Fiber optic occupant or object classification system
First Claim
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1. An occupant classification system comprising:
- a seat upon which an occupant may sit or on which an object may be placed, the seat having one of a seat cushion and a seat back;
a first set of optical fibers, the first set including individual fibers arranged parallel to one another, a second set of optical fibers arranged at a predetermined angle relative to the first set of optical fibers;
each optical fiber having a measurable optical characteristic, the optical characteristics of the fibers changeable when a force is applied to a particular fiber;
a third set of optical fibers, wherein a particular optical fiber of the third set of fibers extends from a transmitter associated with the first set of optical fibers to a receiver associated with the second set of optical fibers, and a processor responsive to an output signal from at least one optical fiber for generating a control signal determinative of a physical characteristic of an object or occupant on the seat.
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Abstract
An occupant classification system comprising: a seat upon which an occupant may sit or on which an object may be placed, the seat having one of a seat cushion and a seat back; at least one optical fiber having a measurable optical characteristic, arranged in a specific pattern, the optical characteristics of the fiber changeable when a force is applied to the fiber; and a processor responsive to an output signal from each fiber for generating a control signal determinative of a physical characteristic of an object or occupant on the seat.
14 Citations
7 Claims
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1. An occupant classification system comprising:
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a seat upon which an occupant may sit or on which an object may be placed, the seat having one of a seat cushion and a seat back;
a first set of optical fibers, the first set including individual fibers arranged parallel to one another, a second set of optical fibers arranged at a predetermined angle relative to the first set of optical fibers;
each optical fiber having a measurable optical characteristic, the optical characteristics of the fibers changeable when a force is applied to a particular fiber;
a third set of optical fibers, wherein a particular optical fiber of the third set of fibers extends from a transmitter associated with the first set of optical fibers to a receiver associated with the second set of optical fibers, and a processor responsive to an output signal from at least one optical fiber for generating a control signal determinative of a physical characteristic of an object or occupant on the seat. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An occupant classification system comprising:
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a seat upon which an occupant may sit or on which an object may be placed, the seat having one of a seat cushion and a seat back;
a first set of optical fibers, the first set including individual fibers arranged parallel to one another, a second set of optical fibers arranged at a predetermined angle relative to the first set of optical fibers;
each optical fiber having a measurable optical characteristic, the optical characteristics of a fiber changeable when a force is applied to a particular fiber;
a processor responsive to an output signal from at least one optical fiber for generating a control signal determinative of a physical characteristic of an object or occupant on the seat; and
the first and second sets of fibers are configured into a Cartesian coordinate system.
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7. An occupant classification system comprising:
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a seat upon which an occupant may sit or on which an object may be placed, the seat having one of a seat cushion and a seat back;
a first set of optical fibers, a second set of optical fibers;
wherein an optical characteristic of a fiber is changeable when a force is applied to the fiber;
the first and second sets of fibers configured into a polar coordinate system; and
a processor responsive to an output signal from at least one optical fiber for generating a control signal determinative of a physical characteristic of an object or occupant on the seat.
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Specification