PASSENGER DISCRIMINATING APPARATUS EMPLOYING TWO LOAD SENSORS

• US 20090151477A1
• Filed: 02/27/2008
• Published: 06/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: KIM, Byeong Yeol, HWANG, Jae Ho
• Granted Patent: US 7,762,149 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/862.621
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means

Abstract

A passenger discriminating apparatus according to the present invention includes a plurality of load sensors for measuring a load of a passenger, which is applied to a passenger seat disposed within a vehicle, and a pair of dummy sensors configured to support the load of the passenger seat and not having a load sensing function. The type of the passenger is discriminated by comparing a sum of values in which the load values measured by the plurality of load sensors, respectively, are multiplied by a load weight of the load sensors and a reference value. Accordingly, the passenger discriminating apparatus can save the prime cost, reduce its weight, and secure an equivalent or more performance.

Claims

1. A passenger discriminating apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of load sensors that measures a load of a passenger, which are applied to a passenger seat disposed within a vehicle; and

a pair of dummy sensors configured to support the load of the passenger seat, the dummy sensors not performing a load sensing function,

wherein a type of the passenger is discriminated by comparing a sum of values in which the load values measured by the plurality of load sensors, respectively, are multiplied by a load weight of the load sensors and a reference value.

2. The passenger discriminating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of load sensors comprise a pair of load sensors.

3. The passenger discriminating apparatus of claim 2, wherein the passenger seat comprises:

guide members along which the passenger seat is guided and can be moved forward and rearward; and

base members that support a load transferred from the passenger seat.

4. The passenger discriminating apparatus of claim 3, wherein:

the pair of load sensors is disposed on a left or right side of the base member, and

the pair of dummy sensors is disposed on a right or left side of the base member corresponding to the pair of load sensors.

5. The passenger discriminating apparatus of claim 3, wherein the pair of load sensors and the pair of dummy sensors are disposed between the guide member and the base member.

6. The passenger discriminating apparatus of claim 3, wherein the pair of load sensors and the pair of dummy sensors are disposed at edge portions of the base members, respectively.

7. The passenger discriminating apparatus of claim 3, wherein the pair of load sensors and the pair of dummy sensors are disposed at corner portions of the base members, respectively.

8. The passenger discriminating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the load weight is set so that an amount of discrimination margin of a passenger weight becomes a maximum.

9. The passenger discriminating apparatus of claim 8, wherein the load weight is decided so that difference values between a minimum adult test measurement weight value (that is, a minimum value of adult test measurement load values measured when an adult dummy is seated in the passenger seat in a specific condition) and a maximum infant test measurement weight value (that is, a maximum value of infant test measurement load values measured when an infant dummy is seated in the passenger seat in the specific condition) becomes a maximum.

10. The passenger discriminating apparatus of claim 9, wherein the load weight is decided such that in a first condition having a maximum value of the difference values, both a second condition in which a sum of values in which the load values measured by the pair of the load sensors, respectively, are multiplied by the load weights, respectively, is identical to the adult test measurement weight value when the adult dummy is seated in the passenger seat, and a third condition in which a sum of values in which the load values measured by the pair of the load sensors, respectively, are multiplied by the load weights, respectively is identical to the infant test measurement weight value when the infant dummy is seated in the passenger seat are satisfied.

11. The passenger discriminating apparatus of claim 10, wherein the load weight is decided so that a fourth condition in which a sum of the load weights is identical to a specific limit value.

12. The passenger discriminating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reference value is an average of a minimum value of an adult test measurement value that is already measured, and a maximum value of an infant test measurement value that is already measured.

13. The passenger discriminating apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the pair of load sensors comprises two load sensors, and

a load weight of each of the two load sensors is decided so that in a specific condition in which [Mathematical Formula 4] is fulfilled, all of [Mathematical Formula 1], [Mathematical Formula 2], and [Mathematical Formula 3] are fulfill;

A_—

i=X_—

1i times S_—

1i+X_—

2i times S_—

2i

A_i is an adult test measurement weight value already measured in a specific condition (i),

X_ki is a load weight of a k^th load sensor in the specific condition (i), and

S_ki is a load value measured by the k^th load sensor when an adult dummy is seated in the passenger seat in the specific condition (i);

C_—

i=X_—

1i times S_—

1i+X_—

2i times S_—

2i 

 

[Mathematical Formula 2]

C_i is an infant test measurement weight value already measured in the specific condition (i),

X_ki is the load weight of the k^th load sensor in the specific condition (i), and

S_ki is a load value measured by the k^th load sensor when an infant dummy is seated in the passenger seat in the specific condition (i);

X_—

1i+X_—

2i=T 

 

[Mathematical Formula 3]

X_ki is the load weight of the k^th load sensor in the specific condition (i), and T is a specific limit value;

MAX[MIN(A_i)−

MAX(C_i)] 

 

[Mathematical Formula 4]

A_i is the adult test measurement weight value already measured in the specific condition (i), and

C_i is the infant test measurement weight value already measured in the specific condition (i).