Occupant determination apparatus using load sensor
US9541446B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 21, 2014 |
| Grant date | Jan 10, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 9, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01G19/4142
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An occupant determination apparatus includes a load sensor and a determination section. The load sensor detects a load of an occupant seated in a seat of a vehicle to provide the detected load as a load signal. The determination section determines presence or absence of the occupant and a physical size of the occupant by classifying the load signal into a subject class among a plurality of classes that are ordered from small to large according to the physical sizes based on predetermined threshold loads. The subject class is stored as a determined class. The determination section permits the determined class to transition from a present class to an immediately adjacent larger class when the load signal equal to or larger than a threshold load between the present class and the immediately adjacent larger class continues being received for a threshold time.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.