Occupant detection system

• US 8,193,820 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2009
• Issued: 06/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Nakagawa, Hajime, Ito, Hiroyuki, Yamanaka, Shoichi
• Primary Examiner(s): He, Amy
• Application Number:
  US12/653,318
• Publication Number:
  US 20100171515A1
• Time in Patent Office: 907 Days
• Field of Search: 324/663, 340/562
• US Class Current: 324/663
• 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: B60N 2/0026 for distinguishing between humans, animals or objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/003 characterised by the sensor mounting location in or on the seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/266 with detection or alerting means responsive to presence or absence of children; with detection or alerting means responsive to improper locking or installation of the child seats or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/12 Capacitive; Electric field
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01532 using electric or capacitive field sensors

Abstract

An occupant detection system is a part of a vehicle occupant protection system. The vehicle occupant protection system is enabled to be activated when the occupant detection system determines an ON state indicative of existence of an occupant on a seat. The vehicle occupant protection system is disabled to be activated when the occupant detection system determines an OFF state. The system includes a capacitive sensor which detects the occupant based on a capacitance around the seat. The system determines the ON state or the OFF state based on the detected value of the capacitive sensor and a predetermined threshold value. The system evaluates whether the determination result in the determination block is appropriate or not. Then, the system biases the threshold value to suppress a reversal determination from the determination result which is evaluated as appropriate.

Claims

1. An occupant detection system comprising:

a capacitive sensor that generates a weak electric field between an electrode arranged inside a vehicle seat and a vehicle body, and that outputs current or voltage according to magnitude or change of the weak electric field; and

an electronic control unit that determines an OFF state when value of the current or voltage from the capacitive sensor is lower than a predetermined determination threshold, and that determines an ON state when the value of the current or voltage from the capacitive sensor exceeds the determination threshold, wherein the OFF state prohibits deployment of an air bag, wherein the ON state permits the deployment of the air bag,

wherein the electronic control unit includes;

an evaluation block that calculates a time ratio of the OFF state and the ON state within a predetermined time period, wherein the OFF state and the ON state are determined by the electronic control unit; and

a correction block that changes the determination threshold to a predetermined value according to the time ratio calculated by the evaluation block.

2. The occupant detection system according to claim 1, wherein

the correction block increases the determination threshold to the predetermined value when the time ratio of the OFF state, which is calculated by the evaluation block, is greater than or equal to a predetermined ratio.

3. The occupant detection system according to claim 1, wherein

the correction block decreases the determination threshold to the predetermined value when the time ratio of the ON state, which is calculated by the evaluation block, is greater than or equal to a predetermined ratio.

4. An occupant detection system comprising:

a capacitive sensor that generates a weak electric field between an electrode arranged inside a vehicle seat and a vehicle body, and that outputs current or voltage according to magnitude or change of the weak electric field; and

an electronic control unit that determines an OFF state when value of the current or voltage from the capacitive sensor is lower than a predetermined determination threshold, and that determines an ON state when the value of the current or voltage from the capacitive sensor exceeds the determination threshold, wherein the OFF state prohibits deployment of an air bag, wherein the ON state permits the deployment of the air bag,

wherein the electronic control unit includes;

an evaluation block that determines a continuing state when a determination result of the electronic control unit is changed from the OFF state to the ON state and then changed to the OFF state and then the OFF state is continuously maintained for a predetermined time period; and

a correction block that increases the determination threshold to a predetermined value when the evaluation block determines the continuing state.

5. An occupant detection system comprising:

a capacitive sensor that generates a weak electric field between an electrode arranged inside a vehicle seat and a vehicle body, and that outputs current or voltage according to magnitude or change of the weak electric field; and

an electronic control unit that determines an OFF state when value of the current or voltage from the capacitive sensor is lower than a predetermined determination threshold, and that determines an ON state when the value of the current or voltage from the capacitive sensor exceeds the determination threshold, wherein the OFF state prohibits deployment of an air bag, wherein the ON state permits the deployment of the air bag,

wherein the electronic control unit include;

an evaluation block that determines a continuing state when a determination result of the electronic control unit is changed from the ON state to the OFF state and then changed to the ON state and then the ON state is continuously maintained for a predetermined time period; and

a correction block that decreases the determination threshold to a predetermined value when the evaluation block determines the continuing state.

6. An occupant detection system comprising:

a capacitive sensor that generates a weak electric field between an electrode arranged inside a vehicle seat and a vehicle body, and that outputs current or voltage according to magnitude or change of the weak electric field; and

an electronic control unit that determines an OFF state when value of the current or voltage from the capacitive sensor is lower than a predetermined determination threshold, and that determines an ON state when the value exceeds the determination threshold, wherein the OFF state prohibits deployment of an air bag, wherein the ON state permits the deployment of the air bag,

wherein the electronic control unit includes;

an evaluation block that determines a first continuing state when a determination result of the electronic control unit is changed from the OFF state to the ON state and then changed to the OFF state and then the OFF state is continuously maintained for a predetermined time period, and that determines a second continuing state when the determination result of the electronic control unit is changed from the ON state to the OFF state and then changed to the ON state and then the ON state is continuously maintained for the predetermined time period; and

a correction block that increases the determination threshold to a predetermined value when the evaluation means determines the first continuing state, and that decreases the determination threshold to the predetermined value when the evaluation block determines the second continuing state.