Method of discriminating object on seat

A method of discriminating the state of an object on a vehicle seat, comprising:

• taking a predetermined number samples of a signal and/or signals indicative of seat load;
• provisionally determining that the state of the object is a second state if the taken samples indicate that the seat load exceeds a first load threshold in a manner that meets a first predetermined condition;
• provisionally determining that the state of the object is a first state if the taken samples indicate that the seat load underruns a second load threshold in a manner that meets a second predetermined condition the same as or different than the first predetermined condition, wherein the second load threshold is higher than the first load threshold, and wherein the first state corresponds at least to a first range of seat loads and the second state corresponds to a second range of seat loads, the second range of seat loads including loads that are higher than the loads of the first range of seat loads;
• identifying the first state or the second state as having priority;
• discriminating the state of the object to be the first state if the first state is identified as having priority and if it is provisionally determined that the state of the object is the first state before it is provisionally determined that the state of the object is the second state while taking samples;
• and
• discriminating the state of the object to be the second state if the second state is identified as having priority and if it is provisionally determined that the state of the object is the second state before it is provisionally determined that the state of the object is the first state while taking samples.

An apparatus for discriminating the state of an object on a vehicle seat, comprising:

• a seat weight sensing system;
• a controller configured to receive input signals from the seat weight sensing system indicative of a seat load and configured to take a predetermined number of samples of one or more signals;
• wherein the controller is configured to:
• provisionally determine that the state of the object is a second state if the taken samples indicate that the seat load exceeds a first load threshold in a manner that meets a first predetermined condition;
• provisionally determine that the state of the object is a first state if the taken samples indicate that the seat load is less than a second load threshold in a manner that meets a second predetermined condition the same as or different than the first predetermined condition, wherein the second load threshold is higher than the first load threshold, and wherein the first state corresponds at least to a first range of seat loads and the second state corresponds to a second range of seat loads, the second range of seat loads including loads that are higher than the loads of the first range of seat loads;
• discriminate the state of the object to be the first state if it is provisionally determined that the state of the object is the first state and if it is not provisionally determined that the state of the object is the second state;
• and
• discriminate the state of the object to be the second state if it is provisionally determined that the state of the object is the second state and if it is not provisionally determined that the state of the object is a first state.

An apparatus for discriminating the state of an object on a vehicle seat, comprising:

• a controller adapted to receive input signals from a seat load meter indicative of a seat load and to take a predetermined number of samples of one or more signals;
• wherein the controller is configured to:
• provisionally determine that the state of the object is a second state if the taken samples indicate that the seat load exceeds a first load threshold in a manner that meets a first predetermined condition;
• provisionally determine that the state of the object is a first state if the taken samples indicate that the seat load is less than a second load threshold in a manner that meets a second predetermined condition the same as or different than the first predetermined condition, wherein the second load threshold is higher than the first load threshold, and wherein the first state corresponds at least to a first range of seat loads and the second state corresponds to a second range of seat loads, the second range of seat loads including loads that are higher than the loads of the first range of seat loads;
• identify the first state or the second state as having priority;
• discriminate the state of the object to be the first state if the first state is identified as having priority and if it is provisionally determined that the state of the object is the first state before it is provisionally determined that the state of the object is the second state while taking samples;
• and
• discriminate the state of the object to be the second state if the second state is identified as having priority and if it is provisionally determined that the state of the object is the second state before it is provisionally determined that the state of the object is the first state while taking samples.

An apparatus for discriminating the state of an object on a vehicle seat, comprising:

• a controller adapted to receive input signals from a seat load meter indicative of a seat load and to take a predetermined number of samples of one or more signals;
• wherein the controller is configured to:
• provisionally determine that the state of the object is a second state if the taken samples indicate that the seat load exceeds a first load threshold in a manner that meets a first predetermined condition;
• provisionally determine that the state of the object is a first state if the taken samples indicate that the seat load underruns a second load threshold in a manner that meets a second predetermined condition the same as or different than the first predetermined condition, wherein the second load threshold is higher than the first load threshold, and wherein the first state corresponds at least to a first range of seat loads and the second state corresponds to a second range of seat loads, the second range of seat loads including loads that are higher than the loads of the first range of seat loads;
• provisionally determine that the state of the object is a third state if the taken samples indicate that the seat load exceeds a third load threshold in a manner that meets a third predetermined condition the same as or different than the first predetermined condition or the second predetermined condition, wherein the third load threshold is higher than the first load threshold and the second load threshold, and wherein the third state corresponds at least to a third range of seat loads, the third range of seat loads including loads that are higher than the loads of the first range of seat loads and the second range of seat loads;
• identify priorities for the first state, the second state or the third state, wherein only one state has a highest priority;
• discriminate the state of the object to be the first state if the first state is identified as having the highest priority and if it is provisionally determined that the state of the object is the first state before it is provisionally determined that the state of the object is the second state while taking samples;
• and
• discriminate the state of the object to be the second state if the second state is identified as having the highest priority and if it is provisionally determined that the state of the object is the second state before it is provisionally determined that the state of the object is the first state while taking samples;
• discriminate the state of the object to be the third state if the third state is identified as having the highest priority and if it is provisionally determined that the state of the object is the second state before it is provisionally determined that the state of the object is the first state while taking samples;
• wherein the controller is programmed so that the first predetermined condition is that a number of samples out of the predetermined taken number of samples meets or exceeds a first predetermined value, and that the second predetermined condition is that a number of samples out of the predetermined taken number of samples meets or exceeds a second predetermined value, and that the third predetermined condition is that a number of samples out of the predetermined taken number of samples meets or exceeds a second predetermined value.