Judgment lock for occupant detection air bag control

• US 20040232774A1
• Filed: 06/15/2004
• Published: 11/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nidec Elesys Americas Corporation (Nidec Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Gregory T. Thompson, Keiichi Hasegawa, Shiuh-An Shieh, Svetoslav G. Stoyanov
• Inventors: Hasegawa, Keiichi, Stoyanov, Svetoslav G., Shieh, Shiuh-An, Thompson, Gregory T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,191,044 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/10.1
• 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 21/01532 using electric or capacitive field sensors

Abstract

Systems and methods for controlling the sensing of an occupant in a seating area are provided. The occupant is characterized as one of an adult, child or other category. One characterization change parameter, such as a hysteresis time period or thresholds for characterization, is applied for a first time period. After that time period, the characterization change parameter is changed. For example, if the characterization stays the same for ten seconds, the hysteresis is changed from five to ten seconds. As another example, if the characterization stays the same for one minute, the thresholds associated with that characterization are broadened to decrease the likelihood of a change in characterization. In some systems and methods, a confidence parameter or probability associated with the characterization is used to control the changes to the characterization change parameter. In some systems and methods, the characterizations change parameter in reset in response to one of (a) a no occupant characterization (b) characterizing the occupant as a different one of the at least two categories consecutively for a current hysteresis time period.

Claims

1. A vehicle passenger detection method for controlling sensing of an occupant in a seating area, the method comprising the acts of:

(a) characterizing the occupant in the seating area as one of at least two categories;

(b) applying a characterization change parameter for limiting change in the characterization of the occupant from the one to another one of the at least two categories, the application being for a first time period; and

(c) altering the characterization change parameter after the first time period;

wherein (a) comprises characterizing with a capacitive sensing system.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein (b) comprises applying a characterization threshold and (c) comprises changing the characterization threshold so the one of the at least two categories is more inclusive.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(d) altering a different characterization change parameter after a second time period, the second time period overlapping and different than the first time period.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(d) resetting the characterization change parameter in response to no occupant characterization.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(d) controlling an air bag system in response to the characterization of (a).

6. A vehicle passenger detection system for controlling the sensing of an occupant in a seating area, the system comprising:

an occupant detection sensor adjacent the seating area, the occupant detection sensor comprising a capacitive sensing system; and

a control processor operatively connected with the occupant detection sensor, the control processor operative to characterize the occupant in the seating area as one of at least two categories, apply a characterization change parameter for limiting change in the characterization of the occupant from the one to another one of the at least two categories, the application being for a first time period, and alter the characterization change parameter after the first time period.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the characterization change parameter comprises a hysteresis parameter.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein the characterization change parameter comprises a characterization threshold, the control processor operable to alter the characterization threshold so the one of the at least two categories is more inclusive.

9. The system of claim 6 wherein the control processor is operable to alter a different characterization change parameter after a second time period, the second time period overlapping and different than the first time period.

10. The system of claim 6 wherein the control processor is operable to reset the characterization change parameter in response to one of:

(a) a no occupant characterization or (b) characterizing the occupant as a different one of the at least two categories consecutively for a current hysteresis time period.

11. The system of claim 6 wherein the occupant detection sensor comprises an electrode antenna.

12. The system of claim 6 further comprising an air bag controller connected with the control processor.

13. A vehicle passenger detection method for controlling sensing of an occupant in a seating area, the method comprising the acts of:

(a) characterizing the occupant in the seating area as one of at least two categories;

(b) applying a characterization change parameter for a first time period;

(c) altering the characterization change parameter after the first time period; and

(d) altering a different characterization change parameter after a second time period, the second time period overlapping and different than the first time period.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising

(e) determining a ratio of occurrences of a first of the at least two categories to a total number of judgments in the second time period, the second time period longer than the first time period;

and

(f) if the ratio indicates a high confidence, altering a characterization threshold parameter; and

(g) if the ratio indicates a low confidence;

(f1) waiting for a third time period; and

(f2) altering the characterization threshold parameter if the

characterization of (a) is consistent during the third time period.

15. A vehicle passenger detection system for controlling the sensing of an occupant in a seating area, the system comprising:

an occupant detection sensor adjacent the seating area; and

a control processor operatively connected with the occupant detection sensor, the control processor operative to characterize the occupant in the seating area as one of at least two categories, apply a characterization change parameter for a first time period, and alter the characterization change parameter after the first time period;

wherein the control processor is operable to alter a different characterization change parameter after a second time period, the second time period overlapping and different than the first time period.

16. A vehicle passenger detection system for controlling the sensing of an occupant in a seating area, the system comprising:

an occupant detection sensor adjacent the seating area; and

a control processor operatively connected with the occupant detection sensor, the control processor operative to characterize the occupant in the seating area as one of at least two categories, apply a characterization change parameter for a first time period, and alter the characterization change parameter after the first time period;

wherein the occupant detection sensor comprises an electrode antenna.

17. A vehicle passenger detection method for controlling sensing of an occupant in a seating area, the method comprising the acts of:

(a) detecting signals responsive to an electric field in the seating area above a seat;

(b) characterizing the occupant in the seating area as one of at least two categories of occupants as a function of the detected signals;

(c) repeating (a) and (b) a plurality of times, a first set of the repetitions being in a first time period and a second set of the repetitions being in a second time period after the first time period;

(d) limiting a change in the characterization of the occupant from the one to another one of the at least two categories of occupants for the repetitions of (c) with a parameter; and

(e) altering the parameter after the first time period.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein (d) comprises limiting with a hysteresis time period and (e) comprises increasing an amount of time of the hysteresis.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein (d) comprises applying a threshold for each repetition of (b) and wherein (e) comprises changing the threshold so that the one of the at least two categories of occupants is more inclusive.

20. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

(f) controlling an air bag system in response to the characterization of (b).