Seat belt tension sensor package

Abstract

A sensor package which is reliable, low cost, simple, robust, and usable to input additional seat occupant information to an airbag controller to control airbag deployment, and which is insensitive to cross axis loading of a seat belt. A second housing member is internally interfaced with the first housing member, wherein a suspension system frictionlessly suspends the first housing member springably with respect to the second housing member. A pressure sensor is mounted to one of the first and second housings, and a biasing spring is mounted to the other of the first and second housings in axial abutment with the pressure sensor.

1 - 19 . (Cancelled)  
   
   
       20 . A force sensor, comprising: 
 a first housing member;    a second housing member;    a spring coupled to said first and second housing members; and,    a pressure sensor coupled to said first and second housing members.    
   
   
       21 . The force sensor of  claim 20 , further comprising a biasing spring coupled to said first housing member and said pressure sensor.  
   
   
       22 . The force sensor of  claim 21 , wherein said biasing spring and said pressure sensor are located within a sensor aperture of said first housing member.  
   
   
       23 . The force sensor of  claim 20 , wherein said first and second housing members each have a seat belt aperture.  
   
   
       24 . The force sensor of  claim 20 , further comprising a cover plate that is attached to said second housing member and captures said first housing member.  
   
   
       25 . The force sensor of  claim 20 , wherein said second housing member has a stop.  
   
   
       26 . A force sensor, comprising: 
 a first housing member;    a second housing member;    movement means for allowing said first housing member to move relative to said second housing member; and,    a pressure sensor coupled to said first and second housing members.    
   
   
       27 . The force sensor of  claim 26 , further comprising biasing means for creating a biasing force on said pressure sensor.  
   
   
       28 . The force sensor of  claim 27 , wherein said biasing means and said pressure sensor are located within a sensor aperture of said first housing member.  
   
   
       29 . The force sensor of  claim 26 , wherein said first and second housing members each have a seat belt aperture.  
   
   
       30 . The force sensor of  claim 26 , further comprising a cover plate that is attached to said second housing member and captures said first housing member.  
   
   
       31 . The force sensor of  claim 26 , wherein said second housing member has a stop.  
   
   
       32 . The force sensor of  claim 26 , wherein said movement means includes a spring.  
   
   
       33 . A force sensor, comprising: 
 a first housing member;    a second housing member;    a first spring coupled to said first and second housing members;    a sensor coupled to said first and second housing members; and,    a biasing spring coupled to said first housing member and said sensor.    
   
   
       34 . The force sensor of  claim 33 , wherein said biasing spring and said sensor are located within a sensor aperture of said first housing member.  
   
   
       35 . The force sensor of  claim 33 , wherein said first and second housing members each have a seat belt aperture.  
   
   
       36 . The force sensor of  claim 33 , further comprising a cover plate that is attached to said second housing member and captures said first housing member.  
   
   
       37 . The force sensor of  claim 33 , wherein said second housing member has a stop.  
   
   
       38 . A force sensor, comprising: 
 a first housing member;    a second housing member;    movement means for allowing said first housing member to move relative to said second housing member;    a sensor coupled to said first and second housing members; and,    biasing means for creating a biasing force on said sensor.    
   
   
       39 . The force sensor of  claim 38 , wherein said biasing means and said sensor are located within a sensor aperture of said first housing member.  
   
   
       40 . The force sensor of  claim 38 , wherein said first and second housing members each have a seat belt aperture.  
   
   
       41 . The force sensor of  claim 38 , further comprising a cover plate that is attached to said second housing member and captures said first housing member.  
   
   
       42 . The force sensor of  claim 38 , wherein said second housing member has a stop.  
   
   
       43 . The force sensor of  claim 38 , wherein said movement means includes a spring.  
   
   
       44 . The force sensor of  claim 38 , wherein said biasing means includes a biasing spring.  
   
   
       45 . A method for sensing a force, comprising: 
 moving a first housing member relative to a second housing member, the movement of the first housing member deflects a spring and exerts a force on a pressure sensor.    
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 45 , further comprising impeding the movement of the first housing member.  
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 45 , further comprising exerting a biasing force onto the pressure sensor.  
   
   
       48 . A method for sensing a force, comprising: 
 moving a first housing member relative to a second housing member substantially without friction, the movement of the first housing member exerts a force on a sensor.    
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 48 , further comprising impeding the movement of the first housing member.  
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 48 , further comprising exerting a biasing force onto the sensor.  
   
   
       51 . A force sensor, comprising: 
 a first housing member;    a second housing member;    suspension means for suspending said first housing member from said second housing member; and    a sensor coupled to said first and second housing members.    
   
   
       52 . The force sensor of  claim 51 , further comprising a biasing spring coupled to said first housing member and said sensor.  
   
   
       53 . The force sensor of  claim 52 , wherein said biasing spring and said sensor are located within a sensor aperture of said first housing member.  
   
   
       54 . The force sensor of  claim 51 , wherein said first and second housing members each have a seat belt aperture.  
   
   
       55 . The force sensor of  claim 51 , further comprising a cover plate that is attached to said second housing member and captures said first housing member.  
   
   
       56 . The force sensor of  claim 51 , wherein said second housing member has a stop.  
   
   
       57 . The force sensor of  claim 51 , wherein said suspension means includes a pair of leaf springs attached to said first and second housing members.  
   
   
       58 . The force sensor of  claim 51 , further comprising a spring coupled to said first and second housing members.