Determining mass of motor vehicle occupant involves using relationship involving spring forces derived from characteristics using known spring displacements

摘要

The method involves detecting the spring displacement of at least two spring -damper pairs (2) mounted on opposite ends of a swinging frame (3) of the motor vehicle seat (1) and connected to an underbody (4) of the seat that is fixed to the motor vehicle. The mass mi is determined using mi = [Fv(zv) + Fh(zh)]/g -ms, where Fv and Fh are spring forces derived from characteristics using the known spring displacements (zh and zv).