Apparatus for detecting seated condition

• US 6,509,747 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2001
• Issued: 01/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Nagai, Makoto, Kumakiri, Naotaka, Fukui, Tsutomu, Kamiji, Kouichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Oda, Christine
• Assistant Examiner(s): LeRoux, Etienne
• Application Number:
  US09/789,751
• Publication Number:
  US 20010026162A1
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• Field of Search: 324/687, 701/45, 180/271, 180/273, 280/728.1, 280/735, 340/573.1, 340/667
• US Class Current: 324/687
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02246 Electric motors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0268 using sensors or detectors for adapting the seat or seat part, e.g. to the position of an occupant
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01532 using electric or capacitive field sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0689 specially adapted for pilots

Abstract

An apparatus for detecting seated condition detects whether a passenger is seated on a seat and the location of the passenger if seated. In the apparatus for detecting seated condition, antenna electrodes are provided in the inside the seat so that the electric field generates between the ground and the antenna electrodes. A detecting unit detects a first out put of the electric field in a case that a passenger is not seated and a second output of the electric field in a case that a passenger is seated. A data processing unit corrects the second output based on the first output. Accordingly, the seated condition whether the passenger is seated can accurately be detected.

Claims

1. An apparatus for detecting seated condition comprising:

an antenna electrode provided in the inside a seat;

a power supply for supplying power for generating radio wave to said antenna electrode so that an electric field generates between said antenna electrode and a ground to detect a passenger on said seat;

a detecting unit for detecting electrostatic capacity existing between said antenna electrode and said ground; and

a data processing unit for determining said seated condition for said seat based on said detected electrostatic capacity;

said detecting unit detecting a first value of said electrostatic capacity in a case that a passenger is not seated and a second value of said electrostatic capacity in a case that a passenger is seated;

said data processing unit correcting said second value of said electrostatic capacity based on said first value.

2. An apparatus for detecting seated condition according to claim 1 further comprising a noncontacting sensor for detecting said passenger on said seat without contacting said passenger;

and

said seated condition being determined from at least one of said detected value of said electrostatic capacity and a detected value of said noncontacting sensor.

3. An apparatus for detecting seated condition according to claim 1 further comprising a load sensor for detecting a load acting on said seat;

and

said data processing unit determining said seated condition of said passenger from one of said detected value of said electrostatic capacity and a detected value of said load sensor.

4. An apparatus for detecting seated condition according to claim 1, wherein said electrostatic capacity is premeasured for kinds of the seated posture and kinds of the passenger'"'"'s physique, and said premeasured data are stored in said data processing unit as parameters, and said data processing unit determines said seated condition of said passenger by comparing said detected value of said electrostatic capacity with said parameters.

6. An apparatus for detecting seated condition according to claim 1, wherein said antenna electrode is provided in plural locations of the inside of the back portion of said seat.

7. An apparatus for detecting seated condition according to claim 1, wherein said antenna electrode is provided in the inside of the seat cushion of said seat.

5. An apparatus for detecting seated condition comprising:

an antenna electrode provided inside a seat;

a power supply for supplying power for generating radio wave to said antenna electrode so that an electric field generates between said antenna electrode and a ground to detect said passenger on said seat;

a detecting unit for detecting electrostatic capacity existing between said antenna electrode and said ground;

a data processing unit for determining said seated condition for said seat based on said detected electrostatic capacity; and

a load sensor for detecting a load acting on said seat;

said data processing unit determining said seated condition for said seat based on said detected value of said electrostatic capacity and a detected value of said load sensor;

said electrostatic capacity, the weight and the center of gravity of the load detected by said load a sensor being premeasured for kinds of the seated posture, kinds of the passenger'"'"'s physique and kinds of loads;

said premeasured data being stored in said data processing unit as parameters;

said data processing unit determining said seated condition for said seat by comparing said detected value of said electrostatic capacity and said detected value of said load sensor with said parameters.

8. An apparatus for detecting seated condition according to claim 5, wherein said load sensor is provided in the inside of the seat cushion of said seat.

9. An apparatus for detecting seated condition according to claim 5, wherein said load sensor is provided in the inside of the back portion of said seat.