Method and apparatus for controlling an actuatable restraining device in response to discrete control zones

A method for controlling an occupant restraint system comprising the step of:

• sensing the position of an occupant;
• sensing the weight of the occupant;
• determining in which of a plurality of discrete occupant weight ranges the occupant's sensed weight falls;
• determining in which of a plurality of discrete occupant position ranges the occupant's sensed position falls;
• selecting one of a plurality of discrete predetermined control zones dependant upon both said determined discrete occupant position range and said determined discrete occupant weight range of the occupant;
• providing a control signal based on the selected one of said discrete control zones;
• and
• regulating an occupant restraining function of said occupant restraint system in response to said control signal.

An apparatus for controlling an occupant restraint system, said apparatus comprising:

• position sensing means for sensing position of an occupant;
• weight sensing means for sensing weight of the occupant;
• regulating means operatively connected to an occupant restraining device of the occupant restraint system for regulating an occupant restraining function of said occupant restraining device in response to a control signal;
• and
• control means operatively connected to said position sensing means, to said weight sensing means, and to said regulating means and including (i) means for determining in which of a plurality of discrete occupant weight ranges the occupant's sensed weight falls, and (ii) means for determining in which of a plurality of discrete occupant position ranges the occupant's sensed position falls, said means for determining in which of a plurality of discrete occupant position ranges the occupant's sensed position falls includes means for determining when the occupant is between 0% and about 10% of a maximum possible distance from the vehicle dashboard, when an occupant is more than about 10% and not more than about 30% of the maximum possible distance from the vehicle dashboard, when the occupant is more than about 30% and not more than about 60% of the maximum possible distance from the vehicle dashboard, and when the occupant is more than about 60% of the maximum possible distance from the vehicle dashboard, said control means further including a look-up table having a matrix of occupant characterization blocks, each occupant characterization block being defined by one of said weight ranges and one of said position ranges, said occupant characterization blocks being grouped to define said control zones, said control means selecting one of a plurality of discrete control zones dependant upon both said determined discrete occupant position range and said determined discrete occupant weight range of the occupant and providing said control signal based on the selected one of said discrete control zones.

An apparatus for controlling an occupant restraint system, said apparatus comprising:

• position sensing means for sensing position of an occupant;
• weight sensing means for sensing weight of the occupant, said weight sensing means having a weight sensor in the occupant seat;
• seat back incline sensor for sensing an angle of seat back incline;
• regulating means operatively connected to an occupant restraining device of the occupant restraint system for regulating an occupant restraining function of said occupant restraining device in response to a control signal;
• and
• control means operatively connected to said position sensing means, to said weight sensing means, said seat back incline sensor, and to said regulating means for selecting one of a plurality of discrete control zones dependant upon both said sensed position and said sensed weight of the occupant and for providing said control signal based on the selected one of said discrete control zones, said control means further including means for compensating a value output from said weight sensing means as a function of an output from said seat back incline sensor.

A method for controlling an occupant restraint system comprising the step of:

• sensing the position of an occupant;
• sensing the weight of the occupant;
• determining in which of a plurality of discrete occupant weight ranges the occupant's sensed weight falls;
• determining in which of a plurality of discrete occupant position ranges the occupant's sensed position falls, the step of determining in which of a plurality of discrete occupant position ranges the occupant's sensed position falls includes the steps of determining if the occupant's position is between 0% and about 10% of a maximum possible distance from the vehicle dashboard, determining if the occupant's position is more than about 10% and not more than about 30% of the maximum possible distance from the vehicle dashboard, determining if the occupant's position is more than about 30% and not more than about 60% of the maximum possible distance from the vehicle dashboard, and determining if the occupant's position is more than about 60% of the maximum possible distance from the vehicle dashboard;
• providing a look-up table having a matrix of occupant characterization blocks, each occupant characterization block being defined by one of said weight ranges and one of said position ranges, and grouping said occupant characterization blocks into said control zones;
• regulating an occupant restraining function of said occupant restraint system in response to a control signal;
• selecting one of a plurality of discrete predetermined control zones dependant upon both said determined discrete occupant position range and said determined discrete occupant weight range of the occupant;
• and
• providing said control signal based on the selected one of said discrete control zones.

A method for controlling an occupant restraint system comprising the step of:

• sensing the position of an occupant;
• sensing the weight of the occupant, said step of sensing the weight of the occupant includes mounting a weight sensor in an occupant seat;
• mounting a seat back incline sensor to the occupant seat;
• regulating an occupant restraining function of said occupant restraint system in response to a control signal;
• selecting one of a plurality of discrete predetermined control zones dependant upon both said sensed position and said sensed weight of the occupant;
• and
• providing said control signal based on the selected one of said discrete control zones the step of providing said control signal further including the step of compensating a value output from said weight sensing means as a function of an output from said seat back incline sensor.