Occupant detection sensor testing apparatus and method
First Claim
1. A testing apparatus for testing whether an occupant detection sensor normally operates, wherein the occupant detection sensor determines an occupant based on a magnitude of electrostatic capacity of the occupant on a seat, the testing apparatus comprising:
- a ground that is an electrically-conductive structural member of the seat;
an electrode plate that is electrically-conductive and is on the seat at a time of testing;
a plurality of capacitors that is electrically connected between the electrode plate and the ground and where each of the plurality of capacitors is different in electrostatic capacity;
a switch mechanism that selects and switches one capacitor of the plurality of capacitors; and
a determination result check portion that determines, while switching the one capacitor by the switch mechanism, whether a signal outputted from the occupant detection sensor is a determination result corresponding to the switched one capacitor.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A testing apparatus for testing whether an occupant detection sensor normally operates is disclosed. The testing apparatus includes: a ground that is an electrically-conductive structural member of the seat; an electrode plate that is electrically-conductive and is on the seat at a time of testing; multiple capacitors that are electrically connected between the electrode plate and the ground and are different in electrostatic capacity from each other; a switch mechanism that selects and switches one capacitor of the multiple capacitors; and a determination result check portion that determines, while switching the one capacitor by the switch mechanism, whether a signal outputted from the occupant detection sensor is a determination result corresponding to the switched one capacitor.
7 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A testing apparatus for testing whether an occupant detection sensor normally operates, wherein the occupant detection sensor determines an occupant based on a magnitude of electrostatic capacity of the occupant on a seat, the testing apparatus comprising:
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a ground that is an electrically-conductive structural member of the seat; an electrode plate that is electrically-conductive and is on the seat at a time of testing; a plurality of capacitors that is electrically connected between the electrode plate and the ground and where each of the plurality of capacitors is different in electrostatic capacity; a switch mechanism that selects and switches one capacitor of the plurality of capacitors; and a determination result check portion that determines, while switching the one capacitor by the switch mechanism, whether a signal outputted from the occupant detection sensor is a determination result corresponding to the switched one capacitor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A testing method for testing whether an occupant detection sensor normally operates, wherein the occupant detection sensor determines an occupant based on magnitude of electrostatic capacity of the occupant on a seat, the testing method comprising:
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preparing a testing apparatus that includes a ground that is an electrically-conductive structural member of the seat, an electrode plate that is electrically-conductive and is on the seat at a time of testing and, and a plurality of capacitors that is electrically connected between the electrode plate and the ground; selecting and switching one capacitor of the plurality of capacitors; and determining, while switching the one capacitor, whether a signal outputted from the occupant detection sensor is a determination result corresponding to the switched one capacitor. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A testing apparatus for testing an occupant detection sensor, which performs an occupant determination operation through detecting an electrostatic capacity of an occupant on a seat, the testing apparatus comprising:
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a ground that is an electrically-conductive structural member of the seat; an electrode plate that is electrically-conductive and is to be put on the seat at a time of testing; a plurality of capacitors that is different in electrostatic capacity from each other; a switch mechanism that selectively connects the ground and the electrode plate via one of the plurality of capacitors; and a test controller that causes the occupant detection sensor to perform a first occupant detection operation while the ground and the electrode plate are being connected via a first capacitor of the plurality of capacitors, causes the occupant detection sensor to perform a second occupant detection operation while the ground and the electrode plate are being connected between the ground and the electrode plate via a second capacitor of the plurality of capacitors, and determines that the occupant detection sensor is normally operative, when (i) the electrostatic capacity detected by the occupant detection sensor in the first occupant detection operation corresponds to the electrostatic capacity of the first capacitor and (ii) the electrostatic capacity detected by the occupant detection sensor in the second occupant detection operation corresponds to the electrostatic capacity of the second capacitor.
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Specification