Judgment lock for occupant detection air bag control
First Claim
1. A vehicle passenger detection system for controlling the sensing of an occupant in a seating area, the system comprising:
- an occupant detection sensor adjacent the seating area; and
a control processor operatively connected with the occupant detection sensor, the control processor operative to characterize the occupant in the seating area as one of at least two categories, apply a characterization change parameter for a first time period, and alter the characterization change parameter after the first time period, the characterization parameter being other than time;
wherein the control processor is operable to alter a different characterization change parameter after a second time period, the second time period overlapping and different than the first time period, the different characterization parameter being other than time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for controlling the sensing of an occupant in a seating area are provided. The occupant is characterized as one of an adult, child or other category. One characterization change parameter, such as a hysteresis time period or thresholds for characterization, is applied for a first time period. After that time period, the characterization change parameter is changed. For example, if the characterization stays the same for ten seconds, the hysteresis is changed from five to ten seconds. As another example, if the characterization stays the same for one minute, the thresholds associated with that characterization are broadened to decrease the likelihood of a change in characterization. In some systems and methods, a confidence parameter or probability associated with the characterization is used to control the changes to the characterization change parameter. In some systems and methods, the characterizations change parameter in reset in response to one of (a) a no occupant characterization (b) characterizing the occupant as a different one of the at least two categories consecutively for a current hysteresis time period.
32 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A vehicle passenger detection system for controlling the sensing of an occupant in a seating area, the system comprising:
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an occupant detection sensor adjacent the seating area; and a control processor operatively connected with the occupant detection sensor, the control processor operative to characterize the occupant in the seating area as one of at least two categories, apply a characterization change parameter for a first time period, and alter the characterization change parameter after the first time period, the characterization parameter being other than time; wherein the control processor is operable to alter a different characterization change parameter after a second time period, the second time period overlapping and different than the first time period, the different characterization parameter being other than time.
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2. A vehicle passenger detection method for controlling sensing of an occupant in a seating area, the method comprising the acts of:
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(a) characterizing the occupant in the seating area as one of at least two categories; (b) applying a characterization change parameter for limiting change in the characterization of the occupant from the one to another one of the at least two categories, the application being for a first time period; and (c) altering the characterization change parameter after the first time period; wherein (a) comprises characterizing with a capacitive sensing system responsive to an electrical characteristic of the occupant; and (d) altering a different characterization change parameter after a second time period, the second time period overlapping and different than the first time period. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5)
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6. A vehicle passenger detection system for controlling the sensing of an occupant in a seating area, the system comprising:
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an occupant detection sensor adjacent the seating area, the occupant detection sensor comprising a capacitive sensing system responsive to an electrical characteristic of the occupant; and a control processor operatively connected with the occupant detection sensor, the control processor operative to characterize the occupant in the seating area as one of at least two categories, apply a characterization change parameter for limiting change in the characterization of the occupant from the one to another one of the at least two categories, the application being for a first time period, and alter the characterization change parameter after the first time period; wherein the control processor is operable to alter a different characterization change parameter after a second time period, the second time period overlapping and different than the first time period. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A vehicle passenger detection method for controlling sensing of an occupant in a seating area, the method comprising the acts of:
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(a) characterizing the occupant in the seating area as one of at least two categories; (b) applying a characterization change parameter for a first time period, the characterization parameter being other than time; (c) altering the characterization change parameter after the first time period; and (d) altering a different characterization change parameter after a second time period, the second time period overlapping and different than the first time period, the different characterization parameter being other than time. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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Specification