Seat sensor

This month, Sensata Technologies demonstrated several occupant sensing approaches that, it said, could help engineers design seat belt alert systems that are more accurate and provide a better level of consumer convenience and safety.

At the SAE 2007 World Congress, the company showed a new piezo electric sensor, as well as a current Monocrystalline Silicon Strain Gauge (MSG) force sensor, both of which give engineers a range of design options.

The new piezo electric sensor solves the problem of traditional weight-only detection systems, which often cannot differentiate between a person or a heavy object such as a box or bag of groceries, creating annoying false seat belt alerts.

A piezo electric wire, incorporated into a pad easily mounted under the seat cushion and providing input to an electronic module, senses the frequency response of a human and can determine the relative position of the passenger.

The Sensata piezo sensor can be built into a variety of seat structures, including A- or B-surface mounting, and accommodates all seat covering options including ventilated seats. A three-position sensor is available for rear seats.