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Patent US6290255B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6290255B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Occupant detection system
Assignee: Automotive Systems Laboratory Inc
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Filing: 1999-04-19
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Granted: 2001-09-18
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Expires: 2019-04-19
Abstract
Abstract An occupant detection system ( 10 ) for controlling the activation of an air bag inflator module ( 16 ) incorporates radar module ( 12 ), the activation of which is responsive to an activation sensor responsive to either the likelihood of a crash or to the likelihood of injury from the air bag inflator module ( 16 ) as a result of proximity thereto. In one embodiment, responsive to a potential crash, the air bag inflator module activates the radar module ( 12 ) for a period of time to sense if an occupant is within the at-risk zone of the air bag inflator module. In another embodiment, the activation of the radar module ( 12 ) is responsive to a continuously active range/proximity sensor ( 22 ). The air bag inflator is disabled if an occupant is detected with in the at-risk zone of the air bag inflator module ( 16 ).
Inventors
- 👤 James Gregory Stanley
- 👤 Robert Anthony Stopper, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 08:22
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/01; B60R21/015; B60R21/01512; B60R21/0153; B60R21/01536; B60R21/01532; B60R21/01534; B60R21/01566; B60R21/02; B60R21/16; B60R21/20; B60R21/215
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of detecting an occupant in a vehicle and for controlling the actuation of a safety restraint system responsive thereto, comprising: a. detecting a condition for which the safety restraint system should not be deployed, wherein the operation of detecting a condition for which the safety restraint system should not be deployed comprises sensing the proximity of an occupant to a region within which said occupant is at risk of injury by the safety restraint system; b. controlling the activation of a sensor for sensing the position of an occupant responsive to said operation of detecting a condition for which the safety restraint system should not be deployed; and c. controlling the safety restraint system responsive to the sensed position of said occupant.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of detecting an occupant in a vehicle and for controlling the actuation of a safety restraint system responsive thereto, comprising: a. detecting a condition for which the safety restraint system should not be deployed, wherein the operation of detecting a condition for which the safety restraint system should not be deployed comprises sensing the proximity of an occupant to a region within which said occupant is at risk of injury by the safety restraint system; b. controlling the activation of a sensor for sensing the position of an occupant responsive to said operation of detecting a condition for which the safety restraint system should not be deployed; and c. controlling the safety restraint system responsive to the sensed position of said occupant.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method of detecting an occupant in a vehicle and for controlling the actuation of a safety restraint system responsive thereto in claim 1 , wherein the operation of sensing the proximity of an occupant to said region comprises sensing the occupant.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method of detecting an occupant in a vehicle and for controlling the actuation of a safety restraint system responsive thereto as recited in claim 2 , wherein the operation of sensing the proximity sensor selected from the group consisting of a capactive sensor, a vision sensor, and a passive infrared sensor.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
151 words
A method of detecting an occupant in a vehicle and for controlling the actuation of a safety restraint system responsive thereto, comprising: a. sensing with a first sensor the proximity of an occupant to a region within which said occupant is at risk of injury by the safety restraint system; b. if said occupant is in proximity to a region so as to be at risk of injury by the safety restraint system, then in response to said proximity of said occupant, sensing with a second sensor that is normally inactive the position of said occupant; c. communicating said position to a controller for controlling the safety restraint system; and d. controlling the safety restraint system responsive to said position, wherein if said position corresponds to a position for which said occupant is at risk of injury by the safety restraint system, then reducing the power of the safety restraint system.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
151 words
A method of detecting an occupant in a vehicle and for controlling the actuation of a safety restraint system responsive thereto, comprising: a. sensing with a first sensor the proximity of an occupant to a region within which said occupant is at risk of injury by the safety restraint system; b. if said occupant is in proximity to a region so as to be at risk of injury by the safety restraint system, then in response to said proximity of said occupant, sensing with a second sensor that is normally inactive the position of said occupant; c. communicating said position to a controller for controlling the safety restraint system; and d. controlling the safety restraint system responsive to said position, wherein if said position corresponds to a position for which said occupant is at risk of injury by the safety restraint system, then reducing the power of the safety restraint system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method of detecting an occupant in a vehicle and for controlling the actuation of a safety restraint system responsive thereto as recited in claim 4 , wherein the operation of reducing the power of the safety restraint system comprises disabling the safety restraint system.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
64 words
A method of detecting an occupant in a vehicle and for controlling the actuation of a safety restraint system responsive thereto as recited in claim 4 , further comprising the operation of disabling said second sensor responsive to a condition selected from the group consisting of the expiration of a period of time and the occurrence of said acceleration being less than a threshold.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-09-17 | 2005-03-19 | 2005-09-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-09-17 | 2009-03-19 | 2009-09-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-09-17 | 2013-03-19 | 2013-09-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |