Occupant detection system
First Claim
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1. An occupant detection system comprising:
- a sensor for detecting an object in a plurality of predetermined regions by irradiating a plurality of light beams with different predetermined inclination angles toward a seat direction, the sensor being mounted to a ceiling of a vehicle; and
a control unit which, based upon a detection output of the sensor, determines that the seat is vacant if the number of the predetermined regions where the object is detected is below a predetermined number and determines that an occupant is seated in the seat if the number of the predetermined regions where the object is detected is the predetermined number or more; and
wherein the sensor is a first object detection sensor composed of a light emitting element that irradiates an infrared beam and a light receiving element having a field of view that intersects the infrared beam; and
each of the predetermined regions is a first object detection region in which the infrared beam and the field of view intersect each other.
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Abstract
To provide an occupant detection system including a sensor for detecting an object in a plurality of predetermined regions by irradiating a plurality of light beams with different predetermined inclination angles toward a seat direction, the sensor being mounted to a ceiling of a vehicle and a control unit which, based upon a detection output of the sensor, determines that the seat is vacant if the number of the predetermined regions where the object is detected is below a predetermined number and determines that an occupant is seated in the seat if the number of the predetermined regions where the object is detected is the predetermined number or more.
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Citations
6 Claims
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1. An occupant detection system comprising:
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a sensor for detecting an object in a plurality of predetermined regions by irradiating a plurality of light beams with different predetermined inclination angles toward a seat direction, the sensor being mounted to a ceiling of a vehicle; and
a control unit which, based upon a detection output of the sensor, determines that the seat is vacant if the number of the predetermined regions where the object is detected is below a predetermined number and determines that an occupant is seated in the seat if the number of the predetermined regions where the object is detected is the predetermined number or more; and
wherein the sensor is a first object detection sensor composed of a light emitting element that irradiates an infrared beam and a light receiving element having a field of view that intersects the infrared beam; and
each of the predetermined regions is a first object detection region in which the infrared beam and the field of view intersect each other. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An occupant detection system comprising:
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a first object detection sensor for detecting an object in a plurality of first object detection regions by irradiating a plurality of infrared light beams with different predetermined inclination angles toward a seat direction, the sensor being mounted to a ceiling of a vehicle;
a second object detection sensor for detecting the object in a plurality of second object detection regions whose positional phases are shifted with respect to the plurality of the first object detection regions by irradiating a plurality of infrared beams with different predetermined inclination angles toward the seat direction, the second object detection sensor being mounted to the ceiling of the vehicle; and
a control unit which, if detection outputs from the first and second object detection sensors are different, determines that one of the first and second object detection sensors malfunctions. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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Specification