Vehicle occupant weight classification system
First Claim
1. A method for determining vehicle occupant characteristics comprising the steps of:
- (a) supporting a plurality of sensors in a seat structure;
(b) generating a signal from each of the sensors in response to an occupant interacting with the seat structure;
(c) dividing the seat structure into a plurality of zones with each zone including at least one of the sensors;
(d) assigning at least one reference cell to each zone;
(e) determining an information factor for the sensors by establishing a virtual sensor matrix;
(f) comparing the signals from each of the sensors to the information factor; and
(g) applying a correction factor by compiling the signals from the sensors in each zone into the respective reference cell, generating a zone signal from each reference cell, and mapping the zone signals into the virtual sensor matrix.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle occupant classification system categorizes vehicle occupants into various classes such as adult, child, infant, etc. to provide variable control for a vehicle restraint system such as an airbag. The classification system utilizes sensors that are installed in various locations in the vehicle. The sensors are used to generate a three-dimensional profile for the vehicle occupant. Various factors can affect the accuracy of this three-dimensional profile. Fuzzy logic is used to reduce some of the inaccuracies by providing multiple decision levels for various stages of the classification. Inaccuracies are also caused by sensors shifting within the system from their original position. This condition creates offset and the system evaluates this offset and generates a correction factor to provide a more accurate three-dimensional profile. Electrically erasable programmable read-only memory is used to reduce complications and inaccuracies associated with seat occupant weight sensors that have mounting configurations that vary depending upon the vehicle.
57 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for determining vehicle occupant characteristics comprising the steps of:
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(a) supporting a plurality of sensors in a seat structure;
(b) generating a signal from each of the sensors in response to an occupant interacting with the seat structure;
(c) dividing the seat structure into a plurality of zones with each zone including at least one of the sensors;
(d) assigning at least one reference cell to each zone;
(e) determining an information factor for the sensors by establishing a virtual sensor matrix;
(f) comparing the signals from each of the sensors to the information factor; and
(g) applying a correction factor by compiling the signals from the sensors in each zone into the respective reference cell, generating a zone signal from each reference cell, and mapping the zone signals into the virtual sensor matrix. - View Dependent Claims (2, 10, 13, 14, 15)
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3. A method for determining vehicle occupant characteristics comprising the steps of:
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(a) supporting a plurality of occupant sensors in a seat structure;
(b) generating an initial set of occupant signals from the occupant sensors having a predefined sensor arrangement with known sensor calibrated values;
(c) dividing the seat structure into a plurality of zones with each zone including at least one of the occupant sensors;
(d) assigning at least one reference cell to each zone, compiling signals from the occupant sensors in each zone into the respective reference cell, and generating a reference cell output from each reference cell;
(e) determining an information factor for the occupant sensors based on the known sensor calibrated values;
(f) generating a plurality of operational occupant signals from each occupant sensor over time that correspond to a plurality of different occupant configurations and generating a plurality of three dimensional profiles based on the different occupant configurations;
(g) comparing the three dimensional profiles to the information factor; and
(h) applying a correction factor based on reference cell output from each reference cell in step (d) to generate a corrected three dimensional profile if the three-dimensional profile varies from the information factor by a predetermined amount. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 16)
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9. A system for determining vehicle occupant characteristics comprising:
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a seat bottom divided into a plurality of zones;
a plurality of sensors mounted within said seat bottom with each zone including at least one sensor wherein each sensor generates a sensor output signal;
a plurality of reference cells with one reference cell being associated with one zone wherein each of said reference cells compiles the sensor output signals for all of said sensors mounted within said respective zone;
a control unit for generating a three dimensional profile representing an occupant position wherein said control unit corrects the three dimensional profile based on output from the reference cells. - View Dependent Claims (12, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification