Occupant-detecting apparatus

• US 20080231094A1
• Filed: 03/05/2008
• Published: 09/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
• Original Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
• Inventors: Okawa, Noriyuki
• Granted Patent: US 7,786,882 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/217.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/4142 for controlling activation of safety devices, e.g. airbag systems electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements in case of vehicle accidents B60R21/015

Abstract

An occupant-detecting apparatus includes a plurality of load sensors (3a to 3d) configured to detect a load imparted on a vehicle seat (4), and an occupant-sitting determination device (2) configured to determine whether or not an occupant is seated on the vehicle seat (4), based on detected result of the load sensors (3a to 3d). The load sensors (3a to 3d) are configured to detect loads at different positions on the vehicle seat (4), and the occupant-sitting determination device (2) is configured not to perform occupant-sitting determination if an absolute value (Δ W) of a variable amount in a sum of detected result of the load sensors (3a to 3d) is lesser than a predetermined threshold value (TH/L).

Claims

1. An occupant-detecting apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of load sensing devices configured to detect a load imparted on a vehicle seat; and

an occupant-sitting determination device configured to determine whether or not an occupant is seated on the vehicle seat, based on detected result of the load sensing devices,

said load sensing devices being configured to detect loads at a plurality of different positions on the vehicle seat,

said occupant-sitting determination device being configured to control occupant-sitting determination based on a comparison between an absolute value of the variable amount of a sum of detected result of the load sensing devices and a predetermined threshold value.

2. The occupant-detecting apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein said occupant-sitting determination device is configured not to perform the occupant-sitting determination, if the absolute value is lesser than the predetermined threshold value.

3. The occupant-detecting apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein said occupant-sitting determination device is configured not to perform the occupant-sitting determination, if the absolute value is larger than the predetermined threshold value, and to perform the occupant-sitting determination despite a magnitude of the absolute value after the occupant-sitting determination is not performed.

4. The occupant-detecting apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein each of said load sensing devices comprises a load sensor.

5. The occupant-detecting apparatus according to claim 4,

wherein the load sensors are mounted on the vehicle seat and configured to detect the loads at the plurality of different positions on the vehicle seat.

6. The occupant-detecting apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the occupant-sitting determination device comprises an occupant ECU to detect the occupant.

7. The occupant-detecting apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the occupant-sitting determination device processes an output from the load sensing devices and is capable of determining whether or not the occupant is seated on the vehicle seat, the occupant is an adult or child using a child seat.