US5770997A — Vehicle occupant sensing system

Claim 1

Independent Claim 188 words

A system for sensing the presence of an abnormally seated vehicle occupant, which is also known as an out-of-position occupant within a vehicle's passenger compartment comprising: safety restraint means for protecting the occupant during a crash including an air bag module comprising a deployment door which is opened on deployment of an air bag; actuating means for activating the safety restraint means during a collision; first occupant sensing means, fixedly positioned in the vehicle, for generating a first capacitive electric field within the passenger compartment such field having a predetermined, fixed depth and oriented toward a seating location of the occupant and for generating an output signal indicative of the presence of the out-of-position occupant, wherein such output signal is generated only in response to the occupant interacting with the first electric field, the first sensing means being mounted proximate the air bag module and wherein the depth of the first electric field is chosen sufficiently short so that it cannot be interfered with by a normally seated occupant, however such first electric field being sufficiently deep to be interfered with when such occupant is out of position.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 188 words

A system for sensing the presence of an abnormally seated vehicle occupant, which is also known as an out-of-position occupant within a vehicle's passenger compartment comprising: safety restraint means for protecting the occupant during a crash including an air bag module comprising a deployment door which is opened on deployment of an air bag; actuating means for activating the safety restraint means during a collision; first occupant sensing means, fixedly positioned in the vehicle, for generating a first capacitive electric field within the passenger compartment such field having a predetermined, fixed depth and oriented toward a seating location of the occupant and for generating an output signal indicative of the presence of the out-of-position occupant, wherein such output signal is generated only in response to the occupant interacting with the first electric field, the first sensing means being mounted proximate the air bag module and wherein the depth of the first electric field is chosen sufficiently short so that it cannot be interfered with by a normally seated occupant, however such first electric field being sufficiently deep to be interfered with when such occupant is out of position.

Claim 3

Independent Claim 159 words

A system for sensing the presence of an abnormally seated vehicle occupant, which is also know as an out-of-position occupant within a vehicle's passenger compartment comprising: safety restraint means for protecting the occupant during a crash including an air bag module comprising a deployment door which is opened on deployment of an air bag; actuating means for activating the safety restraint means during a collision; first occupant sensing means, fixedly positioned in the vehicle, for generating a first capacitive electric field within the passenger compartment such field having a predetermined, fixed depth and oriented toward a seating location of the occupant and for generating an output signal indicative of the presence of the out-of-position occupant, and wherein the depth of the first electric field is chosen sufficiently short so that it cannot be interfered with by a normally seated occupant, however such first electric field being sufficiently deep to be interfered with when such occupant is out of position.

Claim 4

Independent Claim 159 words

A system for sensing the presence of an abnormally seated vehicle occupant, which is also know as an out-of-position occupant within a vehicle's passenger compartment comprising: safety restraint means for protecting the occupant during a crash including an air bag module comprising a deployment door which is opened on deployment of an air bag; actuating means for activating the safety restraint means during a collision; first occupant sensing means, fixedly positioned in the vehicle, for generating a first capacitive electric field within the passenger compartment such field having a predetermined, fixed depth and oriented toward a seating location of the occupant and for generating an output signal indicative of the presence of the out-of-position occupant, and wherein the depth of the first electric field is chosen sufficiently short so that it cannot be interfered with by a normally seated occupant, however such first electric field being sufficiently deep to be interfered with when such occupant is out of position.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 77 words

A safety restraint system as recited in claim 2 where the safety restraint device includes at least one multiple level output generation means including at least one inflator to protect an occupant during a collision; wherein an electronic control means is responsive to a combination of inputs from the occupant sensing means and from an acceleration sensor to regulate the output or rate of output of the multiple gas level output generation means to improve occupant protection.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 82 words

A safety restraints system as recited in claim 2 wherein the safety restraint device includes at least one seat belt pretensioner coupled to at least one seat belt system attached to one of seat belt retractors or seat belt buckles to protect an occupant during a collision; wherein electronic control means is responsive to a combination of inputs from the occupant sensor(s) and an acceleration sensor to regulate the output or rate of output of the pretensioner means to improve occupant protection.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 25 words

An air bag system as recited in claim 2 wherein the first occupant sensing means is in the deployment door of the air bag module.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 91 words

A safety restraint system as recited in claim 2 further including; a second occupant sensing means for generating a second capacitive electric field within the passenger compartment, wherein the depth of the second electric field does not overlap the first electric field, the second occupant sensing means positioned such that the second electric field extends directly across the location assumed by the occupant when such occupant is in a normal seated position and for generating a second control signal indicative of whether the occupant is present in the normal seating position.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 40 words

A safety restraint system as recited in claim 6 wherein the first occupant sensing means is in a vehicle's steering wheel for out-of-position driver detection or in the instrument panel near a passenger module for out-of-position detection of the passenger.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 66 words

The system as defined in claim 2 including crash sensor means coupled to electronic control means for sensing an actual or impending crash and for generating an output signal indicative thereof; electronic control means reactive to a combination of the output signal from the crash sensor means and occupant sensor means for determining whether or not to generate a signal to activate the safety restraint means.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 59 words

The system as defined in claim 8 wherein the electronic control means includes means for comparing the output of the first occupant sensing means to a first reference level indicative of an out-of-position occupant and for activating the activation means at a lower power level if the output of the first occupant sensing means exceeds the first reference level.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 67 words

A safety restraint system as recited in claim 2 further including; a second occupant sensing means for generating a capacitive second electric field of fixed, predetermined depth within the passenger compartment wherein such second electric field overlaps the first electric field generated by the first occupant sensing means for generating an output signal during a situations in which an occupant is present in a normal seating position.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 36 words

The system as defined in claim 10 wherein the second occupant sensing means is located in a seat back with its electric field directly forward to be interacted or interfered with by the normally seated occupant.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 35 words

The system as defined in claim 10 wherein the second occupant sensing means is located in a vehicle door with its electric field extending outwardly from the door to interact with the normally seated occupant.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 55 words

The system as defined in claim 10 including electronic control means which includes means for comparing the output of the second occupant sensing means to a second reference level indicative of an occupant normally seated and for activating the activation means if the output of the first occupant sensing means exceeds the first reference level.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2001-06-22	2001-12-22	2002-06-23	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2005-06-22	2005-12-22	2006-06-23	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2009-06-22	2009-12-22	2010-06-23	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Vehicle occupant sensing system

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