Method for establishing the occupation of a vehicle seat

US7567184B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft · DE

Inventors

• Volkmar Betz · Jena, DE
• Thomas Stifter · Trier, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 15, 2004
• Grant date: Jul 28, 2009
• Expiry date: Dec 31, 2024

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B60R21/01516
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for differentiating between people and other objects on vehicle seats, by recording and evaluating the pressure distribution caused on the seat by said people and objects, the mean deviation of the signal at a certain position in relation to the mean signal of the adjacent region enabling the differentiation between people and other objects to be made. The invention is advantageous in that only few criteria are required and the criteria are not bound to any specific sensor structures (metrical, discrete etc.). Furthermore, where required, the individual criteria need only be combined in a simple manner.