System and method of occupant sensing
AssigneeTRW Inc.
InventorEdward J. Gillis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system (11) and method determine a vehicle occupant characteristic. A plurality of sensors (50) sense a parameter and output a parameter indicative signal. The sensors (50) are arranged in a plurality of groups (e.g., A-F), with each sensor of a group sensing a similar parameter value. A controller (16) utilizing only a portion of the sensors within each group to make a determination regarding the occupant characteristic.
Claims30
A system for determining a vehicle occupant characteristic, said system comprising:
- a plurality of sensors for sensing a parameter and outputting a parameter indicative signal, said sensors being arranged in a plurality of groups, with each sensor of a group sensing a similar parameter value;
- and
- determination means for utilizing only a portion of said sensors within each group to make a determination regarding the occupant characteristic.
A system for determining a vehicle occupant weight-related characteristic, said system comprising:
- a plurality of weight sensors, each for sensing an applied force and for outputting a signal indicative of the sensed force, said plurality of sensors being located to sense applied force at a plurality of areas of a vehicle seat;
- and
- means for utilizing the force indicative signals from only a portion of said sensors to derive an indication of the occupant weight-related characteristic.
A method for determining a vehicle occupant characteristic, said method comprising:
- arranging a plurality of sensors that sense a parameter into a plurality of groups, with each sensor of a group sensing a similar parameter value and outputting a parameter indicative signal;
- and
- utilizing only a portion of the sensors within each group to make a determination regarding the occupant characteristic.
A system for determining an occupant weight-related characteristic, said system comprising:
- a plurality of weight sensors located within a vehicle seat, each of said sensors sensing an applied force land outputting a signal indicative of the sensed force;
- and
- a controller that groups the plurality of sensors into a plurality of sensor sets;
- wherein said controller samples the output of an Nth sensor in at least one set prior to sampling the output of an Nth+1 sensor in another set.
A system for determining an occupant weight-related characteristic, said system comprising:
- a plurality of weight sensors located within a vehicle seat, each of said sensors sensing an applied force and outputting a signal indicative of the sensed force;
- and
- a controller that groups the plurality of sensors into a plurality of sensor sets;
- wherein said controller samples the output of an Nth sensor in each set prior to sampling the output of an Nth+1 sensor in any one set.
A method for determining an occupant weight-related characteristic, said method comprising:
- grouping a plurality of sensors located within a vehicle seat into a plurality of sensor sets, each of the sensors sensing an occupant characteristic and outputting a signal indicative of the sensed occupant characteristic;
- and,
- sampling the output of an Nth sensor in each set prior to sampling the output of an Nth+1 sensor in another set.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.