Weight-responsive vehicle seat occupant detection and classification method and system

A vehicle seat occupant detection and classification system for use in a vehicle seat, said vehicle seat including a seat base configured to receive a seat cushion having at least one seat foam member, the seat base and the seat cushion being provided for supporting a bottom of a seat occupant, the vehicle seat occupant detection and classification system comprising

• at least one weight-responsive sensor, and
• at least one bracket member, serving as a holder for the at least one weight-responsive sensor, wherein in an operational state, the at least one weight-responsive sensor is arranged between the at least one seat foam member and the at least one bracket member,
• wherein the at least one bracket member is fixedly attached to a portion of the seat base at a location below the at least one seat foam member such that a portion of the vehicle seat is configured to come into mechanical interaction with the at least one weight-responsive sensor when a mechanical load corresponding to at least a first pre-determined threshold value is applied by the seat occupant to and being directed towards the at least one weight-responsive sensor, and is configured to change a status of the at least one weight-responsive sensor when a mechanical load corresponding to at least a second pre-determined threshold value is applied,
• wherein a relative movement between the portion of the seat base to which the at least one bracket member is attached and the at least one weight-responsive sensor is at least excluded for applied mechanical loads that are smaller than the first pre-determined threshold value, and
• wherein the at least one bracket member is resiliently deflectable in the direction of the mechanical load that is applied towards at least one of the weight-responsive sensors held by the bracket member when a mechanical load corresponding to the second threshold value is applied.