Method of distinguishing between adult and cinched car seat occupants of a vehicle seat
First Claim
1. A method of distinguishing between a normally seated adult and a cinched car seat in an occupant classification system for a seat of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
- measuring parameters during movement of said vehicle including a force applied to said seat and a z-axis acceleration of said vehicle;
determining an average of the measured seat force;
determining one or more dynamic characteristics correlative of a normally seated adult occupant of said seat based on said measured parameters;
determining one or more dynamic characteristics correlative of a cinched car seat occupant of said seat based on said measured parameters;
computing a first overall confidence level in favor of a normally seated adult occupant based on the average seat force and the dynamic characteristics correlative of a normally seated adult occupant;
computing a second overall confidence level in favor of a cinched car seat occupant based on the average seat force and the dynamic characteristics correlative of a cinched car seat occupant;
determining that a normally seated adult occupant is present if the first overall confidence level is greater than the second overall confidence level; and
determining that a cinched child seat is present if the second overall confidence level is greater than the first overall confidence level.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A normally seated adult occupant of a vehicle seat is distinguished from a cinched car seat occupant based on the static seat force and first and second sets of identified dynamic characteristics that are respectively correlative of a normally seated adult and a cinched car seat. Confidence levels are assigned to the static seat force and each of the identified dynamic characteristics, and overall confidence levels for the two classifications are determined based on the assigned confidence levels. The overall confidence level for the adult occupant classification is compared with the overall confidence level for the cinched car seat classification, and the occupant is classified based on the highest overall confidence level.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method of distinguishing between a normally seated adult and a cinched car seat in an occupant classification system for a seat of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
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measuring parameters during movement of said vehicle including a force applied to said seat and a z-axis acceleration of said vehicle;
determining an average of the measured seat force;
determining one or more dynamic characteristics correlative of a normally seated adult occupant of said seat based on said measured parameters;
determining one or more dynamic characteristics correlative of a cinched car seat occupant of said seat based on said measured parameters;
computing a first overall confidence level in favor of a normally seated adult occupant based on the average seat force and the dynamic characteristics correlative of a normally seated adult occupant;
computing a second overall confidence level in favor of a cinched car seat occupant based on the average seat force and the dynamic characteristics correlative of a cinched car seat occupant;
determining that a normally seated adult occupant is present if the first overall confidence level is greater than the second overall confidence level; and
determining that a cinched child seat is present if the second overall confidence level is greater than the first overall confidence level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification