Abstract: A cover member (20) for a steering wheel mounted air bag module (14) is provided. The cover member (20) includes a horn switch (26) formed by a first conductive layer (30) defining a ground plane, and a second conductive layer (28) for contacting one side of the first conductive layer (30). The cover member (20) further includes a proximity sensor (24) formed by a third conductive layer (32) and a fourth conductive layer (34). The third and fourth conductive layers (32, 34) are electrically associated with the first conductive layer (30), and the proximity sensor (24) generates an electric field (50) in response to a signal received from a driver circuit (48).

Abstract: An weight sensor (16) for use in the crash management system of a motor vehicle's safety restraint system (10). The weight sensor (16) functions to determine the weight of an occupant sitting on a vehicle seat (12) and is mounted between the seat frame (42) and mounting structure (46) of the vehicle seat (12). The weight sensor (16) includes a position sensing unit (52) retained in an enclosed housing assembly (50). The weight of a seat occupant causes a portion (56) of the housing assembly (50) to deflect and the position sensing unit (52) measures the corresponding displacement caused by such deflection. The position sensing unit (52) includes a Hall effect sensor (70) fixed to the rigid portion (54) of the housing assembly (50) and a magnet (74) fixed to the deflectable portion (56) of the housing assembly (50).

Abstract: An occupant sensing apparatus for controlling operating characteristics of a vehicle's safety restraint system is provided. The apparatus has a first proximity sensor emitting a field in a first direction and generating a first output signal indicative of the object and a second proximity sensor emitting a second field in a second direction that is substantially towards the field in the first direction and generating a second output signal indicative of the object. A controller receives the first and second output signals and generates a control signal that is used to control the operating characteristics of the vehicle's safety restraint system.

Abstract: A test apparatus (20) for testing the dynamic performance and verifying the performance of at least one occupant sensor (82) used in a vehicular safety restraint system comprising: a movable sled slidably oriented relative to the occupant sensor; an object, the presence of which is to be sensed by the sensor, mounted and movable with the sled; a support (22, 24, 26a,b, 32, 36) for slidably supporting the sled relative to the sensor (82); a force producing device (90a,b, 92, 94) for moving the sled toward the sensor in a determinable manner; a data collection device (84) for comparing signals derived from the occupant sensor indicative of the relative position to the object with signals derived upon independent measurement of the motion of the sled.

Abstract: An optical weight sensor (16) for use in the crash management system of a motor vehicle's safety restraint system (10). The optical weight sensor (16) functions to determine the weight of an occupant sitting on a vehicle seat (12) and is mounted between the seat frame (42) and mounting structure (46) of the vehicle seat (12). The optical weight sensor (16) includes an imaging assembly (52) retained in an enclosed housing assembly (50). The weight of a seat occupant causes a portion (56) of the housing assembly (50) to deflect the imaging assembly (52) generating a change in a reflection angle caused by such deflection. The imaging assembly (52) includes a light emitting unit (70) which emits a light beam onto a target area (78) on housing portion (56) which is subsequently reflected onto a position sensing unit (76).