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Automotive occupant sensor system and method of operation by sensor fusion

  • US 5,482,314 A
  • Filed: 04/12/1994
  • Issued: 01/09/1996
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/12/1994
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method for determining whether or not to de-activate a vehicle'"'"'s passenger passive restraint system as a function of a current state value determined by comparing measured signal features to a predetermined set of confidence values and empirical relationships obtained using various known occupancy scenarios and a set of state change criteria, comprising the steps of:

  • (a) sensing the characteristics of occupancy of a particular passenger seat within the vehicle using a plurality of sensors functionally associated with said passenger seat and developing a set of corresponding electrical signals;

    (b) evaluating said electrical signals to determine a plurality of signal features included in each of said signals;

    (c) combining certain ones of said signal features to obtain a plurality of fused features;

    (d) associating said signal features and said fused features with the confidence values and empirical relationships to determine a feature state value;

    (e) identifying the feature state value as the current state value if the set of state change criteria is met; and

    (f) generating a de-activate signal if said current state value is one of a predetermined subset of state values for which said passive restraint system is to be de-activated.

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