Vehicle passenger sensing system and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A vehicle passenger sensing system comprising:
- a signal generator for generating an alternating current signal;
a first electrode mounted on the vehicle and connected to the signal generator, the first electrode generating an electric field in response to said alternating current signal;
a second electrode mounted on the vehicle and spaced from the first electrode such that a first current is generated in the second electrode in response to the electric field and an object in the vehicle; and
a controller for measuring the first current, and for generating a restraint system command signal in response to a magnitude of the first current.
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Abstract
A vehicle passenger sensing system and method in which the presence and position of a passenger is determined by transmitting an electric field from a first electrode and measuring currents induced by the electric field in a plurality of receiver electrodes. The induced currents at the various receiver electrodes are then compared to determine the presence of an adult size passenger, to distinguish between front-facing and rear-facing child safety seats, and to detect when a passenger is out of position. A switching circuit is provided to selectively transmit the electric field from each of the plurality of electrodes.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A vehicle passenger sensing system comprising:
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a signal generator for generating an alternating current signal; a first electrode mounted on the vehicle and connected to the signal generator, the first electrode generating an electric field in response to said alternating current signal; a second electrode mounted on the vehicle and spaced from the first electrode such that a first current is generated in the second electrode in response to the electric field and an object in the vehicle; and a controller for measuring the first current, and for generating a restraint system command signal in response to a magnitude of the first current. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A passenger restraint system for a vehicle, the passenger restraint system including an airbag control circuit and a passenger sensing system, the airbag control circuit being de-activated in response to a restraint system command signal generated by the passenger sensing system, the passenger sensing system comprising:
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a signal generator for generating an alternating current signal; a first electrode mounted on the vehicle and connected to the signal generator, the first electrode generating an electric field in response to said alternating current signal; a second electrode mounted on the vehicle and spaced from the first electrode such that a first current is generated in the second electrode in response to the electric field and an object in the vehicle; a third electrode mounted on the vehicle and spaced from the first and second electrodes such that a second current is generated in the third electrode in response to the electric field and the object; a controller for generating the restraint system command signal in response to a predetermined relationship between the first current and the second current.
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7. A passenger sensing system for a vehicle comprising:
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a plurality of electrodes mounted on the vehicle; a signal generator for generating an alternating current signal; a controller having an input terminal; and a switching circuit for selectively connecting a first electrode of the plurality of electrodes to the signal source such that the first electrode generates an electric field in response to said alternating current signal, and for selectively connecting a second electrode of the plurality of electrodes to the input terminal of the controller; wherein a portion of the electric field generates a current in the second electrode responsive to an object in the vehicle; and wherein the controller measures the current in the second electrode, and generates a restraint system command signal in response to a magnitude of the current. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A passenger sensing system for a vehicle comprising:
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a first electrode mounted on the vehicle, the first electrode being connected to a signal source such that the first electrode generates an electric field in response to an alternating current signal generated by said signal source; a second electrode mounted on the vehicle and spaced apart from the first electrode; and a controller including an input terminal connected to the second electrode, the controller generating a passenger restraint command signal in response to a current generated in the second electrode in response to the electric field generated by the first electrode and in response to an object in the vehicle; wherein the first and second electrodes comprise first and second metal layers separated by an insulating layer. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A method for sensing a passenger in a vehicle seat, the method comprising the steps of:
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transmitting an electric field from a first electrode on the vehicle by applying to said first electrode an alternating current signal generated by a signal source; measuring a first current induced by the electric field in a second electrode on the vehicle, the second electrode being spaced from the first electrode and the first current responsive to a characteristic of the passenger; and comparing the first current with a predetermined current value. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. The method 14 wherein the characteristic is associated with a child in a child seat, and the comparing step comprises comparing the first current with the predetermined current value corresponding to a predetermined child in a child seat value.
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18. A method for automatically de-activating an airbag located adjacent a vehicle seat when an occupied rear-facing child safety seat is mounted on the vehicle seat, the method comprising the steps of:
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generating an electric field over the vehicle seat by applying to a transmitting electrode an alternating current signal generated by a signal source; measuring a first plurality of currents induced by the electric field at a plurality of locations on a base portion of the vehicle seat; measuring a second plurality of currents induced by the electric field at plurality of locations on a back support portion of the vehicle seat; comparing an average of the first plurality of currents with an average of the second plurality of currents; and transmitting a de-activation command signal to an airbag control circuit when the average of the first plurality of currents is greater than the average of the second plurality of currents. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification