# US 7,613,550 B2 · Occupant classifying device for vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,613,550 B2 - Document ID: US7613550B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/165,486 - Filed: 2005-06-24 - Published: 2005-12-29 - Granted: 2009-11-03 - Earliest claimed: 2004-06-24 - Assignees: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Morio Sakai; Masaki Mori - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7613550B2 ## CPC - B60R 21/0152: {using strain gauges} - B60R 2021/01068: {between different sensors and airbag control unit} - B60R 2021/01184: {Fault detection or diagnostic circuits} - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract An occupant classifying device for a vehicle includes a load detection device for detecting a load applied on a vehicle seat, a control device for judging classification of an occupant on the basis of load data inputted from the load detection device, and a communication control portion provided on the control device, the communication control portion for controlling bilateral communication conducted between the load detection device and the control device. The bilateral communication is conducted at different communication speeds on the basis of a communication state of the bilateral communication or an operational state of the control device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An occupant classifying device for a vehicle, comprising: a load detection device for detecting a load applied on a vehicle seat; a control device for judging classification of an occupant on the basis of load data inputted from the load detection device; and a communication control portion provided on the control device, the communication control portion for controlling bilateral communication conducted between the load detection device and the control device; wherein the bilateral communication is conducted at different communication speeds on the basis of a communication state of the bilateral communication or an operational state of the control device, and wherein the load detection device includes plural load detection devices, and the control device controls the communication speed for each of the load detection devices. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The occupant classifying device for the vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a reliability judging portion provided at the control device for judging reliability of the bilateral communication; wherein the communication speed is controlled on the basis of reliability judged at the reliability judging portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The occupant classifying device for the vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the control device controls the bilateral communication to be slower when the reliability judging portion judges that reliability is low compared to a case where the reliability judging portion judges that reliability is high. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The occupant classifying device for the vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the reliability judging portion judges level of the reliability by checking a code added to the load data inputted from the load detection device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The occupant classifying device for the vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the reliability judging portion judges level of the reliability by checking a code added to the load data inputted from the load detection device. ### Claim 6 An occupant classifying device for a vehicle, comprising: a load detection device for detecting a load app lied on a vehicle seat; a control device for judging classification of an occupant on the basis of load data inputted from the load detection device; and a communication control portion provided on the control device for controlling bilateral communication conducted between the load detection device and the control device, wherein the bilateral communication is conducted at different communication speeds on the basis of a communication state of the bilateral communication or an operational state of the control device, and wherein the control device is programmed to have at least a calibration operation for examining and adjusting the load detection device, a safety operation cooperating with a safety device, and normal operation, and the control device controls the communication speed in accordance with each of the operations. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The occupant classifying device for the vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the control device controls the communication speed of the bilateral communication to be higher at the calibration operation than at the normal operation. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The occupant classifying device for the vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the control device controls the communication speed of the bilateral communication to be lower at the safety operation than at the normal operation. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The occupant classifying device for the vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the load detection devices includes plural load detection devices, and the control device controls the communication speed for each of the load detection devices. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The occupant classifying device for the vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the load detection devices includes plural load detection devices, and the control device controls the communication speed for each of the load detection devices. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The occupant classifying device for the vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the control device controls the communication speed of the bilateral communication to be lower at the safety operation than at the normal operation. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The occupant classifying device for the vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the load detection devices includes plural load detection devices, and the control device controls the communication speed for each of the load detection devices. ### Claim 13 (depends on 6) The occupant classifying device for the vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the load detection devices includes plural load detection devices, and the control device controls the communication speed for each of the load detection devices.