Lower and upper latch anchor use detection sensing device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11358499-B2
Application number	US-201916655808-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 17, 2019
Priority date	Oct 17, 2019
Publication date	Jun 14, 2022
Grant date	Jun 14, 2022

Abstract

A child restraint seat sensing device for a vehicle including a structural element at least partially defining a volume, wherein the structural element is located in a vehicle passenger seat between a seat base and seat back or is located behind the vehicle passenger seat, a stationary anchor in the vehicle, wherein the stationary anchor is located within the volume defined by the structural element, and a sensor mounted to the structural element, wherein the sensor is configured to detect whether a child restraint seat connector is attached to the stationary anchor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A child restraint seat sensing device for a vehicle, comprising:
a structural element at least partially defining a volume, wherein the structural element is located in a vehicle passenger seat between a seat base and seat back or is located behind the vehicle passenger seat;
a stationary anchor in the vehicle, wherein the stationary anchor is located within the volume defined by the structural element;
a sensor mounted to the structural element, wherein the sensor is configured to detect whether a child restraint seat connector is attached to the stationary anchor;
a guide extending from the structural element aft of the stationary anchor; and
a spring, wherein the spring includes a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end is mounted at the opening, the distal end is configured to slide between the structural element and the guide, and the spring includes a bend fore of the stationary anchor,
wherein the sensor is aft of the stationary anchor relative to an opening for receiving the child restraint seat connector defined in the structural element.

2. The child restraint seat sensing device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor includes at least one of an optical sensor, a contact sensor, a proximity sensor, a potentiometer and an encoder.

3. The child restraint seat sensing device of claim 2 , wherein the sensor is an optical sensor that includes an emitter, a reflector and a receiver, wherein the emitter and the receiver are coupled to a first portion of the structural element and the reflector is coupled to a second portion of the structural element opposing the first portion, and wherein when the child restraint seat connector is attached to the stationary anchor the spring passes between the emitter and the reflector.

4. The child restraint seat sensing device of claim 2 , wherein the sensor is an optical sensor that includes an emitter and a receiver, wherein the emitter is coupled to a first portion of the structural element and the receiver is coupled to a second portion of the structural element opposing the first portion, and wherein the child restraint seat connector is attached to the stationary anchor, the spring passes between the emitter and the receiver.

5. The child restraint seat sensing device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is configured to indicate a first output when the child restraint seat connector is attached to the stationary anchor and indicate a second output when the child restraint seat connector is not attached to the stationary anchor.

6. The child restraint seat sensing device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is configured to indicate no output when the sensor malfunctions.

7. The child restraint seat sensing device of claim 1 , further comprising a second sensor and a portion of the spring includes a reduced area, wherein the reduced area is at least partially aligned with the second sensor when the distal end of the spring slides between the structural element and the guide.

8. A child restraint seat sensing device for a vehicle, comprising:
a structural element at least partially defining a volume, wherein the structural element is located in a vehicle passenger seat between a seat base and seat back or is located behind the vehicle passenger seat;
a stationary anchor in the vehicle, wherein the stationary anchor is located within the volume defined by the structural element;
a first sensor mounted to the structural element, wherein the first sensor is configured to detect whether a child restraint seat connector is attached to the stationary anchor;
a guide extending from the structural element aft of the stationary anchor;
a spring, wherein the spring includes a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end is mounted at the opening, the distal end is configured to slide between the structural element and the guide, and the spring includes a bend fore of the stationary anchor; and
a second sensor, wherein a portion of the spring includes a reduced area at least partially aligned with the second sensor when the distal end of the spring slides between the structural element and the guide,
wherein the sensor is aft of the stationary anchor relative to an opening for receiving the child restraint seat connector defined in the structural element, and
wherein the first sensor is configured to indicate a first output when the child restraint seat connector is attached to the stationary anchor and indicate a second output when the child restraint seat connector is not attached to the stationary anchor and the first sensor is configured to indicate no output when the sensor malfunctions.

9. The child restraint seat sensing device of claim 8 , wherein the first sensor includes at least one of an optical sensor, a contact sensor, a proximity sensor, a potentiometer and an encoder.

10. The child restraint seat sensing device of claim 8 , wherein the first sensor is an optical sensor that includes an emitter, a reflector and a receiver, wherein the emitter and the receiver are coupled to a first portion of the structural element and the reflector is coupled to a second portion of the structural element opposing the first portion, and wherein when the child restraint seat connector is attached to the stationary anchor the spring passes between the emitter and the reflector.

11. The child restraint seat sensing device of claim 8 , wherein the first sensor is an optical sensor that includes an emitter and a receiver, wherein the emitter is coupled to a first portion of the structural element and the receiver is coupled to a second portion of the structural element opposing the first portion, and wherein the child restraint seat connector is attached to the stationary anchor, the spring passes between the emitter and the receiver.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Thomas Scott D
• Morrow Tricia E
• Sala Dorel M
• Lau Eugene J
• Johansson Suzanne L
• Demirovic Orhan

Classifications

• B60N2/28 Primary

  Seats readily mountable on, and dismountable from, existing seats {or other parts} of the vehicle · CPC title

• B60N2/2809

  with additional tether connected to the top of the child seat and passing above the top of the back-rest · CPC title

• B60N2/2806

  for securing the child seat to the vehicle · CPC title

• B60N2210/40

  Force or pressure sensors · CPC title

• B60N2/0033

  mounted on or in the foam cushion · CPC title