Load object determination apparatus

A load object determination apparatus comprising:

• a load detection part installed at a supporting part at either one of two opposite sides among a plurality of the supporting parts that support a seat of a vehicle, the load detection part detecting a load exerted on the supporting part;
• a load correction part that corrects the load detected by the load detection part according to each of inclinations of the vehicle in the two opposite sides;
• and
• a determination part that at least determines whether the load object on the seat is an adult or other than an adult including a lashed child seat, using a corrected load as a load for determination when the load corrected by the load correction part is available and using as the load for determination the load detected by the load detection part when the load corrected by the load correction part is not available, a plurality of times of a predetermined timing during a period of time from turning on an ignition of the vehicle to turning off the ignition, and determines that the load object on the seat is an adult at least when the load for determination is greater than or equal to a first threshold and determines that the load object on the seat is other than an adult at least when the load for determination is less than a second threshold that is set to be less than the first threshold, wherein
• the determination part determines that the load object on the seat is other than an adult at least when the load for determination is less than a third threshold within a predetermined period of time starting from the turning on the ignition of the vehicle, the third threshold being set to be less than or equal to the first threshold and greater than the second threshold.

A load object determination apparatus comprising:

• a load detection part installed at a supporting part at either one of left and right sides or either one of front and rear sides from among a plurality of the supporting parts that support a seat of a vehicle, the load detection part detecting a load exerted on the supporting part;
• a travel state detection part that detects whether the vehicle is in a traveling state;
• and
• a determination part that determines at least whether the load object on the seat is an adult or other than an adult including a lashed child seat a plurality of times of a predetermined timing during a period of time from turning on an ignition of the vehicle to turning off the ignition, and determines that the load object on the seat is an adult at least when the load for determination is greater than or equal to a first threshold and determines that the load object on the seat is other than an adult at least when the load for determination is less than a second threshold that is set to be less than the first threshold, wherein
• the determination part determines that the load object on the seat is other than an adult at least when the load detected by the load detection part is less than a third threshold in a predetermined number of times of a period of time from a start of travelling of the vehicle to a stop of the travelling after the turning on of the ignition of the vehicle, the third threshold being set to be less than or equal to the first threshold and greater than the second threshold.