Method and apparatus for controlling deployment of a side airbag

An arrangement for controlling deployment of a side airbag from an airbag module to protect an occupant in a seat of a vehicle in a crash, comprising

• determining means for determining whether an occupant is present in the seat, and
• a control circuit coupled to said determining means for controlling deployment of the side airbag based on whether an occupant is present in the seat,
• said determining means comprising at least one receiver adapted to receive waves from a space above a seat portion of the seat and a processor coupled to said at least one receiver for generating a signal representative of the presence or absence of an occupant in the seat based on the waves received by said at least one receiver,
• said at least one receiver being capable of receiving electromagnetic waves.

A method for controlling deployment of a side airbag from an airbag module to protect an occupant in a seat of a vehicle in a crash, comprising the steps of:

• determining the position of at least a part of the occupant, and
• controlling deployment of the side airbag based on the determined position of the at least a part of the occupant,
• the step of determining the position of at least a part of the occupant comprising the steps of:
• transmitting waves into the space above the seat portion of the seat;
• receiving waves from a space above a seat portion of the seat;
• and
• generating a signal representative of the position of the at least a part of the occupant based on the received waves.

A method for controlling deployment of a side airbag from an airbag module to protect an occupant in a seat of a vehicle in a crash, comprising the steps of:

• determining whether an occupant is present in the seat, and
• controlling deployment of the side airbag based on the presence or absence of an occupant in the seat,
• the step of determining whether an occupant is present in the seat comprising the steps of:
• transmitting waves into the space above the seat portion of the seat;
• receiving waves from a space above a seat portion of the seat;
• and
• generating a signal representative of the presence or absence of an occupant in the seat based on the received waves.

An arrangement for controlling deployment of a side airbag from an airbag module to protect an occupant in a seat of a vehicle in a crash, comprising

• determining means for determining the position of at least a part of the occupant, and
• a control circuit coupled to said determining means for controlling deployment of the side airbag based on the determined position of the at least a part of the occupant,
• said determining means comprising:
• a transmitter adapted to transmit waves into the space above the seat portion of the seat,
• at least one receiver adapted to receive waves from a space above a seat portion of the seat, said at least one receiver being arranged to receive the waves transmitted by said transmitter;
• and
• a processor coupled to said at least one receiver for generating a signal representative of the position of the at least a part of the occupant based on the waves received by said at least one receiver.

An arrangement for controlling deployment of a side airbag from an airbag module protect an occupant in a seat of a vehicle in a crash, comprising

• determining means for determining whether an occupant is present in the seat, and
• a control circuit coupled to said determining means for controlling deployment of the side airbag based on whether an occupant is present in the seat,
• said determining means comprising:
• a transmitter adapted to transmit waves into the space above the seat portion of the seat;
• at least one receiver adapted to receive waves from a space above a seat portion of the seat, said at least one receiver being arranged to receive the waves transmitted by said transmitter;
• and
• a processor coupled to said at least one receiver for generating a signal representative of the presence or absence of an occupant in the seat based on the waves received by said at least one receiver.

A method for controlling deployment of a side airbag from an airbag module to protect an occupant in a seat of a vehicle in a crash, comprising the steps of:

• determining the position of at least a part of the occupant, and
• controlling deployment of the side airbag based on the determined position of the at least a part of the occupant,
• the step of determining the position of at least a part of the occupant comprising the steps of:
• receiving waves from a space above a seat portion of the seat;
• and
• generating a signal representative of the position of the at least a part of the occupant based on the received waves;
• the step of receiving waves comprising the step of arranging a receiver capable of receiving electromagnetic waves in the vehicle in a position to receive electromagnetic waves from the space above the seat portion of the seat.

A method for controlling deployment of a side airbag from an airbag module to protect an occupant in a seat of a vehicle in a crash, comprising the steps of:

• determining whether an occupant is present in the seat, and
• controlling deployment of the side airbag based on the presence or absence of an occupant in the seat,
• the step of determining whether an occupant is present in the seat comprising the steps of:
• receiving waves from a space above a seat portion of the seat;
• and
• generating a signal representative of the presence or absence of an occupant in the seat based on the received waves,
• the step of receiving waves comprising the step of arranging a receiver capable of receiving electromagnetic waves in the vehicle in a position to receive electromagnetic waves from the space above the seat portion of the seat.