US5948031A — Vehicle passenger sensing system and method

Claim 1

Independent Claim 103 words

A vehicle passenger sensing system comprising: a signal generator for generating an alternating current signal; a first electrode mounted on the vehicle and connected to the signal generator, the first electrode generating an electric field in response to said alternating current signal; a second electrode mounted on the vehicle and spaced from the first electrode such that a first current is generated in the second electrode in response to the electric field and an object in the vehicle; and a controller for measuring the first current, and for generating a restraint system command signal in response to a magnitude of the first current.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 103 words

A vehicle passenger sensing system comprising: a signal generator for generating an alternating current signal; a first electrode mounted on the vehicle and connected to the signal generator, the first electrode generating an electric field in response to said alternating current signal; a second electrode mounted on the vehicle and spaced from the first electrode such that a first current is generated in the second electrode in response to the electric field and an object in the vehicle; and a controller for measuring the first current, and for generating a restraint system command signal in response to a magnitude of the first current.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 67 words

The passenger sensing system according to claim 1, further comprising: a third electrode mounted on the vehicle and spaced from the first and second electrodes such that a second current is generated in the third electrode in response to the electric field and the object; wherein the controller generates the restraint system command signal in response to a comparison between the first current and the second current.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 81 words

The passenger restraint system according to claim 2, wherein the first electrode comprises first and second metal layers separated by an insulating layer, the first metal layer being connected to a signal generator and the second metal layer being electrically isolated; and wherein each of the second and third electrodes comprises third and fourth metal layers separated by an insulation layer, the third metal layer being connected to the controller, and the fourth metal layer being connected to a ground potential.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 44 words

The passenger restraint system according to claim 2, wherein the second electrode is mounted on a base portion of a seat, and the third electrode is mounted on a back support portion of the seat; wherein the object comprises an object in the seat.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 29 words

The system of claim 1 wherein the object comprises a passenger in a seat of the vehicle, and wherein the restraint system command signal comprises an airbag command signal.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 176 words

A passenger restraint system for a vehicle, the passenger restraint system including an airbag control circuit and a passenger sensing system, the airbag control circuit being de-activated in response to a restraint system command signal generated by the passenger sensing system, the passenger sensing system comprising: a signal generator for generating an alternating current signal; a first electrode mounted on the vehicle and connected to the signal generator, the first electrode generating an electric field in response to said alternating current signal; a second electrode mounted on the vehicle and spaced from the first electrode such that a first current is generated in the second electrode in response to the electric field and an object in the vehicle; a third electrode mounted on the vehicle and spaced from the first and second electrodes such that a second current is generated in the third electrode in response to the electric field and the object; a controller for generating the restraint system command signal in response to a predetermined relationship between the first current and the second current.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 176 words

A passenger restraint system for a vehicle, the passenger restraint system including an airbag control circuit and a passenger sensing system, the airbag control circuit being de-activated in response to a restraint system command signal generated by the passenger sensing system, the passenger sensing system comprising: a signal generator for generating an alternating current signal; a first electrode mounted on the vehicle and connected to the signal generator, the first electrode generating an electric field in response to said alternating current signal; a second electrode mounted on the vehicle and spaced from the first electrode such that a first current is generated in the second electrode in response to the electric field and an object in the vehicle; a third electrode mounted on the vehicle and spaced from the first and second electrodes such that a second current is generated in the third electrode in response to the electric field and the object; a controller for generating the restraint system command signal in response to a predetermined relationship between the first current and the second current.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 132 words

A passenger sensing system for a vehicle comprising: a plurality of electrodes mounted on the vehicle; a signal generator for generating an alternating current signal; a controller having an input terminal; and a switching circuit for selectively connecting a first electrode of the plurality of electrodes to the signal source such that the first electrode generates an electric field in response to said alternating current signal, and for selectively connecting a second electrode of the plurality of electrodes to the input terminal of the controller; wherein a portion of the electric field generates a current in the second electrode responsive to an object in the vehicle; and wherein the controller measures the current in the second electrode, and generates a restraint system command signal in response to a magnitude of the current.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 132 words

A passenger sensing system for a vehicle comprising: a plurality of electrodes mounted on the vehicle; a signal generator for generating an alternating current signal; a controller having an input terminal; and a switching circuit for selectively connecting a first electrode of the plurality of electrodes to the signal source such that the first electrode generates an electric field in response to said alternating current signal, and for selectively connecting a second electrode of the plurality of electrodes to the input terminal of the controller; wherein a portion of the electric field generates a current in the second electrode responsive to an object in the vehicle; and wherein the controller measures the current in the second electrode, and generates a restraint system command signal in response to a magnitude of the current.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 26 words

The passenger sensing system according to claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of electrodes comprise first and second metal layers separated by an insulating layer.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 87 words

The passenger sensing system according to claim 7 wherein the first electrode is mounted on a base portion of a seat, and the second electrode is mounted on a back support portion of the seat, wherein the passenger restraint system further comprises a third electrode mounted on the base portion of the seat and spaced from the first electrode, and a fourth electrode mounted on the back portion of the seat and spaced form the second electrode; and wherein the object comprises an object in the seat.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 22 words

The system of claim 7 wherein the object comprises the passenger and the restraint system command signal comprises an airbag command signal.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 126 words

A passenger sensing system for a vehicle comprising: a first electrode mounted on the vehicle, the first electrode being connected to a signal source such that the first electrode generates an electric field in response to an alternating current signal generated by said signal source; a second electrode mounted on the vehicle and spaced apart from the first electrode; and a controller including an input terminal connected to the second electrode, the controller generating a passenger restraint command signal in response to a current generated in the second electrode in response to the electric field generated by the first electrode and in response to an object in the vehicle; wherein the first and second electrodes comprise first and second metal layers separated by an insulating layer.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 126 words

A passenger sensing system for a vehicle comprising: a first electrode mounted on the vehicle, the first electrode being connected to a signal source such that the first electrode generates an electric field in response to an alternating current signal generated by said signal source; a second electrode mounted on the vehicle and spaced apart from the first electrode; and a controller including an input terminal connected to the second electrode, the controller generating a passenger restraint command signal in response to a current generated in the second electrode in response to the electric field generated by the first electrode and in response to an object in the vehicle; wherein the first and second electrodes comprise first and second metal layers separated by an insulating layer.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 78 words

The passenger restraint system according to claim 11, wherein the first electrode comprises the first and second metal layers separated by the insulating layer, the first metal layer being connected to a signal generator and the second metal layer being electrically isolated; and wherein the second electrode comprises third and fourth metal layers separated by an insulation layer, the third metal layer being connected to the controller, and the fourth metal layer being connected to a ground potential.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 22 words

The system of claim 11 wherein the object comprises the passenger and the passenger restraint command signal comprises an airbag command signal.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 88 words

A method for sensing a passenger in a vehicle seat, the method comprising the steps of: transmitting an electric field from a first electrode on the vehicle by applying to said first electrode an alternating current signal generated by a signal source; measuring a first current induced by the electric field in a second electrode on the vehicle, the second electrode being spaced from the first electrode and the first current responsive to a characteristic of the passenger; and comparing the first current with a predetermined current value.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 88 words

A method for sensing a passenger in a vehicle seat, the method comprising the steps of: transmitting an electric field from a first electrode on the vehicle by applying to said first electrode an alternating current signal generated by a signal source; measuring a first current induced by the electric field in a second electrode on the vehicle, the second electrode being spaced from the first electrode and the first current responsive to a characteristic of the passenger; and comparing the first current with a predetermined current value.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 42 words

The method according to claim 14, further comprising: measuring a second current induced by the electric field at a third location on the vehicle, the first, second and third locations being spaced from each other; and comparing the first and second currents.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 63 words

The method according to claim 15, wherein the method further comprises: transmitting an electric field form the second location on the vehicle; measuring a strength of the electric field at the first location on the vehicle; measuring a strength of the electric field at the third location on the vehicle; and comparing the electric field strengths measured at the first and third locations.

Claim 22

Independent Claim 39 words

The method 14 wherein the characteristic is associated with a child in a child seat, and the comparing step comprises comparing the first current with the predetermined current value corresponding to a predetermined child in a child seat value.

Claim 23

Independent Claim 39 words

The method 14 wherein the characteristic is associated with a child in a child seat, and the comparing step comprises comparing the first current with the predetermined current value corresponding to a predetermined child in a child seat value.

Claim 24

Independent Claim 151 words

A method for automatically de-activating an airbag located adjacent a vehicle seat when an occupied rear-facing child safety seat is mounted on the vehicle seat, the method comprising the steps of: generating an electric field over the vehicle seat by applying to a transmitting electrode an alternating current signal generated by a signal source; measuring a first plurality of currents induced by the electric field at a plurality of locations on a base portion of the vehicle seat; measuring a second plurality of currents induced by the electric field at plurality of locations on a back support portion of the vehicle seat; comparing an average of the first plurality of currents with an average of the second plurality of currents; and transmitting a de-activation command signal to an airbag control circuit when the average of the first plurality of currents is greater than the average of the second plurality of currents.

Claim 25

Independent Claim 151 words

A method for automatically de-activating an airbag located adjacent a vehicle seat when an occupied rear-facing child safety seat is mounted on the vehicle seat, the method comprising the steps of: generating an electric field over the vehicle seat by applying to a transmitting electrode an alternating current signal generated by a signal source; measuring a first plurality of currents induced by the electric field at a plurality of locations on a base portion of the vehicle seat; measuring a second plurality of currents induced by the electric field at plurality of locations on a back support portion of the vehicle seat; comparing an average of the first plurality of currents with an average of the second plurality of currents; and transmitting a de-activation command signal to an airbag control circuit when the average of the first plurality of currents is greater than the average of the second plurality of currents.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 43 words

A method to claim 18, wherein the method further compromises: calculating a difference between the first plurality of currents; comparing the calculated difference with a predetermined value; and transmitting the de-activation signal only if the calculated difference is less than the predetermined value.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 44 words

A method according to claim 18, wherein the method further compromises: comparing each of the first plurality of currents with a maximum current value; and transmitting the de-activation signal only if each of the first plurality currents is less than the maximum current value.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2002-09-06	2003-03-08	2003-09-07	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2006-09-06	2007-03-08	2007-09-07	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2010-09-06	2011-03-08	2011-09-07	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Vehicle passenger sensing system and method

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