Infrared out-of-position detection system and method for a vehicle restraint system
US6766271B2 · kind B2 · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 28, 2003 |
| Grant date | Jul 20, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 28, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06V40/10
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An improved infrared occupant detection system that provides accurate and reliable occupant intrusion information at a speed sufficient to timely inhibit or otherwise control deployment of occupant restraints. An array of infrared emitters is selectively activated to emit a predetermined pattern of IR beams in an area between the passenger seat and the point of deployment of the restraint, and the reflected IR energy is detected by a photo-sensitive receiver and analyzed to determine whether an occupant is out of position for deployment of the restraint. In the preferred embodiment, the intensity of the received beam energy and the position of the respective beam are used to construct a table of individual intrusion factors, and a composite intrusion factor based on the individual intrusion factors is categorized by magnitude to form an indication of occupant intrusion level, which in turn, is used to determine whether, or how forcefully, to deploy the restraint in the event of a serious crash.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.