Patent · US Expired

System and method for detecting the seat occupancy in a vehicle

US7520529B2 · kind B2 · utility

4Cited by

18References

26Claims

0Family size

Assignee

Siemens Aktiengesellschaft · DE

Inventors

Klaus Hofbeck · Dresden, DE
Birgit Rosel · Regensburg, DE

Key dates

Filing date	Oct 20, 2003
Grant date	Apr 21, 2009
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Sep 18, 2024

Classification

Technology area (CPC G)Physics
CPC primaryG01S13/931
WIPO fieldMeasurement
WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Disclosed is a system for detecting seat occupancy in a vehicle, comprising a microwave transmitter and several reflectors which are provided with a small area and are disposed within a vehicle seat, especially within the backrest of the vehicle seat. A greater or smaller number of reflectors are enabled if a person occupying the seat leans forward, resulting in a jump in intensity each time an additional reflector is enabled. Said jumps in intensity can be used in an advantageous manner for detecting the exact position of the person on the seat. In particular, an airbag can be prevented from deploying and the risks associated therewith can be avoided when the person leans far forward. Alternatively, receivers can be disposed within the seat instead of reflectors.

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