Automatic passenger airbag switch
First Claim
1. An airbag deployment apparatus, comprising:
- an airbag deployment device configured to deploy an airbag in a vehicle in a collision event;
a sensor device configured to detect an object situated in a vehicle seat;
a pyroelectric sensor positioned on a ceiling of the vehicle above the vehicle seat, wherein the pyroelectric sensor is configured to detect height information related to the object situated in the vehicle seat by determining a distance between the pyroelectric sensor and a top of the object via infrared rays emitted by the object; and
a processor device configured to activate the airbag deployment device upon determining, from the pyroelectric sensor, that the object situated in the vehicle seat has a height above a height threshold.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques described herein include a system and method for switching an airbag on or off based on determining that an object situated in a vehicle seat meets one or more conditions. In some embodiments, the vehicle seat may be fitted with a weight sensor configured to detect an object situated in the vehicle seat. The system may include a camera device configured to capture image information associated with the object situated in the vehicle seat. The image information may be processed to determine if the object is a person meeting one or more threshold conditions for activating the airbag. Upon processing the image information, the airbag may be provided with instructions to either activate or deactivate.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. An airbag deployment apparatus, comprising:
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an airbag deployment device configured to deploy an airbag in a vehicle in a collision event; a sensor device configured to detect an object situated in a vehicle seat; a pyroelectric sensor positioned on a ceiling of the vehicle above the vehicle seat, wherein the pyroelectric sensor is configured to detect height information related to the object situated in the vehicle seat by determining a distance between the pyroelectric sensor and a top of the object via infrared rays emitted by the object; and a processor device configured to activate the airbag deployment device upon determining, from the pyroelectric sensor, that the object situated in the vehicle seat has a height above a height threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A method of activating and deactivating an airbag deployment device in a vehicle, comprising:
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detecting an object situated in a vehicle seat; activating a pyroelectric sensor positioned on a ceiling of the vehicle above the vehicle seat, wherein the pyroelectric sensor is configured to detect height information related to the object situated in the vehicle seat by determining a distance between the pyroelectric sensor and a top of the object via infrared rays emitted by the object; receiving information from the pyroelectric sensor related to whether the object situated in the vehicle seat has a height above a height threshold; and providing activation instructions to the airbag deployment device, based at least in part on whether the object in the vehicle seat has a height above the height threshold. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5)
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6. A vehicle airbag system, comprising:
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a vehicle seat equipped with one or more weight sensors; an airbag deployment device configured to deploy an airbag to the vehicle seat; a pyroelectric sensor positioned on a ceiling of the vehicle above the vehicle seat, wherein the pyroelectric sensor is configured to detect height information related to the object situated in the vehicle seat by determining a distance between the pyroelectric sensor and a top of the object via infrared rays emitted by the object; a processor device; and a memory including instructions that, when executed by the processor device, cause the vehicle airbag system to, at least; receive information from the pyroelectric sensor related to whether the object situated in the vehicle seat has a height above a height threshold; provide activation instructions to the airbag deployment device, based at least in part on whether the object in the vehicle seat has the height above the height threshold. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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Specification