Occupant presence and position sensing system
First Claim
1. An occupant sensing apparatus for controlling operating characteristics of a vehicle'"'"'s safety restraint system, comprising:
- a first proximity sensor (70) emitting a first field in a first direction and generating a first output signal indicative of an occupant being within a determinable detection volume of the first field (112);
a controller (62) receiving the first output signal and generating a control signal that is used to control the operating characteristics of the vehicle'"'"'safety restraint system;
a means (412) for changing the size of the first determinable detection volume (119);
a second proximity sensor (74) emitting a second field which detects the presence of an object within a second determinable detection volume (119'"'"') of the second field (112'"'"').
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Accused Products
Abstract
An occupant sensing apparatus for controlling operating characteristics of a vehicle'"'"'s safety restraint system is provided. The apparatus has a first proximity sensor emitting a field in a first direction and generating a first output signal indicative of the object and a second proximity sensor emitting a second field in a second direction that is substantially towards the field in the first direction and generating a second output signal indicative of the object. A controller receives the first and second output signals and generates a control signal that is used to control the operating characteristics of the vehicle'"'"'s safety restraint system.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. An occupant sensing apparatus for controlling operating characteristics of a vehicle'"'"'s safety restraint system, comprising:
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a first proximity sensor (70) emitting a first field in a first direction and generating a first output signal indicative of an occupant being within a determinable detection volume of the first field (112); a controller (62) receiving the first output signal and generating a control signal that is used to control the operating characteristics of the vehicle'"'"'safety restraint system; a means (412) for changing the size of the first determinable detection volume (119); a second proximity sensor (74) emitting a second field which detects the presence of an object within a second determinable detection volume (119'"'"') of the second field (112'"'"'). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of determining the location of an occupant within a vehicle environment comprising the steps of:
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A) providing a first proximity sensor which produces a first proximity field having a determinable detection volume; B) providing a second proximity sensor which produces a second proximity field having a determinable detection volume; C) providing a means for changing the size of the first and second determinable detection volumes; D) providing a controller (62) for controlling a operating characteristics of a vehicle safety restraint system; E) decreasing the size of the first determinable detection zone until no occupant is detected within the zone; F) calculating a first minimum distance from the first proximity sensor to the occupant; G) providing the first minimum distance information to the controller (62). - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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Specification