Method and apparatus for preserving calibration data in a vehicle seat occupant detection system

A method of preserving calibration data for use by a seat occupant detection system in a vehicle, the method comprising the steps:

• providing dedicated memory locations for vehicle identification data and seat calibration data in a first rewritable, non-volatile memory within an occupant detection system module within the seat occupant detection system and a second rewritable, non-volatile memory external to the occupant detection system;
• obtaining vehicle identification data from the vehicle;
• determining if there is vehicle identification data in the first rewritable, non-volatile memory;
• if there is vehicle identification data in the first rewritable, non-volatile memory, determining if the vehicle identification data from the vehicle matches the vehicle identification data stored in the first rewritable, non-volatile memory;
• and
• if the vehicle identification data obtained from the vehicle matches the vehicle identification data stored in the first rewritable, non-volatile memory, copying seat calibration data stored in the first rewritable, non-volatile memory to the second rewritable, non-volatile memory.

A vehicle seat calibration data preservation apparatus comprising, in combination:

• a seat member having seat characteristic sensor apparatus;
• an occupant detection system module having a first rewritable, non-volatile memory;
• the seat member and occupant detection system module together comprising a seat occupant detection system;
• and
• a second rewritable, non-volatile memory separately replaceable with respect to the seat member and the occupant detection system module;
• the occupant detection system module further comprising means for:
• (a) obtaining vehicle identification data from the vehicle,
• (b) determining if there is vehicle identification data stored in the first rewritable, non-volatile memory;
• (c) if there is vehicle identification data in the first rewritable, non-volatile memory, determining if the vehicle identification data obtained from the vehicle matches the vehicle identification data stored in the first rewritable, non-volatile memory, and
• (d) if the vehicle identification data obtained from the vehicle matches the vehicle identification data stored in the first rewritable, non-volatile memory, copying seat calibration data stored in the first rewritable, non-volatile memory to the second rewritable, non-volatile memory.