Occupant classifying device for vehicle

• US 7,613,550 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2005
• Issued: 11/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Sakai, Morio, Mori, Masaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Dalena
• Application Number:
  US11/165,486
• Publication Number:
  US 20050288829A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,593 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/45, 701/46, 701/48, 701/49, 701 29- 31, 701/35, 701 37- 39, 701/41, 701/43, 701/34, 280/728.1, 280/730.1, 280/734, 280/735, 280/801.1, 180/268, 180/274, 180/282, 340/438
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01068 between different sensors and airbag control unit
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01184 Fault detection or diagnostic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0152 using strain gauges

Abstract

An occupant classifying device for a vehicle includes a load detection device for detecting a load applied on a vehicle seat, a control device for judging classification of an occupant on the basis of load data inputted from the load detection device, and a communication control portion provided on the control device, the communication control portion for controlling bilateral communication conducted between the load detection device and the control device. The bilateral communication is conducted at different communication speeds on the basis of a communication state of the bilateral communication or an operational state of the control device.

Claims

1. An occupant classifying device for a vehicle, comprising:

a load detection device for detecting a load applied on a vehicle seat;

a control device for judging classification of an occupant on the basis of load data inputted from the load detection device; and

a communication control portion provided on the control device, the communication control portion for controlling bilateral communication conducted between the load detection device and the control device;

wherein the bilateral communication is conducted at different communication speeds on the basis of a communication state of the bilateral communication or an operational state of the control device, and wherein the load detection device includes plural load detection devices, and the control device controls the communication speed for each of the load detection devices.

2. The occupant classifying device for the vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a reliability judging portion provided at the control device for judging reliability of the bilateral communication;

wherein the communication speed is controlled on the basis of reliability judged at the reliability judging portion.

3. The occupant classifying device for the vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the control device controls the bilateral communication to be slower when the reliability judging portion judges that reliability is low compared to a case where the reliability judging portion judges that reliability is high.

4. The occupant classifying device for the vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the reliability judging portion judges level of the reliability by checking a code added to the load data inputted from the load detection device.

5. The occupant classifying device for the vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the reliability judging portion judges level of the reliability by checking a code added to the load data inputted from the load detection device.

6. An occupant classifying device for a vehicle, comprising:

a load detection device for detecting a load app lied on a vehicle seat;

a control device for judging classification of an occupant on the basis of load data inputted from the load detection device; and

a communication control portion provided on the control device for controlling bilateral communication conducted between the load detection device and the control device,

wherein the bilateral communication is conducted at different communication speeds on the basis of a communication state of the bilateral communication or an operational state of the control device, and

wherein the control device is programmed to have at least a calibration operation for examining and adjusting the load detection device, a safety operation cooperating with a safety device, and normal operation, and the control device controls the communication speed in accordance with each of the operations.

7. The occupant classifying device for the vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the control device controls the communication speed of the bilateral communication to be higher at the calibration operation than at the normal operation.

8. The occupant classifying device for the vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the control device controls the communication speed of the bilateral communication to be lower at the safety operation than at the normal operation.

9. The occupant classifying device for the vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the load detection devices includes plural load detection devices, and the control device controls the communication speed for each of the load detection devices.

10. The occupant classifying device for the vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the load detection devices includes plural load detection devices, and the control device controls the communication speed for each of the load detection devices.

11. The occupant classifying device for the vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the control device controls the communication speed of the bilateral communication to be lower at the safety operation than at the normal operation.

12. The occupant classifying device for the vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the load detection devices includes plural load detection devices, and the control device controls the communication speed for each of the load detection devices.

13. The occupant classifying device for the vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the load detection devices includes plural load detection devices, and the control device controls the communication speed for each of the load detection devices.