Weighing apparatus, apparatus for detecting auxiliary-seat mounting direction, person-on-board protecting apparatus, and apparatus for giving warning about seating condition

A person-on-board protecting apparatus comprising:

• ignition timing estimating circuit that determines a collision according to an output from an acceleration sensor, estimates an estimated time after the collision at which a head of a person on board reaches a predetermined position, and outputs an ignition signal based on the estimated time,
• expansion rate control circuit that outputs a control signal for controlling an expansion rate of an air bag according to a head position of the head of the person on board, and
• an inflator having a plurality of detonators,
• wherein ignition modes of the plurality of detonators are controlled according to the ignition signal from the ignition timing estimating circuit and the control signal from the expansion rate control circuit.

A person protecting apparatus, which assists in protecting a person traveling in a vehicle in the event of a collision of the vehicle, comprising:

• a moving distance estimating circuit that estimates a moving distance that a head of the person will move during a period of time after the collision and that outputs a corresponding moving distance signal;
• a head distance determining circuit that determines an initial distance between the head of the person and a predetermined position before the collision and that outputs at least one ignition timing signal and at least one inflation rate control signal based on the initial distance;
• an ignition signal generating circuit that inputs the moving distance signal and the ignition timing signal and outputs an ignition signal at an ignition time based the ignition timing signal and the moving distance signal;
• and
• an inflator circuit comprising a plurality of detonators, wherein the inflator circuit inflates an airbag at the ignition time based on the ignition signal and wherein the inflator circuit selectively detonates the detonators based on the inflation rate control signal to control an inflation rate of the air bag.