Occupant detection system
US6968073B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 24, 2002 |
| Grant date | Nov 22, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 14, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB60R21/01538
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An eye-safe light curtain is generated by a plurality of LED's illuminating a cylindrical lens having a corrugated cylindrical surface. A camera generates a first image of an avoidance zone boundary of an air bag inflator with the light curtain off, and a second image of with the light curtain on along the avoidance zone boundary. The first image is subtracted from the second image, and the resulting difference image is binned to enhance signal strength. A penetration of the avoidance zone is classified from features of the leading edge of the binned image, and the air bag inflator is disabled if the avoidance zone is penetrated by an occupant at risk of injury from the deployment thereof. An image of the light curtain may be recovered for high ambient lighting conditions by adapting the exposure time of the camera responsive to the percentage of pixels in a mask region of the first image having values exceeding a threshold.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.