Child seat sensor assembly
View Patent ↗A sensor assembly for sensing attachment of an object to a safety bar in a vehicle. The assembly may include a movable portion positioned to move from a first position to a second position upon attachment of the object to the safety bar, and a sensor adjacent the movable portion for providing a first output when the movable portion is in the first position and a second output when the sensor is in the second position. The attachment member may allow pivotal movement of the assembly relative to the safety bar to accommodate the orientation of the object to be attached to the safety bar. A method of modifying deployment force of an airbag upon attachment of a child safety seat to safety bar in a vehicle is also provided.
1. A sensor assembly for sensing attachment of an object to a u-shaped safety bar affixed to a vehicle, said safety bar having an attachment portion extending between first and second leg portions, said assembly comprising:
at least one attachment member configured to affix said sensor assembly to said attachment portion of said safety bar;
a movable portion configured to engage said object and move from a first position to a second position upon direct attachment of said object to said attachment portion of said safety bar; and
a sensor for providing a first output when said movable portion is in said first position and a second output when said sensor is in said second position.
2. A sensor assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one attachment member is configured to allow pivotal attachment of said assembly to said attachment portion of said safety bar.
3. A sensor assembly according to claim 2 , wherein said sensor assembly comprises first and second spaced ones of said attachment members.
4. A sensor assembly according to claim 2 , wherein said at least one attachment member allows positioning of said sensor assembly between said first and second leg portions of said safety bar.
5. A sensor assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said sensor comprises a Hall effect sensor.
6. A sensor assembly for sensing attachment of an object to a generally u-shaped safety bar in a vehicle, said sensor comprising:
first and second attachment members for pivotally attaching said assembly to said generally u-shaped safety bar, said first and second attachment members spaced to allow attachment of said object to said safety bar at a location between said first and second attachment members;
a movable portion disposed between said attachment members for positioning adjacent said safety bar to engage said object and move from a first position to a second position upon direct attachment of said object to said safety bar; and
a sensor adjacent said movable portion for providing a first output when said movable portion is in said first position and a second output when said sensor is in said second position.
7. A sensor assembly according to claim 6 , wherein said first and second attachment members allow positioning of said sensor assembly between said first and second leg portions of said safety bar.
8. A sensor assembly according to claim 6 , wherein said sensor comprises a Hall effect sensor.
9. A method of sensing attachment of a child safety seat to a u-shaped safety bar affixed to a vehicle, said safety bar having an attachment portion extending between first and second leg portions, said method comprising:
affixing a sensor assembly to said attachment portion, said sensor assembly comprising a movable portion configured to engage an attachment member of said child safety seat and move from a first position to a second position upon direct attachment of said attachment member to said attachment portion of said safety bar; and a sensor for providing a first output when said movable portion is in said first position and a second output when said sensor is in said second position.
10. A method according to claim 9 , wherein said affixing step comprises pivotally affixing said sensor assembly to said attachment portion.
11. A method according to claim 9 , wherein said affixing step comprises pivotally affixing said sensor assembly to said attachment portion to allow said assembly to extend between said first and second leg portions of said safety bar.
12. A method according to claim 9 , wherein said sensor comprises a Hall effect sensor.