Dynamic weight sensing and classification of vehicular occupants

A method for determining weight of an occupying item in a seat of a vehicle while the vehicle is moving, comprising:

• measuring the force applied to the seat at different consecutive times during a time period in which the occupying item is continuously in the seat;
• obtaining a function representative of forces which affect the weight of the occupying item during movement of the vehicle, the step of obtaining the function comprising arranging at least one accelerometer on the vehicle and deriving the function based in part on the effects on the seat caused by the load of a seatbelt associated with the seat when the seatbelt is in use;
• and
• determining the weight of the occupying item based on measured force applied to the seat and the function.

A method for classifying an occupying item in a seat in a vehicle, comprising:

• measuring the force applied to the seat by the occupying item at different times during a time period in which the occupying item is continuously in the seat;
• measuring a force that affects the weight of the occupying item during the time that the occupying item is in the seat;
• and
• identifying the existence of patterns in the consecutive measurements of the force applied to the seat during the time period and analyzing any identified pattern to determine if it approximates a known pattern indicative of an animate object or an inanimate object,
• the step of identifying the existence of patterns comprising the step of utilizing a pattern recognition algorithm to identify patterns in the measurements of the force applied to the seat during the time period and identifying the existence of patterns in the measurements of the force applied to the seat and the measured force.

An arrangement for classifying an occupying item in a seat in a vehicle, comprising:

• at least one force sensor arranged to measure the force applied to the seat at different times during a time period in which the occupying item is continuously in the seat;
• and
• a processor coupled to said at least one force sensor and receiving the force measurements from said at least one force sensor,
• said processor being arranged to analyze the force measurements from said at least one force sensor measured in the time period to determine whether the force measurements vary in a manner indicative of an animate object or an inanimate object.