine the force acting upon each sensor based on the measured voltage. | 10-06-2011 |
20110241850 | STEERING WHEEL SENSORS - A sensor for installation on a steering wheel includes a pressure sensitive material mounted on a base material of the steering wheel. The pressure sensitive material is configured to provide an electrical signal to a controller when pressure is applied. The controller provides a command to a vehicle system based on the electrical signal. The pressure sensitive material has at least one of a variable resistance and a variable capacitance based on the amount or type of pressure that is applied to the material. The electrical signal is based on the at least one of a variable resistance and a variable capacitance. | 10-06-2011 |
20110241860 | OCCUPANT SENSING SYSTEM - An occupant sensing system for a vehicle includes a pressure sensitive material installed in one or more pressure sensing zones in or around at least one vehicle seat. The pressure sensitive material of each zone is configured to provide an electrical signal to a controller when pressure is applied. The controller determines at least one of occupant presence, position, and classification based on the electrical signal. The pressure sensitive material has at least one of a variable resistance and a variable capacitance based on the amount or type of pressure that is applied to the material. The at least one of a variable resistance and a variable capacitance changes characteristics of the electrical signal. | 10-06-2011 |
20110245643 | STEERING WHEEL WITH HAND SENSORS - The invention relates to a steering wheel for a vehicle can include a sensor assembly mounted in the steering wheel. The sensor assembly can include an electrode configured to measure a biological parameter of a driver of the vehicle. In invention further relates to a sensor assembly for a steering wheel. The sensor assembly can include an electrode configured to measure a biological parameter of a driver of the vehicle. The sensor assembly can be configured to be mounted in the steering wheel. | 10-06-2011 |
20110246028 | STEERING WHEEL WITH HAND PRESSURE SENSING - The invention relates to a vehicle safety system includes a steering wheel, a plurality of pressure sensitive sensors located in the steering wheel, and a control unit. The pressure sensitive sensors can be located in different regions of the steering wheel. The pressure sensitive sensors can determine if a driver's hand is pressing upon a respective region of the steering wheel associated with one or more of the plurality of pressure sensitive sensors. The control unit can be configured or programmed to determine if at least one of the driver's hands is pressing upon a region of the steering wheel for a predetermined amount of time. | 10-06-2011 |
20130128587 | PRESSURE SENSITIVE ILLUMINATION SYSTEM - Implementations of the present disclosure provide a human interface including a light emitter and a pressure sensitive material. The pressure sensitive material has electrical properties configured to vary in relation to an amount of pressure applied thereto. The light emitter is coupled to the pressure sensitive material, wherein variation of the electrical properties of the pressure sensitive material causes variation of at least one illumination characteristic. Advantageously, the pressure sensitive material provides an additional control component allowing bundling of controls in a simpler interface. At the same time, operation of the human interface in low-light or distracted environments is facilitated and rendered more intuitive by incorporation of the light emitter into its operation. | 05-23-2013 |
20130338847 | PRESSURE SENSOR INCLUDING A PRESSURE SENSITIVE MATERIAL FOR USE WITH CONTROL SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF USING THE SAME - Pressure sensors for sending a plurality of control messages to a system controller are disclosed herein. An example pressure sensor may include: a base; at least first and second conductors; a pressure sensitive material at least partially intervening between the first and second conductors; a memory; a clock; and a processor. The pressure sensitive material may have a composition configured to continuously change at least one electrical property. The processor may be configured to determine a first electrical property using the first and second conductors, associate the first electrical property with a time from the clock and write the first electrical property and the time to the memory. The processor may also be configured to calculate a time-based change in the first electrical property, correlate the time-based change with at least one of the control messages and communicate the at least one of the control messages to the system controller. | 12-19-2013 |
20140076063 | SINGLE LAYER FORCE SENSOR - A sensor for sensing an application of pressure is disclosed. The sensor includes a substrate, conductive elements and an electroactive layer. First and second conductive elements are supported on the substrate and have elongate edges spaced apart from each other. The electroactive layer has a common surface adhered against the conductive elements. The electroactive layer defines at least one electrical property in a portion of the layer between the conductive elements. The electrical property is configured to vary in relation to a magnitude of the pressure. | 03-20-2014 |