US6329914B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thickness measurement system and method for vehicle occupant detection
Assignee: Nidec Elesys Americas Corp
•
Filing: 2000-09-29
•
Granted: 2001-12-11
•
Expires: 2020-09-29
Abstract
Abstract A passenger detection system is provided. The passenger detection system utilizes an oscillation circuit that causes an antenna electrode to emit an electric field that is disrupted by the electrical characteristics of an object placed on the seat. This disruption alters the current and phase of the signal in the antenna electrode. By comparing the current flowing in the antenna electrode and/or the difference between the phase of the signal in the antenna electrode and the oscillation circuit output signal with predetermined threshold values, it is possible to detect the presence of a passenger in a reliable and inexpensive manner. The determination is made with a two layer electrode arrangement, including smaller and larger electrodes. The two layers allow calculation of an amount of compression on the seat. The amount of compression is used to characterize the passenger.
Inventors
- 👤 Shiuh-An Shieh
- 👤 James Frederick Kirksey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 09:07
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60K; B60K28/00; B60K28/02; B60K28/04; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/01; B60R21/015; B60R21/01512; B60R21/0153; B60R21/01532; G; G08; G08B; G08B13/00; G08B13/22; G08B13/26; B60W; B60W2540/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
A vehicle passenger detection system for sensing a characteristic of a passenger in a passenger seating area, the system comprising: a vehicle seat having an outer surface adjacent to the passenger seating area; a first electrode connected with a first portion of the vehicle seat a first distance from the outer surface; a second electrode connected with the first portion of the vehicle seat at a second, different distance from the outer surface, the second electrode comprising a smaller area than the first electrode; and a compressible insulator between the first and second electrodes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
94 words
A vehicle passenger detection system for sensing a characteristic of a passenger in a passenger seating area, the system comprising: a vehicle seat having an outer surface adjacent to the passenger seating area; a first electrode connected with a first portion of the vehicle seat a first distance from the outer surface; a second electrode connected with the first portion of the vehicle seat at a second, different distance from the outer surface, the second electrode comprising a smaller area than the first electrode; and a compressible insulator between the first and second electrodes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the first portion comprises a seat base.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising a controller operative to determine the characteristic of the passenger as a function of first and second data from the first electrode associated with the second electrode being connected to ground and with the second electrode floating, respectively.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising a controller operative to determine a weight of the passenger as a function of data from the first electrode.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 4 wherein the controller is operative to determine a distance between the first and second electrodes and the weight is determined as a function of the distance.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the second electrode is opposite the first electrode with a substantially common center.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
11 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the compressible insulator comprises foam.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising a controller operative to determine the characteristic of the passenger as a function of data from the second electrode associated with the first electrode being connected to ground.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 8 wherein the controller is operative to determine a characteristic of weight as a function of the data.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 9 wherein the controller is operative to determine at least one of a load of the passenger and a distance away from the seat of the passenger as a function of a measurement from the first electrode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising a controller operable to determine the presence of a child.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising a third electrode adjacent the first electrode and the first distance from the outer surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 12 further comprising a fourth electrode adjacent the second electrode, the second distance from the outer surface and opposite the third electrode wherein the first electrode is opposite the second electrode and the second and fourth electrodes are electrically connected.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 13 further comprising a controller operate to determine first and second distances associated with the first and third electrodes, respectively.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
90 words
A vehicle passenger detection method for sensing a characteristic of a passenger in a passenger seating area, the method comprising the acts of: (a) connecting a first electrode to ground; (b) measuring a first signal at a second electrode while the first electrode is connected to ground; (c) electrically disconnecting the first electrode; (d) measuring a second signal at the second electrode while the first electrode is electrically disconnected; and (e) determining the characteristic of the passenger in a vehicle seat as a function of the first and second signals.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
90 words
A vehicle passenger detection method for sensing a characteristic of a passenger in a passenger seating area, the method comprising the acts of: (a) connecting a first electrode to ground; (b) measuring a first signal at a second electrode while the first electrode is connected to ground; (c) electrically disconnecting the first electrode; (d) measuring a second signal at the second electrode while the first electrode is electrically disconnected; and (e) determining the characteristic of the passenger in a vehicle seat as a function of the first and second signals.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 15 wherein (e) comprises determining a load of the passenger.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 15 wherein (e) comprises determining a distance away from the vehicle seat of the passenger.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 15 further comprising: (f) sequentially measuring third and fourth signals from at least third and fourth electrodes, respectively; wherein (e) comprises determining the characteristic as a function of the first, second, third and fourth signals.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 18 wherein at least one of the second, third and fourth electrodes is spaced a different distance from an outer surface of the passenger seat than the others of the second, third and fourth electrodes.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 15 further comprising: (f) determining a distance between the first and second electrodes as a function of the first and second signals; wherein the first and second electrodes are separated by a compressible insulator and (e) comprises determining a weight as a function of the distance.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 15 wherein (e) comprises determining a weight of the passenger.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 21 further comprising: (f) controlling activation of an airbag in response to the weight.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
80 words
A vehicle passenger detection method for sensing an effect of a passenger in a passenger seating area, the method comprising the acts of: (a) connecting a first electrode to ground; (b) measuring a first signal at a second electrode while the first electrode is connected to ground, the second electrode separated from the first electrode by a compressible insulator in a vehicle seat; (c) determining a distance between the first and second electrodes as a function of the first signal.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
80 words
A vehicle passenger detection method for sensing an effect of a passenger in a passenger seating area, the method comprising the acts of: (a) connecting a first electrode to ground; (b) measuring a first signal at a second electrode while the first electrode is connected to ground, the second electrode separated from the first electrode by a compressible insulator in a vehicle seat; (c) determining a distance between the first and second electrodes as a function of the first signal.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 23 further comprising: (d) determining a characteristic of the passenger as a function of the distance.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 24 wherein (d) comprises determining a distance of the passenger away from the vehicle seat.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 24 wherein (d) comprises determining a load of the passenger.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 24 wherein (d) comprises determining a weight of the passenger.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 23 further comprising: (d) electrically disconnecting the first electrode from ground; (e) measuring a second signal at the second electrode while the first electrode is disconnected from ground; and (f) determining a characteristic of the passenger as a function of the second signal and the distance.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 28 further comprising: (g) measuring a third signal at a third electrode, the third electrode separated from the second electrode by the compressible insulator; wherein (f) comprises determining the characteristic as a function of the second and third signals and the distance.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 23 further comprising: (d) electrically disconnecting the first electrode from ground; and (e) measuring a second signal at the second electrode while the first electrode is disconnected from ground; wherein (c) comprises determining the distance as a function of the first and second signals.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 27 further comprising: (e) controlling activation of an airbag as a function of the weight.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 23 further comprising: (d) determining a second distance between a third electrode and a fourth electrode.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 32 further comprising: (e) determining first and second load characteristics of the passenger as a function signals from the second and third electrodes, respectively, and the first and second distances, respectively.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
110 words
A vehicle passenger detection system for sensing a characteristic of a passenger in a passenger seating area, the system comprising: an compressible insulator; a plurality of electrodes arranged in at least two layers, the electrodes of one of the at least two layers separated from the electrodes of another of the at least two layers by the compressible insulator; a switch for connecting at least one the plurality of electrodes to ground; and a controller operable to determine a distance between the at least two layers as a function of information received from a first of the plurality of electrodes while a second of the plurality of electrodes is grounded.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
110 words
A vehicle passenger detection system for sensing a characteristic of a passenger in a passenger seating area, the system comprising: an compressible insulator; a plurality of electrodes arranged in at least two layers, the electrodes of one of the at least two layers separated from the electrodes of another of the at least two layers by the compressible insulator; a switch for connecting at least one the plurality of electrodes to ground; and a controller operable to determine a distance between the at least two layers as a function of information received from a first of the plurality of electrodes while a second of the plurality of electrodes is grounded.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 34 wherein the controller is operable to determine the distance as a function of information received from the first electrode while the second electrode is electrically floating.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5404128A
Cited
US5724024A
Cited
US5366241A
Cited
US5844415A
Cited
US5914610A
Cited
US5936412A
Cited
US5802479A
Cited
US6014602A
Cited
US5602734A
Cited
US5691693A
Cited
US6012007A
Cited
US5948031A
Cited
WO1997039920A1
Cited
US5808552A
Cited
US5844486A
Cited
US5878620A
Cited
JPH10236271A
Cited
US6043743A
Cited
WO1999005008A1
Cited
WO2000050261A2
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-12-10 | 2005-06-11 | 2005-12-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-12-10 | 2009-06-11 | 2009-12-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-12-10 | 2013-06-11 | 2013-12-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |