Occupant detection system
DCFirst Claim
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1. A system for detecting an occupant in a vehicle with a safety restraint system, comprising:
- a. a first electric field sensor comprising at least one first electrode mountable in a seat bottom of a vehicle seat, wherein said first electric field sensor is responsive to at least one electric-field-influencing property of an object on said vehicle seat;
b. a first sensing circuit operatively coupled to at least one said first electrode of said first electric field sensor wherein said first sensing circuit generates a first signal responsive to said at least one electric-field-influencing property of an object proximate to said first electric field sensor, wherein said first sensing circuit further comprises;
i. a reference capacitor; and
ii. a switch for switching said reference capacitor in place of said first electric field sensor, wherein said first sensing circuit compares the measurement of said reference capacitor with the measurement of said first electric field sensor, calibrates said first signal responsive to said comparison;
c. a weight sensor operatively coupleable to said vehicle seat for measuring the weight of an object upon said vehicle seat; and
d. a controller operatively coupled to said first electric field sensor and to said weight sensor, wherein said controller discriminates a type of object on said vehicle seat responsive to said first signal and to said weight sensor, and said controller controls the actuation of the safety restraint system responsive to said type of object.
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Abstract
An occupant detection system comprises an electric field sensor in the seat bottom of a vehicle seat for discriminating objects on the seat, and a seat weight sensor for sensing the force upon the seat. The electric field sensor discriminates normally seated occupants from other seating conditions, and disables a restraint actuator unless a normally seated occupant is present. The seat weight sensor disables the restraint actuator if force upon the seat is less than a threshold.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. A system for detecting an occupant in a vehicle with a safety restraint system, comprising:
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a. a first electric field sensor comprising at least one first electrode mountable in a seat bottom of a vehicle seat, wherein said first electric field sensor is responsive to at least one electric-field-influencing property of an object on said vehicle seat;
b. a first sensing circuit operatively coupled to at least one said first electrode of said first electric field sensor wherein said first sensing circuit generates a first signal responsive to said at least one electric-field-influencing property of an object proximate to said first electric field sensor, wherein said first sensing circuit further comprises;
i. a reference capacitor; and
ii. a switch for switching said reference capacitor in place of said first electric field sensor, wherein said first sensing circuit compares the measurement of said reference capacitor with the measurement of said first electric field sensor, calibrates said first signal responsive to said comparison;
c. a weight sensor operatively coupleable to said vehicle seat for measuring the weight of an object upon said vehicle seat; and
d. a controller operatively coupled to said first electric field sensor and to said weight sensor, wherein said controller discriminates a type of object on said vehicle seat responsive to said first signal and to said weight sensor, and said controller controls the actuation of the safety restraint system responsive to said type of object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A system for detecting an occupant in a vehicle with a safety restraint system, comprising:
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a. a first electric field sensor comprising at least one first electrode mountable in a seat bottom of a vehicle seat, wherein said first electric field sensor is responsive to at least one electric-field-influencing property of an object on said vehicle seat, said first electric field sensor further comprises at least one second electrode and at least one third electrode, wherein said at least one third electrode is located between said at least one first electrode and a foam cushion of said vehicle seat, said at least one second electrode is located between said at least one first electrode and said at least one third electrode, and said at least one second electrode is substantially the same size as said at least one first electrode;
b. a first sensing circuit operatively coupled to at least one said first electrode of said first electric field sensor wherein said first sensing circuit generates a first signal responsive to said at least one electric-field-influencing property of an object proximate to said first electric field sensor;
c. a weight sensor operatively coupleable to said vehicle seat for measuring the weight of an object upon said vehicle seat; and
d. a controller operatively coupled to said first electric field sensor and to said weight sensor, wherein said controller discriminates a type of object on said vehicle seat responsive to said first signal and to said weight sensor, and said controller controls the actuation of the safety restraint system responsive to said type of object.
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29. A system for detecting an occupant in a vehicle with a safety restraint system, comprising:
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a. a first electric field sensor comprising at least one first electrode mountable in a seat bottom of a vehicle seat, wherein said first electric field sensor is responsive to at least one electric-field-influencing property of an object on said vehicle seat;
b. a first sensing circuit operatively coupled to at least one said first electrode of said first electric field sensor wherein said first sensing circuit generates a first signal responsive to said at least one electric-field-influencing property of an object proximate to said first electric field sensor;
c. a weight sensor operatively coupleable to said vehicle seat for measuring the weight of an object upon said vehicle seat, wherein said first electric field sensor is incorporated in said weight sensor; and
d. a controller operatively coupled to said first electric field sensor and to said weight sensor, wherein said controller discriminates a type of object on said vehicle seat responsive to said first signal and to said weight sensor, and said controller controls the actuation of the safety restraint system responsive to said type of object. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A system for detecting an occupant in a vehicle with a safety restraint system, comprising:
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a. a first electric field sensor comprising at least one first electrode mountable in a seat bottom of a vehicle seat, wherein said first electric field sensor is responsive to at least one electric-field-influencing property of an object on said vehicle seat;
b. a first sensing circuit operatively coupled to at least one said first electrode of said first electric field sensor wherein said first sensing circuit generates a first signal responsive to said at least one electric-field-influencing property of an object proximate to said first electric field sensor;
c. a weight sensor operatively coupleable to said vehicle seat for measuring the weight of an object upon said vehicle seat, wherein said weight sensor measures a weight-responsive property between two conductors of said weight sensor so as to measure the weight of an object on said vehicle seat; and
d. a controller operatively coupled to said first electric field sensor and to said weight sensor, wherein said controller discriminates a type of object on said vehicle seat responsive to said first signal and to said weight sensor, and said controller controls the actuation of the safety restraint system responsive to said type of object. - View Dependent Claims (36)
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37. A system for detecting an occupant in a vehicle with a safety restraint system, comprising:
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a. a first electric field sensor comprising at least one first electrode mountable in a seat bottom of a vehicle seat, wherein said first electric field sensor is responsive to at least one electric-field-influencing property of an object on said vehicle seat;
b. a first sensing circuit operatively coupled to at least one said first electrode of said first electric field sensor wherein said first sensing circuit generates a first signal responsive to said at least one electric-field-influencing property of an object proximate to said first electric field sensor;
c. a weight sensor operatively coupleable to said vehicle seat for measuring the weight of an object upon said vehicle seat; and
d. a controller operatively coupled to said first electric field sensor and to said weight sensor, wherein said controller discriminates a type of object on said vehicle seat responsive to said first signal and to said weight sensor, and said controller controls the actuation of the safety restraint system responsive to said type of object, and wherein said controller relies upon said weight sensor when said first sensing circuit detects a wetness condition of said vehicle seat.
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38. A system for detecting an occupant in a vehicle with a safety restraint system, comprising:
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a. a first electric field sensor comprising at least one first electrode mountable in a seat bottom of a vehicle seat, wherein said first electric field sensor is responsive to at least one electric-field-influencing property of an object on said vehicle seat;
b. a first sensing circuit operatively coupled to at least one said first electrode of said first electric field sensor wherein said first sensing circuit generates a first signal responsive to said at least one electric-field-influencing property of an object proximate to said first electric field sensor;
c. a weight sensor operatively coupleable to said vehicle seat for measuring the weight of an object upon said vehicle seat; and
d. a controller operatively coupled to said first electric field sensor and to said weight sensor, wherein said controller discriminates a type of object on said vehicle seat responsive to said first signal and to said weight sensor, and said controller controls the actuation of the safety restraint system responsive to said type of object, and wherein a failure of a sensor selected from the group consisting of said weight sensor and said field electric field sensor is detected responsive to said first electric field sensor detecting an occupant seated on said vehicle seat and said weight sensor measuring a weight less than a threshold.
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Specification