Communication anomaly detecting device, and passenger detecting device

• US 7,605,711 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2005
• Issued: 10/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Hagiwara, Isao, Sakai, Morio, Yasunori, Hiromichi, Mori, Masaki, Sumi, Chiaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu; Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mortell; John F
• Application Number:
  US11/628,235
• Publication Number:
  US 20080061989A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,546 Days
• Field of Search: 340/650, 340/573.1, 340/667
• US Class Current: 340/650
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01115 specific data frames
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01143 Short circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01 Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents electrical circuits for transmission of signals between steering wheel and the vehicle itself B60R16/027; for electrically actuating belt retractor locking means B60R22/343
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0152 using strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/4142 for controlling activation of safety devices, e.g. airbag systems electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements in case of vehicle accidents B60R21/015

Abstract

An information request portion receives an information request signal transmitted to an information response portion at its own receiving port. The information request portion comprises at least either of a power supply system anomaly determination portion or a ground anomaly determination portion. The power supply system anomaly determination portion determines a short-circuit between a signal line and a power supply system in a case where the information request signal received at the receiving port is always fixed to a H (high) level. The ground anomaly determination portion determines a short-circuit between a signal line and a ground in a case where the information request signal received at the receiving port is always fixed to a L (Low) level. Consequently, the anomaly region of the signal line connecting the information request portion and the information response portion in such a manner that bidirectional digital communications are possible or the cause of the anomaly is specified.

Claims

1. An occupant detector, comprising:

at least one load sensor for acquiring load information according to a load applied to a seat and

a control device connected to the load sensor in such a manner that bidirectional digital communications are possible through a signal system line,

wherein, when the control device transmits an information request signal to the load sensor, the load sensor receives the information request signal, and the load sensor transmits a load information signal including the load information in response to the received information request signal, and the control device receives this load information signal and performs an occupant determination,

the occupant detector comprising;

the control device and

first and second power supply system lines for supplying electricity to the load sensor through the control device, and the potential of the first power supply system line is higher than the potential of the second power supply system line,

wherein the control device comprises a switching element and a pull-up resistor, and wherein the switching element comprises a first terminal connected to the signal system line, a second terminal connected to the second power supply system line, and a control terminal for inputting the information request signal, and wherein the pull-up resistor has one end connected to the first power supply system line and another end connected to the signal system line, and

wherein the load sensor comprises a switching element comprising a first terminal connected to the signal system line, a second terminal connected to the second power supply system line, and a sensor side control terminal for inputting the load information signal.

2. The occupant detector according to claim 1, wherein the load sensor comprises a strain gage for generating a gage voltage according to a strain amount according to a load applied to the seat, and acquires the load information based on the gage voltage.