Hardware independent mapping of multiple sensor configurations for classification of persons
First Claim
1. A method for measuring weight supported by a vehicle seat comprising the steps of:
- (a) positioning each of a plurality of sensors at a discrete seat sensor location;
(b) generating a weight signal from each sensor in response to a weight force applied to the seat structure;
(c) creating at least one virtual sensor cell that is representative of a virtual seat sensor position that is different than each of the discrete seat sensor locations; and
(d) assigning a weight value to the virtual sensor cell based on weight signal data from discrete seat sensor locations that generally surround the virtual sensor cell.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Sensors are mounted within a seat structure for measuring seat occupant weight. The sensors can be mounted in any one of various sensor configurations. So that common hardware can be used for each different sensor configuration, a virtual matrix is created and output from the sensors is mapped into the virtual matrix. The virtual matrix includes virtual cell locations that do not have a corresponding sensor output; i.e., there are fewer physical cells (sensors) than virtual cell locations in the virtual matrix. A weight output signal from each sensor is mapped into the corresponding position in the virtual matrix and the remaining virtual cell locations have values assigned to them based on data supplied by the surrounding physical cells. Seat occupant weight is determined based on output from the virtual matrix and the occupant is placed into one of the various occupant classifications. Deployment force of a restraint system is controlled based on the classification of the seat occupant.
29 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for measuring weight supported by a vehicle seat comprising the steps of:
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(a) positioning each of a plurality of sensors at a discrete seat sensor location;
(b) generating a weight signal from each sensor in response to a weight force applied to the seat structure;
(c) creating at least one virtual sensor cell that is representative of a virtual seat sensor position that is different than each of the discrete seat sensor locations; and
(d) assigning a weight value to the virtual sensor cell based on weight signal data from discrete seat sensor locations that generally surround the virtual sensor cell. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for measuring weight supported by a vehicle seat comprising:
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a plurality of sensors supported by a seat structure with each sensor being positioned at a discrete seat sensor location wherein each sensor generates a weight signal in response to a weight force applied to said seat structure; and
a control unit in communication with said sensors wherein said control unit creates at least one virtual sensor cell that is representative of a virtual seat sensor position that is different than each of said discrete seat sensor locations and assigns a weight value to said virtual sensor cell based on weight signal data from discrete seat sensor locations that generally surround said virtual sensor cell. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification