Vehicle occupant sensing system
First Claim
1. A system for sensing the presence of an object within a vehicle'"'"'s passenger compartment including an occupant in a motor vehicle comprising:
- safety restraint means for protecting the occupant during a crash, the occupant sensing means;
actuating means for activating the safety restraint means to protect an occupant during a collision;
first occupant sensing means, fixedly positioned in the vehicle, for generating a reflected electric field within the passenger compartment for generating an output signal indicative of the presence of an object, the electric field being of predetermined size, wherein the presence of an object effects the reflected electric field causing a change in the output signal of the sensing means, the sensing means mounted on one of a vehicle'"'"'s steering wheel assembly for driver position detection or instrument panel near the passenger air bag module for passenger position detection;
crash sensor means sensor coupled to electronic control means for sensing an actual or impending crash and for generating an output signal indicative thereof;
electronic control means reactive to a combination of the output signal from the crash sensor means and occupant sensor means for determining whether or not to generate a signal to activate the safety restraint means.
6 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for sensing the presence of an object within a vehicle'"'"'s passenger compartment including an occupant in a motor vehicle comprising of: one or more safety restraint device such as air bag or pretensioner for protecting the occupant during a crash, actuating device includes within the restraint device for activating the safety restraint device to protect an occupant during a collision; a first occupant sensor, fixedly positioned in the vehicle, for generating a reflected electric field within the passenger compartment for generating an output signal indicative of the presence of an object, the electric field being of predetermined size, wherein the presence of an object effects the reflected electric field causing a change in the output signal of the sensor, the sensor mounted on one of a vehicle'"'"'s steering wheel assembly for driver position detection or instrument panel near the passenger air bag module for passenger position detection; a crash sensor coupled to electronic control unit for sensing an actual or impending crash and for generating an output signal indicative thereof; the electronic control unit reactive to a combination of the output signal from the crash sensor means and occupant sensor means for determining whether or not to generate a signal to activate the safety restraint device.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A system for sensing the presence of an object within a vehicle'"'"'s passenger compartment including an occupant in a motor vehicle comprising:
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safety restraint means for protecting the occupant during a crash, the occupant sensing means; actuating means for activating the safety restraint means to protect an occupant during a collision; first occupant sensing means, fixedly positioned in the vehicle, for generating a reflected electric field within the passenger compartment for generating an output signal indicative of the presence of an object, the electric field being of predetermined size, wherein the presence of an object effects the reflected electric field causing a change in the output signal of the sensing means, the sensing means mounted on one of a vehicle'"'"'s steering wheel assembly for driver position detection or instrument panel near the passenger air bag module for passenger position detection; crash sensor means sensor coupled to electronic control means for sensing an actual or impending crash and for generating an output signal indicative thereof; electronic control means reactive to a combination of the output signal from the crash sensor means and occupant sensor means for determining whether or not to generate a signal to activate the safety restraint means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for sensing the presence of an occupant within a vehicle'"'"'s passenger compartment comprising:
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safety restraint means for protecting the occupant during a crash comprising an air bag module including an inflatable an air bag; actuating means for activating the safety restraint means during a collision; occupant sensing means, fixedly positioned in the vehicle proximate one of a steering wheel, an instrument panel, seat and door, for generating a reflected electric field within the passenger compartment for generating an output signal indicative of the position of the occupant in relation to the occupant sensing means, the electric field being of predetermined effective size, wherein the presence of an occupant effects the reflected electric field causing a change in the output signal of the sensing means; electronic control means reactive to the occupant sensor means for determining whether or not to generate a signal to activate the safety restraint means. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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Specification