Device and method for detecting seat occupancy

• US 7,782,218 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2006
• Issued: 08/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Zacherl, Jurgen, Wild, Gerhard, Krempl, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Hung T.
• Application Number:
  US11/917,007
• Publication Number:
  US 20080204263A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,546 Days
• Field of Search: 340/667, 340/665, 340/666, 180/272, 180/273, 280/735, 701/45, 701/49, 702/41, 702/173, 738/620.41, 738/620.42
• US Class Current: 340/667
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01526 using piezoelectric elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01532 using electric or capacitive field sensors
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/48 Temperature-compensating arrangements G01G1/14, G01G1/42, G01G3/18 take precedence

Abstract

A device and a method for detecting seat occupancy, with the device including first and second sensor elements associated with a respective seat surface. First and second weight-dependent sensor signals are electrically obtainable from the sensor elements. The seat occupancy is determined by taking either the first or the second sensor signals in dependence on an ambient temperature.

Claims

1. A device for detecting seat occupancy, comprising:

a plurality of first and second sensor elements assigned to a surface of a seat;

said sensor elements outputting first and second sensor signals, respectively, in dependence on a force of a weight acting on a respective said sensor element; and

a selection circuit connected to receive the sensor signals and effecting an ambient-temperature-dependent selection between the first and the second sensor signals for detecting the seat occupancy.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said first sensor elements and said second sensor elements are substantially assigned to a common surface.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least one first sensor element is different from at least one second sensor element in that an absolute value of the first sensor signal of said first sensor element within a weight range to be measured by the device is always greater, at equal weight loading, by more than a measuring inaccuracy of the device, than an absolute value of the second sensor signal of said second sensor element.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said sensor elements are disposed in a sensor seat mat.

5. A method of detecting seat occupancy, the method which comprises:

providing first and second sensor elements and assigning said sensor elements to a surface of a seat;

tapping off electrical sensor signals from the sensor elements, the sensor signals having a value dependent on a weight acting on the respective sensor element; and

determining, with a hardware analysis unit, the seat occupancy based on the first sensor signals or on the basis of the second sensor signals in dependence on an ambient temperature.

6. The method according to claim 5, which comprises:

carrying out the method in a plurality of ambient temperature ranges; and

detecting the seat occupancy in the ambient temperature range having a comparatively lowest ambient temperature based on the first sensor signals.

7. The method according to claim 6, which comprises carrying out the method in three ambient temperature ranges.

8. The method according to claim 5, which comprises:

carrying out the method in a plurality of ambient temperature ranges; and

detecting the seat occupancy in the ambient temperature range having a comparatively highest ambient temperature based on the second sensor signals.

9. The method according to claim 8, which comprises carrying out the method in three ambient temperature ranges.

10. The method according to claim 5, which comprises the following steps:

forming a weight value from at least one first or second sensor signal selected for occupant detection;

comparing the weight value with a threshold value; and

activating an occupant protection function if the weight value exceeds the threshold value.

11. An occupant-related method in a motor vehicle, the method which comprises:

providing first and second sensor elements and assigning the sensor elements to a surface of a seat, tapping off electrical sensor signals from the sensor elements, the sensor signals having a value dependent on a weight acting on the respective sensor element;

determining, with a hardware analysis unit, a seat occupancy based on the first sensor signals or on the basis of the second sensor signals in dependence on an ambient temperature with a plurality of ambient temperature ranges; and

detecting, with the analysis unit, the seat occupancy in the ambient temperature range having a comparatively lowest ambient temperature based on the first sensor signals;

forming a first weight value from at least one first sensor signal and comparing the first weight value with a first threshold value; and

activating a first occupant protection function if the first weight value exceeds the first threshold value;

detecting the seat occupancy in the ambient temperature range having a comparatively highest ambient temperature based on the second sensor signals;

forming a second weight value from at least one second sensor signal and comparing the second weight value with a second threshold value; and

activating a second occupant protection function if the second weight value exceeds the second threshold value.

12. The method according to claim 11, which comprises setting the first threshold value to have a lower absolute value than the second threshold value.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the first occupant protection function includes a modification of a deployment behavior of an occupant restraint device during an accident.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the second occupant protection function includes an output of a warning indication to a vehicle occupant if a seatbelt is not fastened.