Method and apparatus for sensing a rearward facing child seat

• US 5,683,103 A
• Filed: 10/21/1996
• Issued: 11/04/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Bayley, Gregory S., Mazur, Joseph F., Blackburn, Brian K., Gentry, Scott B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P.
• Application Number:
  US08/734,485
• Time in Patent Office: 379 Days
• Field of Search: 280/735, 180/271, 180/273, 340/425.5, 340/438, 340/457.1, 340/457, 340/666, 340/667, 340/903, 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 364/424.05
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2806 for securing the child seat to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2863 backward facing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01534 using electromagneticwaves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01536 using ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01556 Child-seat detection systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01566 Devices for warning or indicating mode of inhibition
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0173 Diagnostic or recording means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/087 flux-sensitive, e.g. magnetic, detectors G06K7/10336 takes precedence

Abstract

An apparatus (20) for preventing actuation of an air bag restraining device (90) of a vehicle includes a sensor (24, 26) that senses the presence of a child restraining seat (40) on an occupant seat (30) of the vehicle. A controller (22) is operatively connected to the sensor (24, 26) and to the air bag restraining device (90) for controlling actuation of the air bag and preventing actuation of the air bag when the sensor (24, 26) senses the child restraining seat (40) on the occupant seat (30).

Claims

1. An apparatus for warning of a rearward facing child restraining seat in a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

sensing means for sensing the rearward facing child restraining seat in the vehicle; and

warning means operatively coupled to said sensing means for providing a warning indication upon detection of said rearward facing child restraining seat.

2. A method for warning of a rearward facing child restraining seat in a vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:

sensing the rearward facing child restraining seat; and

providing a warning indication when the rearward facing child restraining seat is sensed.