System and method for classifying vehicle occupant

• US 7,991,530 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2008
• Issued: 08/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Inventors: Cho, Young Nam, Kim, Yong Sun
• Primary Examiner(s): Black; Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): LI, CE LI
• Application Number:
  US11/972,342
• Publication Number:
  US 20080312795A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,300 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36, 701/45, 701/49, 340665-667, 340/436, 340/438, 180/271, 180/273, 177/136, 177/144, 177/184, 280/727, 280/730.1, 280/730.2, 280/735, 296/68.1, 297/216.1, 297/216.11, 297/217.1, 297/217.2, 297/217.3, 73/11.3, 738/65
• US Class Current: 701/45
• 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 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means

Abstract

A system and method for classifying a vehicle occupant is disclosed. A base is installed in each of leg frames of a seat of a vehicle. A cover is installed above the base to be spaced apart from the base. Two weight sensors are installed between the base and the cover to support the cover, and configured to measure a load transmitted to the cover by the weight of a vehicle occupant sitting in the seat. A control unit receives load values measured by the weight sensors, and determines whether the vehicle occupant sitting in the seat is an adult or a child based on the received load values. A shock absorption member is interposed between the weight sensors and the base. A stopper is interposed between the base and the cover in order to limit a downward movement range of the cover in a case of overload.

Claims

1. A system for classifying a vehicle occupant comprising:

a base installed in each of leg frames of a seat of a vehicle;

a cover installed above the base to be spaced apart from the base with a predetermined distance;

a first weight sensor and a second weight sensor installed between the base and the cover to support the cover, and configured to measure a load transmitted to the cover by a weight of a vehicle occupant sitting in the seat; and

a control unit configured to receive load values measured by the first and second weight sensors, and determine whether the vehicle occupant sitting in the seat is an adult or a child based on the received load values;

wherein the control unit calculates the weight of the vehicle occupant by multiplying a two-sensor measurement load value set with an optimal independent variable set (X1.sub.k, X2.sub.k) where the optimal independent variable set (X1.sub.k, X2.sub.k) is a variable set that for various types of adult and child dummies, belongs to variable set within a range of a predetermined rational value, by which the two-sensor measurement load value set is multiplied, and maximizes a difference between a minimum weight value of the adult dummies and a maximum weight value of the child dummies.

2. The system for classifying the vehicle occupant as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first weight sensor and the second weight sensor is spaced with a predetermined distance in a longitudinal direction of the cover or the base.

3. The system for classifying the vehicle occupant as set fort in claim 1, wherein a first shock absorption member is interposed between the first weight sensor and the base and a second shock absorption member is interposed between the second weight sensor and the base.

4. The system for classifying the vehicle occupant as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least a stopper is interposed between the base and the cover in order to limit a downward movement range of the cover in a case of overload.

5. The system for classifying the vehicle occupant as set fort in claim 4, wherein a proximate end portion of the stopper is coupled to a lower portion of the cover and the a distal end portion of the stopper is penetrated into a buffer hole of the base, wherein the buffer hole is larger than the diameter of the stopper.

6. The system for classifying the vehicle occupant as set forth in claim 1, wherein the range of the predetermined rational value is from “

0”

to “

2.”

7. The system for classifying the vehicle occupant as set forth in claim 1, wherein the control unit compares the calculated weight value of the vehicle occupant with a threshold value, and classifies the vehicle occupant, where the threshold value is set to an average value of the minimum weight value of adult dummies and the maximum weight value of child dummies.

8. A method of classifying a vehicle occupant sitting in a seat using a system for classifying a vehicle occupant using two weight sensors, the method comprising:

determining a weight of a vehicle occupant by multiplying two-sensor measurement load value set with an optimal independent variable set (X1.sub.k, X2.sub.k) and calculating the sum thereof;

comparing the calculated weight value of the vehicle occupant with a preset threshold value; and

determining whether the vehicle occupant is an adult or a child;

wherein the step of determining the optimal independent variable set (X1.sub.k, X2.sub.k) comprises;

obtaining a first sensor measurement load value set for various weight types of child dummies and a second sensor measurement load value set for various weight types of adult dummies;

presetting a first independent variable set having a range of a predetermined rational value for child dummies and a second independent variable set having a range of a predetermined rational value for adult dummies;

obtaining the child weight data multiplying the first sensor measurement load value set and the first independent variable set of the child dummies, and obtaining the adult weight data multiplying the second sensor measurement load value set and the second independent variable set of the adult dummies; and

determining the optimal independent variable set (X1.sub.k, X2.sub.k) from the preset independent variable sets of child and adult dummies, which maximize a difference between a minimum adult weight value of the adult weight data and a maximum child weight value of the child weight data.

9. The method as set forth in claim 8, wherein the preset threshold value is set to an average value of the minimum adult weight value of adult dummies and the maximum child weight value of child dummies.

10. The method as set forth in claim 8, wherein each element X1.sub.k and X2.sub.k of the optimal independent variable set (X1.sub.k, X2.sub.k) has a range of a predetermined rational value.

11. The method as set forth in claim 10, wherein elements of the optimal independent variable set (X1.sub.k, X2.sub.k) have a relationship of X1.sub.k+X2.sub.k=a predetermined rational value.

12. The method as set forth in claim 8, wherein the predetermined rational value is from “

0”

to “

2”

.