Method and device for recognition of the seat occupancy of a seat

• US 7,916,037 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2007
• Issued: 03/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Pfeffer, Bernhard, Winkler, Gerd, Schicker, Gerald
• Primary Examiner(s): Lu; Shirley
• Application Number:
  US12/278,187
• Publication Number:
  US 20090066530A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,518 Days
• Field of Search: 340/561, 340/660, 340/943, 701/1, 701/45, 701/300
• US Class Current: 340/667
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means

Abstract

The recognition of seat occupancy of a seat is achieved by recording at least one measured signal by way of a seat occupancy sensor. The measured signal is allocated a weight signal by way of an allocation rule, which is representative of a weight with which the seat is occupied. The allocation rule is altered when the weight signal over the course of time is first greater than a given upper threshold and when further, during a given first duration the weight signal lies in a first weight range at a weight zero value. The allocation rule is altered such that the then current measured signal is allocated the weight signal reduced by a given percentage from the weight signal. The allocation rule is further altered when the weight signal lies around the weight zero value in a given second weight range during a given second duration, which is much longer than the first duration. The allocation rule is altered such that the then current measured signal is allocated a weight signal reduced by a given correction value.

Claims

1. A method for recognizing a seat occupancy of a seat, which comprises:

detecting at least one measuring signal by way of a seat occupancy sensor system;

allocating the measuring signal by an allocation rule to a weight signal that is representative of a weight with which the seat is occupied;

adapting the allocation rule when the weight signal over time is greater than a predetermined upper threshold value and if subsequently the weight signal during a predetermined first duration lies in a first weight range about a zero weight value, then the allocation rule is adapted such that a then-current measuring signal is allocated to a weight signal reduced in amount by a predetermined percentage proportion of the weight signal;

adapting the allocation rule if the weight signal over the course of time is initially smaller than the predetermined upper threshold value and if subsequently the weight signal lies in a predetermined second weight range about the zero weight value during a predetermined second duration, which is greater than the first duration, wherein the allocation rule is adapted such that a then-current measuring signal is allocated to a weight signal reduced in amount by a predetermined correction value.

2. The method according to claim 1, which comprises detecting with the seat occupancy sensor system a plurality of measuring signals and allocated the plurality of measuring signals to the weight signal by way of the allocation rule.

3. The method according to claim 1, which comprises allocating the measuring signal to the weight signal reduced in amount by the predetermined percentage proportion of the weight signal if the weight signal over the course of time is initially greater for a predetermined third duration than the predetermined upper threshold value.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the first duration and the third duration lie in a first time period of 0.1 to 5 seconds.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first duration lies in a first time period of 0.1 to 5 seconds.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein second duration lies in a second time period of 1 to 30 minutes.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first weight range or the second weight range comprises three kilograms.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the correction value lies in the range of 1 to 10 grams.

9. A device for recognizing a seat occupancy of a seat, which comprises a system configured and programmed to:

detect at least one measuring signal with a seat occupancy sensor system;

allocate the measuring signal by way of an allocation rule to a weight signal, which is representative of a weight with which the seat is occupied;

adapt the allocation rule by allocating a then-current measuring signal to the weight signal reduced in amount by a predetermined percentage proportion of the weight signal, if the weight signal over the course of time is initially greater than a predetermined upper threshold value and if subsequently the weight signal, during a predetermined first duration, lies in a first weight range about the zero weight value;

adapt the allocation rule by allocating a then-current measuring signal to the weight signal reduced in amount by a predetermined correction value of the weight signal, if the weight signal over the course of time is initially smaller than the predetermined upper threshold value and if subsequently the weight signal lies in a predetermined second weight range about zero weight during a predetermined second duration that is greater than the first duration.