Patent · US Expired

Occupant determination apparatus and occupant determination method

US7271730B2 · kind B2 · utility

12Cited by
3References
58Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 1, 2003
Grant dateSep 18, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 25, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB60N2230/30
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An occupant determination apparatus and an occupant determination method accurately determine a size of an occupant, with a simple configuration where a plurality of electrodes are arranged on one layer, and eliminate errors due to the capacitance between an occupant and surrounding car-body metal parts or the like, and thus suppress erroneous determination. The apparatus includes a sensor having a plurality of seat section electrodes arranged on a sitting section, and a determination section. The determination section includes an oscillator, a capacitance detecting section which detects the current flowing through a seat section electrode in order to detect the capacitance, a switching circuit which switches the connection of the capacitance detecting section to the seat section electrode, and a controlling section which outputs a switch control signal.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.