Device for detecting seat occupancy in a motor vehicle
First Claim
1. A device for detecting seat occupancy states in a motor vehicle, the device comprising:
- a seat occupancy sensor integrated in a seat cushion of the seat;
an evaluation circuit coupled to the seat occupancy sensor;
wherein said seat occupancy sensor is divided into a front sensing region and a rear sensing region, said front sensing region responding to seat occupancy in a front region of the seat cushion and the rear sensing region responding to seat occupancy in a rear region of the seat cushion; and
wherein an occupancy state of both said front and rear regions is separately evaluated by said evaluation circuit to control an airbag.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device for detecting seat occupancy in a motor vehicle, especially for inhibiting airbag release when a seat is unoccupied, is provided. A seat occupancy sensor has a front sensing region and a rear sensing region, which can be evaluated separately. In this way, it is possible to determine whether the front seat passenger is in a sitting position close to the front seat edge of the seat cushion, which reduces the protective effect of the airbag. This can possibly be indicated visually or audibly. As a further measure, the inhibiting of an airbag release can be provided in the case of an incorrect sitting position. The seat occupancy sensor can be a resistive membrane pressure sensor.
112 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A device for detecting seat occupancy states in a motor vehicle, the device comprising:
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a seat occupancy sensor integrated in a seat cushion of the seat; an evaluation circuit coupled to the seat occupancy sensor; wherein said seat occupancy sensor is divided into a front sensing region and a rear sensing region, said front sensing region responding to seat occupancy in a front region of the seat cushion and the rear sensing region responding to seat occupancy in a rear region of the seat cushion; and wherein an occupancy state of both said front and rear regions is separately evaluated by said evaluation circuit to control an airbag. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A device for detecting seat occupancy states in a motor vehicle, the device comprising:
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a seat occupancy sensor integrated in a seat cushion of the seat; an evaluation circuit coupled to the seat occupancy sensor; wherein said seat occupancy sensor is divided into a front sensing region and a rear sensing region, said front sensing region responding to seat occupancy in a front region of the seat cushion close to a front seat edge, and the rear sensing region responding to seat occupancy in a rear region of the seat cushion; and wherein an occupancy state of both said front and rear regions is separately evaluated by said evaluation circuit.
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15. A device for detecting seat occupancy states in a motor vehicle, the device comprising:
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a seat occupancy sensor integrated in a seat cushion of the seat; an evaluation circuit coupled to the seat occupancy sensor; wherein said seat occupancy sensor is divided into a front sensing region and a rear sensing region, said front sensing region responding to seat occupancy in a front region of the seat cushion close to a front seat edge, and the rear sensing region responding to seat occupancy in a rear region of the seat cushion; wherein an occupancy state of both said front and rear regions is separately evaluated by said evaluation circuit; and whereby a response from only said front sensing region indicates an incorrect seat occupancy state for an airbag release.
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Specification