Apparatus and method for controlling an occupant restraint system
First Claim
1. Apparatus for controlling an occupant restraint system in a vehicle having a seat, said apparatus comprising:
- memory means for storing a block of image data which is representative of a viewing field within said vehicle and in which said field includes said seat when unoccupied;
image sensor means mounted in said vehicle for viewing said field including said seat with an occupant on said seat for providing a new block of image data;
control means including comparing means for comparing said new block of image data with said stored block of image data and providing a control signal having a value based on said comparison; and
restraint regulating means responsive to said control signal for controlling said occupant restraint system based on said control signal.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and method for controlling an occupant restraint system in a vehicle (10) comprises storing in a ROM memory (220) a block of image data representative of a viewing field within the vehicle (10). The viewing field includes an unoccupied vehicle seat (18) located in the occupant compartment (12) of the vehicle. A new block of image data is obtained which is representative of the viewing field with an occupant (202) on the seat (18). This image data is obtained with an image sensor (200), such as a CCD sensor, mounted in the vehicle (10) for viewing the field. The new block of image data is compared with the stored block of image data by a controller (30) to obtain the occupant'"'"'s size and/or position in the vehicle. The controller (30) provides a control signal having a value which is a function of the comparison. A restraint regulator (120), such as a vent valve, responds to the control signal for controlling the occupant restraint system.
130 Citations
29 Claims
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1. Apparatus for controlling an occupant restraint system in a vehicle having a seat, said apparatus comprising:
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memory means for storing a block of image data which is representative of a viewing field within said vehicle and in which said field includes said seat when unoccupied; image sensor means mounted in said vehicle for viewing said field including said seat with an occupant on said seat for providing a new block of image data; control means including comparing means for comparing said new block of image data with said stored block of image data and providing a control signal having a value based on said comparison; and restraint regulating means responsive to said control signal for controlling said occupant restraint system based on said control signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method for controlling an occupant restraint system in a vehicle having a seat including the steps of:
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storing a block of image data representative of said seat when unoccupied within a viewing field in said vehicle; viewing said viewing field with an image sensor mounted in said vehicle when an occupant is located in said seat and providing a new block of image data; comparing said new block of image data with said stored block of image data; and adjusting the occupant restraint system in accordance with said comparison. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
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Specification