Method and apparatus for sensing a rearward facing child restraining seat
First Claim
1. An apparatus for preventing actuation of an actuatable occupant restraining device of a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
- presence sensing means for sensing the presence of a rearward facing child restraining seat on an occupant seat of the vehicle and for providing a presence signal indicative thereof;
confirmation sensing means for confirming the presence of said child restraining seat on said occupant seat and for providing a confirmation signal indicative thereof; and
control means operatively connected to said presence sensing means, said confirmation sensing means, and to said actuatable occupant restraining device for preventing actuation of said actuatable occupant restraining device when both said presence signal indicates said rearward facing child restraining seat is on said occupant seat and said signal from said confirmation sensing means confirms said child restraining seat is on said occupant seat.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus (20) for preventing actuation of an air bag restraining device (25) of a vehicle includes a weight sensor (36), a distance sensor (42), and a seat belt payout sensor (66). A controller (22) is operatively connected to the sensors (36, 42, 66) and to the air bag restraining device (25). The controller (22) prevents actuation of the air bag when the sensors ( 36, 42, 66 ) sense a rearward facing child seat (46) on the occupant seat (40) by sensing a weight of an object less than a predetermined amount, a distance to an object on the seat (40) less than a predetermined amount, and a seat belt payout of greater than a predetermined amount.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for preventing actuation of an actuatable occupant restraining device of a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
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presence sensing means for sensing the presence of a rearward facing child restraining seat on an occupant seat of the vehicle and for providing a presence signal indicative thereof; confirmation sensing means for confirming the presence of said child restraining seat on said occupant seat and for providing a confirmation signal indicative thereof; and control means operatively connected to said presence sensing means, said confirmation sensing means, and to said actuatable occupant restraining device for preventing actuation of said actuatable occupant restraining device when both said presence signal indicates said rearward facing child restraining seat is on said occupant seat and said signal from said confirmation sensing means confirms said child restraining seat is on said occupant seat. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus for preventing actuation of an actuatable occupant restraining device of a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
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presence sensing means for sensing the presence of a rearward facing child restraining seat on an occupant seat of the vehicle, said presence sensing means including distance sensing means mounted to an instrument panel for providing a distance signal indicative of the distance between said distance sensing means and an object on said occupant seat, said presence sensing means further including a seat belt payout sensing means operatively connected to a seat belt retractor of a seat belt for providing a seat belt length signal indicative of a length of said seat belt extended from said retractor; confirmation sensing means for confirming the presence of said child restraining seat on said occupant seat and for providing a signal indicative thereof; and control means operatively connected to said presence sensing means, said confirmation sensing means, and to said actuatable occupant restraining device, said control means including means for comparing the sensed distance against a distance threshold value and means for comparing the sensed seat belt length extended against a length threshold value, said control means preventing actuation of said actuatable occupant restraining device when (i) said sensed distance is less than said distance threshold value, (ii) said sensed seat belt length extended is greater than said length threshold value, and (iii) said confirmation sensing means confirms said child restraining seat is on said occupant seat. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. An apparatus for preventing actuation of an air bag restraint when a rearward facing child restraining seat is present on an associated occupant seat location, said apparatus comprising:
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crash sensing means for sensing a vehicle crash condition and providing a signal indicative thereof; presence sensing means for determining whether said rearward facing child restraining seat is on said occupant seat and for providing a presence signal indicative thereof; confirmation sensing means for confirming the presence of said child restraining seat on said occupant seat and for providing a confirmation signal indicative thereof; and control means operatively connected to said presence sensing means, said confirmation sensing means, said crash sensing means, and to said air bag restraint for actuating the air bag restraint in response to said crash sensing means unless both (i) said presence signal from said presence sensing means indicates said rearward facing child restraining seat is on said occupant seat and (ii) said confirmation signal from said confirmation sensing means confirms the presence of said child restraining seat on said occupant seat.
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13. A method for preventing the actuation of an actuatable occupant restraint device of a vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:
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sensing the presence of a rearward facing child restraining seat on an occupant seat of the vehicle and providing a presence signal indicative thereof; confirming the presence of said child restraining seat on said occupant seat and providing a confirmation signal indicative thereof; and preventing actuation of said actuatable occupant restraining device when said rearward facing child restraining seat is sensed as being present on said occupant seat and the presence of said child restraining seat on said occupant seat is confirmed. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification