OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM

• US 20110180343A1
• Filed: 03/19/2007
• Published: 07/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IEE International Electronics & Engineering SA (Aerospace Hi-Tech Holding Group Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: IEE International Electronics & Engineering SA (Aerospace Hi-Tech Holding Group Company Limited)
• Inventors: Keiser, Christophe, Decoster, Yves, Di Mario Cola, Patrick, Lamesch, Laurent, Orlewski, Pierre, Orsello, Roberto
• Granted Patent: US 8,403,360 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/271
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01534 using electromagneticwaves, e.g. infrared

Abstract

An occupant classification system for a vehicle comprises a radio-frequency (RF) transmitter unit, which includes a transmission RF antenna and an RF generator operatively connected to the transmission RF antenna. The RF generator and the transmission RF antenna are configured for generating radio waves at a certain fixed RF frequency in the Very High Frequency (VHF) range or the Ultra High Frequency (UHF) range. During operation of the RF transmitter unit, the generated radio waves propagate from the transmission RF antenna. The occupant classification system further comprises an RF detector for detecting, at the fixed RF frequency, an influence of an occupant on the radio waves propagating from the transmission RF antenna.

Claims

1-12. -12. (canceled)

13. An occupant classification system for a vehicle comprising:

an RF transmitter unit, said RF transmitter unit including a transmission RF antenna and an RF generator operatively connected to said transmission RF antenna, said RF generator and said transmission RF antenna being configured for generating radio waves at a certain fixed RF frequency in at least one of the Very High Frequency range and the Ultra High Frequency range, said radio waves propagating from said transmission RF antenna during operation of the RF transmitter unit;

an RF detector configured so as to detect at said fixed RF frequency an influence of a vehicle occupant on the radio waves propagating from said transmission RF antenna.

14. The occupant classification system according to claim 13, wherein said transmission RF antenna is integrated in a seating portion of a vehicle seat.

15. The occupant classification system according to claim 13, wherein said RF detector is operatively connected to said transmission RF antenna in such a way as to detect radio waves reflected to said transmission RF antenna in response to an occupant seated on a seating portion of a vehicle seat and wherein said RF detector includes a threshold circuit configured so as to compare a signal level of said reflected radio waves with a predefined value.

16. The occupant classification system according to claim 13, wherein said fixed RF frequency is situated in a frequency band between 100 MHz and 1 GHz.

17. The occupant classification system according to claim 13, wherein said RF generator comprises a modulator modulating the generated radio waves.

18. The occupant classification system according to claim 13, wherein said transmission RF antenna is a dipole antenna.

19. The occupant classification system according to claim 13, comprising an RF receiver unit, said RF receiver unit including said RF detector and a reception RF antenna, said RF detector being operatively connected to said reception RF antenna in such a way as to receive at least a part of the radio waves propagating from said transmission RF antenna, wherein said RF detector includes a threshold circuit configured so as to detect attenuation of the radio waves propagating from said transmission RF antenna in response to said vehicle occupant by comparing a signal level of the received radio waves with a predefined value.

20. The occupant classification system according to claim 19, wherein said reception RF antenna is integrated in a seating portion of a vehicle seat.

21. The occupant classification system according to claim 19, wherein said reception RF antenna is a dipole antenna.

22. The occupant classification system according to claim 19, wherein said RF receiver unit comprises a plurality of receiving RF antennas arranged in a vehicle compartment.

23. A vehicle comprising:

a vehicle compartment;

a vehicle seat arranged in said vehicle compartment; and

an occupant classification system, said occupant classification system including;

an RF transmitter unit, said RF transmitter unit including a transmission RF antenna integrated into said vehicle seat and an RF generator operatively connected to said transmission RF antenna, wherein said RF generator and said transmission RF antenna generate radio waves at a certain fixed RF frequency in at least one of the Very High Frequency range and the Ultra High Frequency range, wherein said radio waves propagate from said transmission RF antenna during operation of the RF transmitter unit; and

an RF detector detecting at said fixed RF frequency an influence of an occupant seated in said vehicle seat on the radio waves propagating from said transmission RF antenna.

24. The vehicle according to claim 23, wherein said occupant classification system comprises an RF receiver unit, said RF receiver unit including said RF detector and a reception RF antenna, said RF detector being operatively connected to said reception RF antenna in such a way as to receive at least a part of the radio waves propagating from said transmission RF antenna, wherein said RF detector includes a threshold circuit configured so as to detect attenuation of the radio waves propagating from said transmission RF antenna in response to said occupant seated in said vehicle seat by comparing a signal level of the received radio waves with a predefined value

25. The vehicle according to claim 24, wherein said vehicle seat comprises a seating portion and a backrest portion and wherein said transmission RF antenna is integrated in said seating portion.

26. The vehicle according to claim 25, wherein said transmission RF antenna is integrated in said seating portion and wherein said transmission RF antenna and said reception RF antenna are arranged in substantially parallel relationship.

27. The vehicle according to claim 26, wherein said seating portion comprises side bolsters and wherein said transmission RF antenna and said reception RF antenna are arranged in said side bolsters.

28. An occupant classification system for a vehicle comprising:

an RF transmitter unit, said RF transmitter unit including a transmission RF antenna and an RF generator operatively connected to said transmission RF antenna, said RF generator and said transmission RF antenna being configured for generating radio waves at a certain fixed RF frequency in at least one of the Very High Frequency range and the Ultra High Frequency range, said radio waves propagating from said transmission RF antenna during operation of the RF transmitter unit;

an RF detector operatively connected to said transmission RF antenna in such a way as to detect radio waves reflected to said transmission RF antenna in response to a vehicle occupant and wherein said RF detector includes a threshold circuit configured so as to compare a signal level of said reflected radio waves with a predefined value.

29. The occupant classification system according to claim 28, comprising an RF receiver unit, said RF receiver unit including said RF detector and a reception RF antenna, said RF detector being operatively connected to said reception RF antenna in such a way as to receive at least a part of the radio waves propagating from said transmission RF antenna, wherein said RF detector includes a further threshold circuit configured so as to detect attenuation of the radio waves propagating from said transmission RF antenna in response to said vehicle occupant by comparing a signal level of the received radio waves with a predefined value.

30. The occupant classification system according to claim 28, wherein said fixed RF frequency is situated in a frequency band between 100 MHz and 1 GHz.

31. The occupant classification system according to claim 28, wherein said RF generator comprises a modulator modulating the generated radio waves.

32. The occupant classification system according to claim 29, wherein said at least one of said transmission RF antenna and said reception RF antenna is a dipole antenna.