Method and apparatus for preserving calibration data in a vehicle seat occupant detection system

• US 6,650,978 B1
• Filed: 05/31/2002
• Issued: 11/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aptiv Technologies Limited (Aptiv PLC), Daimler Chrysler Corporation (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Scott, John D., Higbee, Jay W, Dziekan, Lee M, Gray, Charles A., Patterson, James F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MANCHO, RONNIE M
• Application Number:
  US10/159,691
• Publication Number:
  US 20030225493A1
• Time in Patent Office: 536 Days
• Field of Search: 701/45, 701/35, 280/733, 280/730.2, 280/728.1, 280/730.1, 180/268, 180/273, 369/13.39
• US Class Current: 701/35
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01512 Passenger detection systems

Abstract

Dedicated memory locations for vehicle identification data and seat calibration data are provided in a first rewritable, non-volatile memory within an occupant detection system module and a second rewritable, non-volatile memory external to the occupant detection system. At least once each ignition cycle, preferably at power up, an algorithm responsive to vehicle identification data obtained from the vehicle, stored in the first rewritable, non-volatile memory and/or stored in the second rewritable, non-volatile memory, as well as the presence of seat calibration data in the first rewritable, non-volatile memory, controls the copying of seat calibration data and/or vehicle identification data between the first and second rewritable, non-volatile memories to preserve seat calibration data for a vehicle through replacement of the occupant detection system module or the entire occupant detection system.

Claims

1. A method of preserving calibration data for use by a seat occupant detection system in a vehicle, the method comprising the steps:

providing dedicated memory locations for vehicle identification data and seat calibration data in a first rewritable, non-volatile memory within an occupant detection system module in the seat occupant detection system and a second rewritable, non-volatile memory external to the occupant detection system;

obtaining vehicle identification data from the vehicle;

determining if the vehicle identification data obtained from the vehicle matches vehicle identification data stored in the first rewritable, non-volatile memory; and

if the vehicle identification data obtained from the vehicle matches the vehicle identification data stored in the first rewritable, non-volatile memory, copying seat calibration data stored in the first rewritable, non-volatile memory to the second rewritable, non-volatile memory.

2. A method of preserving calibration data for use by a seat occupant detection system in a vehicle, the method comprising the steps:

providing dedicated memory locations for vehicle identification data and seat calibration data in a first rewritable, non-volatile memory within an occupant detection system module within the seat occupant detection system and a second rewritable, non-volatile memory external to the occupant detection system;

obtaining vehicle identification data from the vehicle;

determining if there is vehicle identification data in the first rewritable, non-volatile memory;

if there is vehicle identification data in the first rewritable, non-volatile memory, determining if the vehicle identification data from the vehicle matches the vehicle identification data stored in the first rewritable, non-volatile memory; and

if the vehicle identification data obtained from the vehicle matches the vehicle identification data stored in the first rewritable, non-volatile memory, copying seat calibration data stored in the first rewritable, non-volatile memory to the second rewritable, non-volatile memory.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the steps:

if the vehicle identification data obtained from the vehicle does not match the vehicle identification data stored in the first rewritable, non-volatile memory, determining if the vehicle identification data obtained from the vehicle matches vehicle identification data stored in the second rewritable, non-volatile memory; and

if the vehicle identification data obtained from the vehicle matches the vehicle identification data stored in the second rewritable, non-volatile memory, copying seat calibration data stored in the second rewritable, non-volatile memory and one of the vehicle identification data obtained from the vehicle and the vehicle identification data stored in the second rewritable, non-volatile memory to the first rewritable, non-volatile memory.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising the steps:

if there is no vehicle identification data stored in the first rewritable, non-volatile memory, determining if there is seat calibration data stored in the first rewritable, non-volatile memory; and

if there is seat calibration data stored in the first rewritable, non-volatile memory, copying the vehicle identification data obtained from the vehicle to the first rewritable, non-volatile memory and to the second rewritable, non-volatile memory and copying the seat calibration data in the first rewritable, non-volatile memory to the second rewritable, non-volatile memory.

5. The method of claim 2 further comprising the steps:

if there is no vehicle identification data stored in the first rewritable, non-volatile memory, determining if there is seat calibration data stored in the first rewritable, non-volatile memory;

if there is no seat calibration data stored in the first rewritable, non-volatile memory, determining if the vehicle identification data obtained from the vehicle matches vehicle identification data stored in the second rewritable, non-volatile memory; and

if the vehicle identification data obtained from the vehicle matches vehicle identification data stored in the second rewritable, non-volatile memory;

copying seat calibration data stored in the second rewritable, non-volatile memory and one of the vehicle identification data obtained from the vehicle and the vehicle identification data stored in the second rewritable, non-volatile memory to the first rewritable, non-volatile memory.

6. A vehicle seat calibration data preservation apparatus comprising, in combination:

a seat member having seat characteristic sensor apparatus;

an occupant detection system module having a first rewritable, non-volatile memory;

the seat member and occupant detection system module together comprising a seat occupant detection system; and

a second rewritable, non-volatile memory separately replaceable with respect to the seat member and the occupant detection system module;

the occupant detection system module further comprising means for;

(a) obtaining vehicle identification data from the vehicle,

(b) determining if there is vehicle identification data stored in the first rewritable, non-volatile memory;

(c) if there is vehicle identification data in the first rewritable, non-volatile memory, determining if the vehicle identification data obtained from the vehicle matches the vehicle identification data stored in the first rewritable, non-volatile memory, and

(d) if the vehicle identification data obtained from the vehicle matches the vehicle identification data stored in the first rewritable, non-volatile memory, copying seat calibration data stored in the first rewritable, non-volatile memory to the second rewritable, non-volatile memory.

7. A vehicle seat calibration data preservation apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the occupant detection system module further comprises:

(e) means, responsive to the vehicle identification data obtained from the vehicle not matching the vehicle identification data stored in the first rewritable, non-volatile memory, for determining if the vehicle identification data obtained from the vehicle matches vehicle identification data stored in the second rewritable, non-volatile memory; and

(f) means, responsive to the vehicle identification data obtained from the vehicle matching the vehicle identification data stored in the second rewritable, non-volatile memory;

for copying seat calibration data stored in the second rewritable, non-volatile memory and one of the vehicle identification data obtained from the vehicle and the vehicle identification data stored in the second rewritable, non-volatile memory to the first rewritable, non-volatile memory.

8. A vehicle seat calibration data preservation apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the occupant detection system module further comprises:

(g) means, responsive to there being no vehicle identification data stored in the first rewritable, non-volatile memory, for determining if there is seat calibration data stored in the first rewritable, non-volatile memory; and

(h) means, responsive to the presence of seat calibration data stored in the first rewritable, non-volatile memory, for copying the vehicle identification data obtained from the vehicle to the first rewritable, non-volatile memory and to the second rewritable, non-volatile memory and copying the seat calibration data in the first rewritable, non-volatile memory to the second rewritable, non-volatile memory.

9. A vehicle seat calibration data preservation apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising the steps:

(j) means, responsive to there being no vehicle identification data stored in the first rewritable, non-volatile memory, for determining if there is seat calibration data stored in the first rewritable, non-volatile memory;

(k) means, responsive to there being no seat calibration data stored in the first rewritable, non-volatile memory, for determining if the vehicle identification data obtained from the vehicle matches vehicle identification data stored in the second rewritable, non-volatile memory; and

(l) means, responsive to the vehicle identification data obtained from the vehicle matching vehicle identification data stored in the second rewritable, non-volatile memory, for copying vehicle identification data stored in the second rewritable, non-volatile memory and one of the vehicle identification data obtained from the vehicle and the vehicle identification data stored in the second rewritable, non-volatile memory to the first rewritable, non-volatile memory.

10. A vehicle seat calibration data preservation apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising an airbag control module containing the second rewritable, non-volatile memory and being separately replaceable in the vehicle with respect to the occupant detection system module.