Characterizing a proximately located occupant body portion with a sensor matrix

• US 6,094,610 A
• Filed: 03/30/1998
• Issued: 07/25/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Steffens, Charles E. Jr., Bauer, John G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PIPALA, EDWARD J
• Application Number:
  US09/050,848
• Time in Patent Office: 848 Days
• Field of Search: 701/45, 701/47, 180/268, 180/271, 180/272, 180/287, 340/500, 340/540, 340/561, 340/562, 340/563, 340/564, 340/657, 307/116, 307/123, 307/131, 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 280/728.1, 280/735
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01532 using electric or capacitive field sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01552 detecting position of specific human body parts, e.g. face, eyes or hands
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/21658 with integrated switches, e.g. horn switches
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/4142 for controlling activation of safety devices, e.g. airbag systems electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements in case of vehicle accidents B60R21/015

Abstract

An occupant sensor system (40) has an array (42) of sensors (48_I -48_IV). Each of the sensors (48_I -48_IV) senses the presence of a body portion of an occupant (14) proximately located to the respective sensor and provides a signal (50) indicative of the presence. A controller (30) processes information derived from the signals (50) to characterize the type of the body portion.

Claims

1. An occupant sensor system comprising:

an array of sensor means, each of said sensor means sensing the presence of a body portion of an occupant proximately located to said respective sensor means and providing a signal indicative of said presence; and

means for processing in formation derived from said signals to characterize the body portion as to its type.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for processing including means for characterizing the type of body portion as a torso/head or a limb.

3. A system a s set forth in claim 2, wherein said means for processing includes means for characterizing the type of body portion as a torso/head or an arm/hand.

4. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said sensor means includes means for sensing a capacitance indicative of the proximately located body portion, and said sensor means includes means for providing a signal having a characteristic indicative of a value of the sensed capacitance.

5. A system as set forth in claim 4, wherein each of said means for sensing a capacitance includes a pair of capacitive plates.

6. A system as set forth in claim 4, wherein said means for processing includes means for determining whether a value of the characteristic of the signal exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

7. A system as set forth in claim 6, wherein said means for processing includes means for determining a number of the signals that have characteristic values that exceed their respective threshold values and for providing a signal indicative of whether the number exceeds a predetermined threshold number.

8. A system as set forth in claim 6, wherein said means for processing includes means for determining an exceedance valve.

9. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for processing includes means for providing a signal to control an actuatable occupant protection device.

10. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said sensor system is part of an overall sensor arrangement.

11. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said sensor means includes an electrical conductor.

12. An occupant sensor system comprising:

a sensor array having a plurality of sensor means, each for sensing a proximity of an occupant body portion and for providing a signal indicative of said proximity; and

means for processing information derived from the signals provided by said plurality of sensor means to make a characterization of the proximately located occupant body portion and for providing a signal indicative of said characterization.

13. A system as set forth in claim 12, wherein said means for processing includes means for characterizing the proximately located body portion as a torso/head or a limb.

14. A system as set forth in claim 13, wherein said means for processing includes means for characterizing the proximately located body portion as a torso/head or an arm/head.

15. A system as set forth in claim 12, wherein each of said sensor means includes means for sensing a capacitance indicative of the proximity of the proximately located body portion, and said sensor means includes means for providing the signal to have a characteristic indicative of a value of the sensed capacitance.

16. A system as set forth in claim 15, wherein each of said means for sensing a capacitance includes a pair of capacitive plates.

17. A system as set forth in claim 15, wherein said means for processing includes means for determining whether a value of the characteristic of the signal exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

18. A system as set forth in claim 17, wherein said means for processing includes means for determining a number of the signals that have characteristic values that exceed their respective threshold values and for providing a signal indicative of whether the number of signals exceeds a predetermined threshold number.

19. A system as set forth in claim 12, wherein said means for processing includes means for providing a signal to control an actuatable occupant protection device.

20. A system as set forth in claim 12, wherein said sensor system is part of an overall sensor arrangement.

21. A system as set forth in claim 12, wherein each of said sensor means includes an electrical conductor.

22. An occupant sensor system comprising:

a capacitive sensor plate array having a plurality of capacitive plates, each capacitive plate being arranged to pair itself with each of the other capacitive plates to define a capacitor having a capacitive value, the capacitive value being indicative of proximity of a body portion of an occupant to the respective pair of capacitive plates;

means for sensing the capacitive value of each pair of capacitive plates and for providing signals indicative of said capacitive values; and

means for processing information derived from the signals to make a characterization of the proximately located occupant body portion and for providing a signal indicative of said characterization.

23. A system as set forth in claim 22, wherein said means for processing includes means for characterizing the proximately located body portion as a torso/head or a limb.

24. A system as set forth in claim 23, wherein said means for processing includes means for characterizing the type of body portion as a torso/head or an arm/hand.

25. A system as set forth in claim 22, wherein said means for processing includes means for determining whether the capacitive value of each pair of capacitive plates exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

26. A system as set forth in claim 25, wherein said means for processing includes means for determining a number of pairs of capacitive plates that have a capacitive value exceeding their respective threshold values and for providing a signal indicative of whether the number of pairs of capacitive plates exceeds a predetermined threshold number.

27. A system as set forth in claim 22, wherein said means for processing includes means for providing a signal to control an actuatable occupant protection device.

28. An occupant protection system comprising:

an array of sensor means, each of said sensor means sensing the presence of a body portion of an occupant proximately located to said respective sensor means and providing a signal indicative of said presence;

means for processing information contained within said signals to characterize the body portion as to its type;

actuatable protection means for helping to protect an occupant; and

means for controlling actuation of said protection means in response to the characterization of the type of the body portion.

29. A system as set forth in claim 28, wherein said means for processing including means for characterizing the type of body portion as a torso/head or an arm/hand.

30. A system as set forth in claim 28, wherein each of said sensor means includes means for sensing a capacitance of the proximately located body portion, and each of said sensor means includes means for providing a signal to have a characteristic indicative of a value of the sensed capacitance.

31. A system as set forth in claim 30, wherein each of said means for sensing a capacitance includes a pair of capacitive plates.

32. A system as set forth in claim 30, wherein said means for processing includes means for determining whether a value of the characteristic of the signal exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

33. A system as set forth in claim 30, wherein said means for processing includes means for determining a number of the signals that have characteristic values that exceed their respective threshold values and for providing a signal indicative of whether the number of signals exceeds a predetermined threshold number.

34. An occupant sensing method comprising:

providing an array of sensor means;

sensing the presence of a body portion of an occupant proximately located to each sensor means;

providing signals indicative of the sensed presence; and

processing information derived from the signals to characterize the body portion as to its type.

35. An occupant sensing method comprising:

providing a sensor array having a plurality of sensor means;

sensing a proximity of an occupant body portion to each sensor means;

providing a signal indicative of the sensed proximity for each sensor means;

processing information derived from the signals provided for each sensor means;

making a characterization of the proximately located occupant body portion based upon the processing; and

providing a signal indicative of the characterization.

36. An occupant sensing method comprising:

providing a capacitive sensor plate array having a plurality of capacitive plates;

arranging each capacitive plate to pair the plate with each of the other capacitive plates to define a capacitor having a capacitive value, the capacitive value being indicative of proximity of a body portion of an occupant to a respective pair of capacitive plates;

sensing the capacitive value of each pair of capacitive plates;

providing signals indicative of the capacitive values;

processing information derived from the signals to make a characterization of the proximately located occupant body portion; and

providing a signal indicative of the characterization.

37. An occupant protection method comprising:

providing an array of sensor means;

sensing the presence of a body portion of an occupant proximately located to each sensor means;

providing signals indicative of the sensed presence;

processing information contained within the signals to characterize the body portion as to its type; and

controlling actuation of actuatable protection means to help to protect an occupant in response to the characterization of the type of the body portion.