Combined Occupant Weight and Spatial Sensing in a Vehicle
First Claim
1. A method for obtaining and optionally utilizing information about an occupant of a vehicle, comprising:
- arranging a weight sensor system in connection with a bottom portion of a seat on which the occupant will be seated to provide data about weight of an occupant of the seat, the weight sensor system being selected from a group consisting of a bladder arranged in the bottom portion and at least one strain gage mounted on structural members of the seat;
arranging a spatial sensor system to monitor a space above the seat in which the occupant would be situated if seated in the seat to provide data about occupancy of the space above the seat; and
determining information about the occupant based on data provided by the weight sensor system and the spatial sensor system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Method and system for obtaining and optionally utilizing information about an occupant of a vehicle includes a weight sensor system arranged in connection with a bottom portion of a seat on which the occupant will be seated to provide data about weight of an occupant, and a spatial sensor system which monitors a space above the seat in which the occupant would be situated if seated in the seat to provide data about occupancy of the space above the seat. Information about the occupant is determined based on data provided by the weight sensor system and the spatial sensor system. The weight sensor system is a bladder arranged in the bottom portion or at least one strain gage mounted on structural members of the seat.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for obtaining and optionally utilizing information about an occupant of a vehicle, comprising:
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arranging a weight sensor system in connection with a bottom portion of a seat on which the occupant will be seated to provide data about weight of an occupant of the seat, the weight sensor system being selected from a group consisting of a bladder arranged in the bottom portion and at least one strain gage mounted on structural members of the seat;
arranging a spatial sensor system to monitor a space above the seat in which the occupant would be situated if seated in the seat to provide data about occupancy of the space above the seat; and
determining information about the occupant based on data provided by the weight sensor system and the spatial sensor system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 17)
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12. A vehicle, comprising:
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a frame defining a passenger compartment;
a seat arranged in said passenger compartment and having a bottom portion in which an occupant sits;
a component having a variable operation depending on the occupant; and
a system for obtaining and utilizing information about the occupant to control said component, said system comprising a weight sensor system arranged in connection with said bottom portion of said seat to provide data about weight of the occupant of the seat, said weight sensor system being selected from a group consisting of a bladder arranged in said bottom portion and at least one strain gage mounted on structural members of said seat, a spatial sensor system arranged to provide data about occupancy of a space above said seat, and a processor for determining information about the occupant based on data provided by said weight sensor system and said spatial sensor system and controlling said component based on the determined information. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification