Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication – Vehicle subsystem or accessory control
Reexamination Certificate
2001-12-27
2003-10-21
Nguyen, Tan Q. (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication
Vehicle subsystem or accessory control
C701S049000, C280S730100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06636793
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a measuring device for taking at least one measure of a bubble (for example a flexible-walled inflatable cell or container such as a bag, cushion or the like) filled with a medium, to a system for adjusting a surface contour consisting of an arrangement of fillable bubbles or a seat with a system consisting of a number of bubbles for changing the contour of a seat surface.
To measure the expanse of a bubble filled with a medium (for example gas), the pressure of the gas (or of the medium in general) located in the bubble is generally measured.
However, as the volume is very markedly dependent on temperature and/or load, the external dimensions of the bubble cannot be determined or adjusted exactly. Furthermore, known arrangements assume that the bubbles are as tight as possible.
It is known to provide the seat surface (seat pan and/or backrest) of car seats with air or liquid cushions to increase comfort, the surface contour of the seat being changed by appropriate filling of these cushions (i.e. bubbles). Owing to the very great temperature variations in a vehicle, the volume of these air cushions changes to the extent that it is necessary to readjust the air cushions in each case. This may be carried out manually, by opening valves and optionally switching on a pump, or electronically using a control means which readjusts the preset pressure or the necessary volume within a bubble. A drawback of these known arrangements is that the surface contour, which corresponds to a measurable distance, is determined indirectly via the pressure, so additional disturbances can distort the result.
European patent application 289 165 is known from the state of the art. This document proposes two fork-type feelers which are articulated and act on the bubble from the exterior. These feelers transpose the dimensions taken from the bubble to a slider acting on a stationary switch. The switch is actuated if the bubble volume is too small. A drawback of this design is the relatively imprecise recording of the distance, owing to the slot guide required. Furthermore, the system is completely unsuitable for use as a measuring device because the switch detects only a limit value and a corresponding signal is then activated.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,823,045 is also known from the state of the art. This document describes a volume-measuring device in which a displaceable piston determines the volume of a bubble which may be filled with a medium. As the volume is to be determined, the piston has to rest as extensively as possible on the bubble and therefore distorts the resultant dimension (distance as dimension). Moreover, the arrangement is totally unsuitable for producing a measuring device, in particular in a motor vehicle seat. It is used only to display a certain capacity and not for precise determination of quantity.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide a measuring device for taking at least one measure of a bubble filled with a medium, the measure being determined independently of the external temperature and other spurious influences.
For achieving the object of the invention, a measuring device for taking at least one measure or one dimension of a bubble filled with a medium is proposed, comprising at least one feeler which rests against the skin of the bubble or is embedded in the skin or in the material surrounding the bubble skin. The object is achieved according to the invention in that the feeler cooperates with a sensor which determines the respective position of the feeler relative to a reference, such as a reference point or a reference area, and outputs a value or information corresponding to the detected distance between the feeler and the reference area or the reference point.
The proposal according to the invention produces a dimensional value which is independent of the pressure prevailing in the bubble, more specifically over the entire interval of the width to be measured or of the measure. The proposal according to the invention accordingly provides a measuring device which basically cooperates with a more complex system, for example a servo loop for appropriate determination of the surface contour of the seat.
The invention proposes that the feeler rests against the skin of the bubble and is embedded in the skin or in the material surrounding the bubble skin. The measuring device is used, for example, in a more complex application for determining the seat contour or the surface loading of a seat. It is useful to determine the change in measure on the seat surface brought about by the bubble, optionally at a certain distance from the actual bubble. However, this measured value is dependent on the expanse or dimension of the bubble. If the feeler is introduced into the material surrounding the bubble, it can, in a preferred embodiment, determine, in particular, the change in measure directly on the appropriate seat surface owing to the change in the dimensions of the bubble.
Furthermore, the measuring device is not designed merely to provide an appropriate distance value corresponding to the dimensions of the bubble. In various applications, it is also sufficient if the loading information is produced by the measuring device, in other words the measuring device merely displays whether or not, for example, the seat is loaded, i.e. occupied. In this case, the function of the measuring device may be reduced to a “switch function”, the value 1, for example, being output when the seat is loaded and the value 0 being output when the seat is unloaded. This information may be established, for example, by comparison of these two positions. The measuring device according to the invention is also used in this case, but the result obtained is processed in a different way.
A further advantage of the invention is that the measuring device operates in the bubble, independently of leaks. As the appropriate distance, rather than the pressure, is measured directly, possible leaks are immaterial. Therefore, a leak does not distort the measured result.
The invention proposes a plurality of variants. On the one hand, it is proposed that the feeler rests on the bubble skin either on the outer side or on the inner side thereof, or is embedded therein, for example welded, stuck or otherwise integrated or incorporated. In addition, the feeler acts either together with a reference point which is stationary as such or with a reference point which, in turn, is also arranged movably on the bubble skin. Reference area and reference point are synonymous and equivalent. Depending on the geometric layout of the measuring device, the term reference area (for example, a reference surface or plane) or reference point is used. The concept of the invention may obviously also be incorporated in a material surrounding the bubble skin. This allows the change in dimensions in the interior of a seat, originating from the bubble, to be determined and evaluated directly on the surface facing the person sitting on the seat. The invention is not restricted to a specific design.
As already mentioned, the reference area/point used to determine the distance may be designed as a feeler which rests on or against the bubble skin. Therefore, a symmetrical arrangement of the two feelers which may be designed, for example, as a measuring fork or measuring device, is basically possible. Conversely, however, it is also possible to provide a substantially immobile contact area as reference area, in which case the contact area may be, for example, a housing wall or the like.
In a variant, mechanical feelers are guided manually to the outer skin of the filled bubble and a corresponding dimension (for example distance, etc.) of the bubble thus measured mechanically. In an inexpensive design, this is a simple type of sliding caliper with which the dimension of the bubble is determined. However, a type of switch which is actuated from the outer skin of the bubble may also be used. Electrical, electromechanical, magnetic, electromagnetic or electronic feelers or sen
Colditz Steffen
Garber Roland
Moser Richard
ASF Thomas Industries GmbH
Jacobson & Holman PLLC
Nguyen Tan Q.
LandOfFree
Measuring device for taking at least one measure of a bubble... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Measuring device for taking at least one measure of a bubble..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Measuring device for taking at least one measure of a bubble... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3139151