Occupant weight detecting device

• US 20040006418A1
• Filed: 05/27/2003
• Published: 01/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Sakai, Morio
• Granted Patent: US 7,009,509 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0152 using strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01556 Child-seat detection systems

Abstract

An occupant weight detecting device includes a load detecting means provided at a seat body and detecting load applied to the seat body and an occupant detecting means for detecting an occupant sifting on the seat body based on the load detected by the load detecting means. The occupant detecting means includes a load calculation means for calculating the load based on a detected value detected by the load detecting means, a load area determination means for determining a load area by comparing the load with a predetermined threshold, and an occupant determination means for determining a type of the occupant sitting on the seat body based on the load area.

Claims

1. An occupant weight detecting device, comprising:

a load detecting means provided at a seat body and detecting load applied to the seat body; and

an occupant detecting means for detecting an occupant sitting on the seat body based on the load detected by the load detecting means, wherein the occupant detecting means includes a load calculation means for calculating the load based on a detected value detected by the load detecting means, a load area determination means for determining a load area by comparing the load with a predetermined threshold, and an occupant determination means for determining a type of the occupant sitting on the seat body based on the load area.

2. An occupant weight detecting device, according to claim 1, wherein the load is coded as the load area based on largeness of the load.

3. An occupant weight detecting device, according to claim 1, wherein a safety device operating in response to the type of the occupant and controlled by a control device is applied to the occupant weight detecting device.

4. An occupant weight detecting device, comprising:

plural load detecting means provided at a seat body and detecting load applied to the seat body; and

an occupant detecting means for detecting an occupant sitting on the seat body based on the load detected by the plural load detecting means, wherein the occupant detecting means calculates total load applied to the seat body based on detected values detected by the plural load detecting means and determines a type of the occupant sitting on the seat body based on a load area predetermined in response to largeness of the total load.

5. An occupant weight detecting device, according to claim 4, wherein the total load is coded as the load area based on the largeness of the total load.

6. An occupant weight detecting device, according to claim 4, wherein a safety device operating in response to the type of the occupant and controlled by a control device is applied to the occupant weight detecting device.

7. An occupant weight detecting device, according to claim 6, wherein the safety device is an air bag including device for inflating an air bag device, and the control device controls an inflating amount of the air bag in response to the type of the occupant.