Proximity suppression system tester

A system for testing a performance level of an airbag suppression system sensor, which monitors movement of a vehicle passenger into a suppression zone, comprising:

• an occupant model;
• a positioning system that causes controlled movement of said occupant model into the suppression zone;
• and
• a controller that determines a position of said occupant model when the airbag suppression system sensor detects that said occupant model has entered the suppression zone.

A method of testing an airbag suppression system, comprising the steps of:

• moving an occupant model toward a suppression zone;
• determining a first state when said occupant model actually enters said suppression zone;
• determining a second state when a suppression system sensor detects that said occupant model has entered said suppression zone;
• and
• determining a performance factor of said suppression system sensor based on said first state and said second state.

A method of testing an airbag suppression system, comprising the steps of:

• moving an occupant model toward a suppression zone;
• determining a position of said occupant model when the airbag suppression system detects that said occupant model crosses a perimeter of said suppression zone;
• and
• comparing said occupant model position to said suppression zone perimeter.

A system for testing an airbag suppression system sensor, which monitors movement of an vehicle passenger into an suppression zone, comprising:

• an occupant model;
• a positioning system that causes controlled movement of said occupant model into the suppression zone, said positioning system including a rail and an actuator rod mounted to said rail;
• a proximity detector that monitors movement of a position marker mounted on said actuator rod and that generates a first output signal in response thereto;
• and
• a controller that calculates a difference between a change in said first output signal and a change in a second output signal, said second output signal being generated by the suppression system sensor in response to said occupant model moving into the suppression zone.

A system for testing an airbag suppression system sensor, which monitors movement of an vehicle passenger into an suppression zone, comprising:

• an occupant model;
• a positioning system that causes controlled movement of said occupant model into the suppression zone, said positioning system including a rail and an actuator rod mounted to said rail;
• and
• a controller that determines a position of said occupant model when the airbag suppression system sensor detects that said occupant model has entered the suppression zone.