Occupant detection apparatus

• US 20100305817A1
• Filed: 05/25/2010
• Published: 12/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Ootaka, Kouji
• Granted Patent: US 8,244,436 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/45
• 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: B60N 2/0035 characterised by the sensor data transmission, e.g. wired connections or wireless transmitters therefor; characterised by the sensor data processing, e.g. seat sensor signal amplification or electric circuits for providing seat sensor information
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0272 using sensors or detectors for detecting the position of seat parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/12 Capacitive; Electric field
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2230/30 Signal processing of sensor data
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4816 for sensing locking of buckle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01546 using belt buckle sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01554 Seat position sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/48 Control systems, alarms, or interlock systems, for the correct application of the belt or harness

Abstract

An occupant detection apparatus for a vehicle is disclosed. The occupant detection apparatus includes a buckle switch, a seat position sensor and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit includes a first active element and a second active element that respectively control energization of the buckle switch and the seat position sensor. The electric control unit performs on-off control on the first active element in such manner that: the first active element is held on for a predetermined period; and at a time of an end of the predetermined period, the first active element is switched off and the second active element is switched on. The occupant detection apparatus can reduce radio noise generated due to the energization of the buckle switch and the seat position sensor, and can minimize an influence of the radio noise on another electronic apparatus mounted in the vehicle.

Claims

1. An occupant detection apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

a buckle switch configured to detect whether a seatbelt of the vehicle is fastened or unfastened;

a seat position sensor configured to detect position of a seat of the vehicle, wherein the seat is selectively movable frontward and rearward; and

an electronic control unit including;

an energization control part including;

a first active element that is selectively switchable into an on state and an off state to control energization of the buckle switch so that the buckle switch is energized when the first active element is in the on state, and the buckle switch is unenergized when the first active element is in the off state; and

a second active element that is selectively switchable into an on state and an off state to control energization of the seat position sensor so that the seat position sensor is energized when the second active element is in the on state, and the seat position sensor is unenergized when the second active element is in the off state; and

an computation control part that is configured to perform on-off control individually on the first active element and the second active element by (i) applying a first voltage to the first active element to and (ii) applying a second voltage to the second active element, in such manner that;

the computation control part causes the first active element to be in the on state for a predetermined period; and

at a time of an end of the predetermined period, the computation control part switches the first active element into the off state and switches the second active element into the on state.

2. The occupant detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the computation control part performs the on-off control, in which the first active element is caused to be in the on state for the predetermined period, at predetermined regular time intervals.

3. The occupant detection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an electrostatic sensor configured to output one of an electric current and a voltage, the one being indicative of disturbance of a weak electric field generated between a main electrode disposed inside the seat and a body of the vehicle,

wherein the electronic control unit further includes

a sensor characteristic measurement part that is configured to measure an electrostatic capacitance of a measurement target object on the seat based on the one of the electric current and the voltage outputted from the electrostatic sensor.