Passenger discriminating apparatus
First Claim
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1. A passenger discriminating apparatus comprising:
- a seat weight sensor for measuring the weight of an object on the seat; and
a human body proximity sensor for detecting the extent of proximity between the passenger on the seat and the seat; and
means for determining the presence of the passenger on the seat and for discriminating the type of passenger;
wherein said means for determining utilizes an output from the seat weight sensor and an output from the human body proximity sensor.
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Abstract
An airbag system including a passenger discriminating apparatus that can accurately recognize the type of the person being seated on a vehicle is provided. The discriminating apparatus receives input from a seat weight sensor and human proximity sensors and determines whether a child, an adult, or a child seat is mounted on the seat. The discriminating apparatus provides a signal to an airbag controller that controls the deployment of either a side or front airbag in either the soft or normal mode.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A passenger discriminating apparatus comprising:
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a seat weight sensor for measuring the weight of an object on the seat; and
a human body proximity sensor for detecting the extent of proximity between the passenger on the seat and the seat; and
means for determining the presence of the passenger on the seat and for discriminating the type of passenger;
wherein said means for determining utilizes an output from the seat weight sensor and an output from the human body proximity sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An airbag system comprising:
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a passenger discriminating apparatus comprising;
a seat weight sensor for measuring the weight of an object on the seat; and
a human body proximity sensor for detecting the extent of proximity between the passenger on the seat and the seat; and
means for determining the presence of the passenger on the seat and for discriminating the type of passenger utilizing an output from the seat weight sensor and an output from the human body proximity sensor; and
an airbag controlling apparatus for controlling deployment of a front airbag, wherein the controlling apparatus is configured to receive a signal from the passenger discriminating apparatus and controls a soft deployment of a front airbag only when at least a child is sitting on the seat or a child seat is mounted thereon, and controls normal deployment of the front airbag in other cases.
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10. An airbag system comprising:
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a passenger discriminating apparatus comprising;
a seat weight sensor for measuring the weight of an object on the seat; and
a plurality of human body proximity sensors for detecting the extent of proximity between the passenger on the seat and the seat; and
means for determining the presence of the passenger on the seat and for discriminating the type of passenger utilizing an output from the seat weight sensor and an output from the human body proximity sensor. wherein a first one of the plurality of human body proximity sensors detects the proximity of the human body when the passenger is being seated in a posture leaning against the door, and a second one of the plurality of human body proximity sensors does not detect the proximity of the human body when the passenger is being seated in the posture leaning against the door; and
an air bag controlling apparatus for controlling deployment of a side airbag, wherein the controlling apparatus is configured to receive a signal from the passenger discriminating apparatus and controls a soft deployment of theside airbag when at least a child is sitting on the seat or a child seat is mounted thereon and further when the first human body proximity sensor detects the proximity of the human body and the second human body proximity sensor does not detect the proximity of the human body, and to carry out normal deployment in other cases
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Specification