Wet seat protection for air bag control occupant detection
First Claim
10. A vehicle passenger detection method for sensing an occupant in a seating area, the method comprising the acts of:
- (a) measuring moisture;
(b) determining a presence of the passenger in the passenger seating area;
(c) altering a measured value of (b) as a function of the moisture where the function comprises an XY function where Y is a fraction.
4 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A passenger detection system is provided. The passenger detection system utilizes an oscillation circuit that causes an antenna electrode to emit an electric field that is disrupted by the electrical characteristics of an object placed on the seat. This disruption alters the current and phase of the signal in the antenna electrode. By comparing the current flowing in the antenna electrode and/or the difference between the phase of the signal in the antenna electrode and the oscillation circuit output signal with predetermined threshold values, it is possible to detect the presence of a passenger in a reliable and inexpensive manner. Environmental sensors are used to make the determination more accurate. Humidity, moisture and/or grounding condition are detected and used to alter processing, values or calculations.
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Citations
55 Claims
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10. A vehicle passenger detection method for sensing an occupant in a seating area, the method comprising the acts of:
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(a) measuring moisture;
(b) determining a presence of the passenger in the passenger seating area;
(c) altering a measured value of (b) as a function of the moisture where the function comprises an XY function where Y is a fraction. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A vehicle passenger detection system for sensing an occupant in a seating area, the system comprising:
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an occupant detection sensor; and
a moisture resistant cover adjacent the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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20-1. The system of claim 18 wherein the occupant detection sensor comprises a weight sensor in a seat.
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28. A method for protecting a sensor of a vehicle occupant detection system, the method comprising:
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(a) covering an occupant detection sensor with a moisture resistant cover; and
(b) positioning the occupant detection sensor in a vehicle seat. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A vehicle passenger detection system for sensing an occupant in a seating area, the system comprising:
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a vehicle seat insulator;
a sensor on the vehicle seat insulator;
a moisture resistant cover over the sensor; and
an air bag controller connected with the sensor.
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40. A vehicle passenger detection system for sensing an occupant in a seating area, the system comprising:
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a seat cushion;
an occupant detection sensor adjacent the seat cushion; and
at least one aperture in the seat cushion adjacent the occupant detection sensor, the at least one aperture positioned on an upper surface of the seat cushion, upper corresponding to a position of the seat cushion in use in a vehicle seat. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A method for protecting a vehicle occupant detection system, the method comprising:
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(a) positioning an occupant detection sensor adjacent a seat cushion; and
(b) forming at least one drain in the seat cushion adjacent the occupant detection sensor, the at least one drain positioned at a low point of the seat cushion, low corresponding to a position of the seat cushion in use in a vehicle seat. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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55. A vehicle passenger detection system for sensing an occupant in a seating area, the system comprising:
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a vehicle seat having an insulator, the insulator having at least one drain;
an occupant detection sensor adjacent the insulator; and
an air bag controller connected with the occupant detection sensor;
wherein the at least one drain is positioned at a low point of an upper surface of the insulator, low and upper corresponding to a position of the insulator in the vehicle seat.
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Specification