Occupant sensing apparatus with load dispersion limiting

Occupant sensing apparatus for a vehicle seat having a foam seat cushion with a bottom surface supported by a seat frame and a top surface for supporting a seat occupant, the sensing apparatus comprising:

• at least one pressure-responsive sensor disposed between the bottom surface of the foam seat cushion and the seat frame;
• means including at least one air channel extending from the bottom surface of the foam seat cushion toward the top surface of the foam seat cushion over a distance of approximately 30% of a thickness of the foam seat cushion for limiting lateral dispersion of occupant seat loading in the foam seat cushion, said air channel being laterally offset with respect to the sensor to effectively isolate the sensor from occupant seat loading laterally outside of the air channel;
• and
• a processor for discriminating among seat occupants based on a signal produced by the sensor.