US6520535B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Occupant detection system
Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Acquisition LLC
•
Filing: 1999-12-29
•
Granted: 2003-02-18
•
Expires: 2019-12-29
Abstract
Abstract An occupant detection system comprises an electric field sensor in the seat bottom of a vehicle seat for discriminating objects on the seat, and a range/proximity sensor for sensing the presence of an object proximate to a restraint actuator. The electric field sensor discriminates normally seated occupants from other seating conditions, and disables a restraint actuator unless a normally seated occupant is present. The range/proximity sensor disables the restraint actuator if an occupant is located in an at-risk so as to be susceptible to injury by the restraint actuator.
Inventors
- 👤 James G. Stanley
- 👤 Robert A. Stopper, Jr.
- 👤 Judson G. McDonnell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 15:46
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/01; B60R21/015; B60R21/01512; B60R21/01516; B60N; B60N2/00; B60N2/002; B60N2/0021; B60N2/0024; B60N2/0026; B60N2/003; B60N2/0034; B60N2/0035; B60N2/24; B60N2/26; B60N2/28; B60N2/2857; B60N2/286; B60N2/2863; B60R21/0152; B60R21/0153; B60R21/01532; B60R21/01534; B60R21/01536; B60R21/01556; G; G01; G01V; G01V3/00; G01V3/08; G01V3/088; B60N2210/00; B60N2210/10; B60N2210/12; B60N2230/00; B60N2230/30; B60R2021/003; B60R2021/0032; B60R2021/0034; B60R2021/0037
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
262 words
A system for detecting an occupant in a vehicle with a safety restraint system, comprising: a. a first electric field sensor comprising at least one first electrode mountable in a seat bottom of a vehicle seat, wherein said first electric field sensor is responsive to at least one electric field influencing property of an object on said vehicle seat; b. a first sensing circuit operatively coupled to at least one said first electrode of said first electric field sensor wherein said first sensing circuit generates a first signal responsive to said at least one electric field influencing property of an object proximate to said first electric field sensor, wherein said first sensing circuit further comprises: i. a reference capacitor wherein the capacitance of said reference capacitor is stable over a range of temperatures; and ii. a switch for switching said reference capacitor in place of said first electric field sensor, wherein said first sensing circuit compares the measurement of said reference capacitor with the measurement of said first electric field sensor, and calibrates said first signal responsive to said comparison; c. a first range/proximity sensor for sensing the presence of an object within a region proximate to a restraint actuator of the safety restraint system; and d. a controller operatively coupled to said first electric field sensor and to said first range/proximity sensor, wherein said controller discriminates a type of object on said seat responsive to said first signal and to said first range/proximity sensor, and said controller controls the actuation of the safety restraint system responsive to said type of object.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
262 words
A system for detecting an occupant in a vehicle with a safety restraint system, comprising: a. a first electric field sensor comprising at least one first electrode mountable in a seat bottom of a vehicle seat, wherein said first electric field sensor is responsive to at least one electric field influencing property of an object on said vehicle seat; b. a first sensing circuit operatively coupled to at least one said first electrode of said first electric field sensor wherein said first sensing circuit generates a first signal responsive to said at least one electric field influencing property of an object proximate to said first electric field sensor, wherein said first sensing circuit further comprises: i. a reference capacitor wherein the capacitance of said reference capacitor is stable over a range of temperatures; and ii. a switch for switching said reference capacitor in place of said first electric field sensor, wherein said first sensing circuit compares the measurement of said reference capacitor with the measurement of said first electric field sensor, and calibrates said first signal responsive to said comparison; c. a first range/proximity sensor for sensing the presence of an object within a region proximate to a restraint actuator of the safety restraint system; and d. a controller operatively coupled to said first electric field sensor and to said first range/proximity sensor, wherein said controller discriminates a type of object on said seat responsive to said first signal and to said first range/proximity sensor, and said controller controls the actuation of the safety restraint system responsive to said type of object.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
169 words
A system for detecting an occupant in a vehicle with a safety restraint system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said at least one first electrode is adapted so that the capacitance of said at least one first electrode with respect to a circuit ground is substantially greater for a seating condition selected from the group consisting of an occupant seated in substantially normal seating position on the vehicle seat and a large body immediately above said seat bottom; than for a seating condition selected from the group consisting of an empty said vehicle seat, an infant seat on said vehicle seat, a child seat on said vehicle seat, a booster seat on said vehicle seat, an infant seated in an infant seat on said vehicle seat, a child seated in a child seat on said vehicle seat, a child seated in a booster seat on said vehicle seat, and an occupant on said vehicle seat in a position that is substantially different from a normal seating position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
A system for detecting an occupant in a vehicle with a safety restraint system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the size of said at least one first electrode is substantially equal to an area to be sensed on said vehicle seat.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
A system for detecting an occupant in a vehicle with a safety restraint system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said first electric field sensor is substantially non-responsive to objects that are more than 50 mm above said seat bottom.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
71 words
A system for detecting an occupant in a vehicle with a safety restraint system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said at least one first electrode is mounted proximate to the location of an object selected from the group consisting of an infant seat on said vehicle seat, a child seat on said vehicle seat, a booster seat on said vehicle seat, and an occupant seated on said vehicle seat.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system for detecting an occupant in a vehicle with a safety restraint system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said at least one first electrode is mounted under a seat cover of said vehicle seat.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system for detecting an occupant in a vehicle with a safety restraint system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said at least one first electrode is mounted above a foam cushion in said vehicle seat.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system for detecting an occupant in a vehicle with a safety restraint system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said at least one electric field influencing property comprise a dielectric characteristic.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system for detecting an occupant in a vehicle with a safety restraint system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said vehicle seat comprises a seat frame, and said seat frame is connected to said circuit ground.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
222 words
A system for detecting an occupant in a vehicle with a safety restraint system, comprising: a. a first electric field sensor comprising at least one first electrode mountable in a seat bottom of a vehicle seat, wherein said first electric field sensor is responsive to at least one electric field influencing property of an object on said vehicle seat, and said first electric field sensor is adapted to mitigate the affect of a liquid wetting said vehicle seat on an impedance between said at least one first electrode and a ground; b. a first sensing circuit operatively coupled to at least one said first electrode of said first electric field sensor wherein said first sensing circuit generates a first signal responsive to said at least one electric field influencing property of an object proximate to said first electric field sensor; c. a first range/proximity sensor for sensing the presence of an object within a region proximate to a restraint actuator of the safety restraint system; and d. a controller operatively coupled to said first electric field sensor and to said first range/proximity sensor, wherein said controller discriminates a type of object on said seat responsive to said first signal and to said first range/proximity sensor, and said controller controls the actuation of the safety restraint system responsive to said type of object.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
222 words
A system for detecting an occupant in a vehicle with a safety restraint system, comprising: a. a first electric field sensor comprising at least one first electrode mountable in a seat bottom of a vehicle seat, wherein said first electric field sensor is responsive to at least one electric field influencing property of an object on said vehicle seat, and said first electric field sensor is adapted to mitigate the affect of a liquid wetting said vehicle seat on an impedance between said at least one first electrode and a ground; b. a first sensing circuit operatively coupled to at least one said first electrode of said first electric field sensor wherein said first sensing circuit generates a first signal responsive to said at least one electric field influencing property of an object proximate to said first electric field sensor; c. a first range/proximity sensor for sensing the presence of an object within a region proximate to a restraint actuator of the safety restraint system; and d. a controller operatively coupled to said first electric field sensor and to said first range/proximity sensor, wherein said controller discriminates a type of object on said seat responsive to said first signal and to said first range/proximity sensor, and said controller controls the actuation of the safety restraint system responsive to said type of object.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
A system for detecting an occupant in a vehicle with a safety restraint system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said first sensing circuit is operatively coupled to each said first electrode so as to provide a measure of the distribution of an object on said vehicle seat.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
86 words
A system for detecting an occupant in a vehicle with a safety restraint system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said first electric field sensor further comprises at least one second electrode and at least one third electrode, wherein said at least one third electrode is located between said at least one first electrode and a foam cushion of said vehicle seat and said at least one second electrode is located between said at least one first electrode and said at least one third electrode.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
273 words
A system for detecting an occupant in a vehicle with a safety restraint, comprising: a. a first electric field sensor comprising at least one first electrode mountable in a seat bottom of a vehicle seat, wherein said first electric field sensor is responsive to at least one electric field influencing property of an object on said vehicle seat, and said first electric field sensor further comprises at least one second electrode and at least one third electrode, wherein said at least one third electrode is located between said at least one first electrode and a foam cushion of said vehicle seat, said at least one second electrode is located between said at least one first electrode and said at least one third electrode, and said at least one second electrode is substantially the same size as said at least one first electrode; b. a first sensing circuit operatively coupled to at least one said first electrode of said first electric field sensor wherein said first sensing circuit generates a first signal responsive to said at least one electric field influencing property of an object proximate to said first electric field sensor; c. a first range/proximity sensor for sensing the presence of an object within a region proximate to a restraint actuator of the safety restraint system; and d. a controller operatively coupled to said first electric field sensor and to said first range/proximity sensor, wherein said controller discriminates a type of object on said seat responsive to said first signal and to said first range/proximity sensor, and said controller controls the actuation of the safety restraint system responsive to said type of object.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
273 words
A system for detecting an occupant in a vehicle with a safety restraint, comprising: a. a first electric field sensor comprising at least one first electrode mountable in a seat bottom of a vehicle seat, wherein said first electric field sensor is responsive to at least one electric field influencing property of an object on said vehicle seat, and said first electric field sensor further comprises at least one second electrode and at least one third electrode, wherein said at least one third electrode is located between said at least one first electrode and a foam cushion of said vehicle seat, said at least one second electrode is located between said at least one first electrode and said at least one third electrode, and said at least one second electrode is substantially the same size as said at least one first electrode; b. a first sensing circuit operatively coupled to at least one said first electrode of said first electric field sensor wherein said first sensing circuit generates a first signal responsive to said at least one electric field influencing property of an object proximate to said first electric field sensor; c. a first range/proximity sensor for sensing the presence of an object within a region proximate to a restraint actuator of the safety restraint system; and d. a controller operatively coupled to said first electric field sensor and to said first range/proximity sensor, wherein said controller discriminates a type of object on said seat responsive to said first signal and to said first range/proximity sensor, and said controller controls the actuation of the safety restraint system responsive to said type of object.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system for detecting an occupant in a vehicle with a safety restraint system as recited in claim 12 , wherein said at least one third electrode is electrically connected to a circuit ground.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system for detecting an occupant in a vehicle with a safety restraint system as recited in claim 12 , wherein said first sensing circuit is operatively coupled to at least one said second electrode.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
44 words
A system for detecting an occupant in a vehicle with a safety restraint system as recited in claim 15 , wherein said first sensing circuit applies a first applied signal to said first electrode and applies a second applied signal to said second electrode.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system for detecting an occupant in a vehicle with a safety restraint system as recited in claim 16 , wherein said second applied signal is equal to said first applied signal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
49 words
A system for detecting an occupant in a vehicle with a safety restraint system as recited in claim 12 , wherein said first sensing circuit is operatively coupled to at least one said third electrode and said first sensing circuit applies a third applied signal to said third electrode.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system for detecting an occupant in a vehicle with a safety restraint system as recited in claim 18 , wherein said third applied signal is a circuit ground potential.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
40 words
A system for detecting an occupant in a vehicle with a safety restraint system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said first signal is responsive to the capacitance between said at least one first electrode and a circuit ground.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system for detecting an occupant in a vehicle with a safety restraint system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said first sensing circuit applies a first applied signal to said at least one first electrode.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system for detecting an occupant in a vehicle with a safety restraint system as recited in claim 21 , wherein said first applied signal comprises a first oscillating signal.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
49 words
A system for detecting an occupant in a vehicle with a safety restraint system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said first sensing circuit adapts a decision threshold responsive to said comparison of the measurement of said reference capacitor with the measurement of said first electric field sensor.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
65 words
A system for detecting an occupant in a vehicle with a safety restraint system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said first range/proximity sensor is selected from the group consisting of an electric field sensor, a capacitive sensor, a radar sensor, an optical range sensor, an active infrared sensor, a passive infrared sensor, a vision sensor, an ultrasonic range sensor, and an inductive sensor.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system for detecting an occupant in a vehicle with a safety restraint system as recited in claim 24 , wherein said capacitive sensor is responsive to the capacitance between at least one first electrode and a circuit ground.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system for detecting an occupant in a vehicle with a safety restraint system as recited in claim 24 , wherein said capacitive sensor comprises a plurality of electrodes proximate to a restraint actuator of the safety restraint system.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system for detecting an occupant in a vehicle with a safety restraint system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said first range/proximity sensor is located proximate to a restraint actuator of said safety restraint system.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
47 words
A system for detecting an occupant in a vehicle with a safety restraint system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said first range/proximity sensor is responsive to a portion of the occupant's body within a region proximate to a restraint actuator of the safety restraint system.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system for detecting an occupant in a vehicle with a safety restraint system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said first range/proximity sensor is substantially non-responsive to low density objects.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
46 words
A system for detecting an occupant in a vehicle with a safety restraint system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said controller disables the safety restraint system if an occupant is not detected as seated on said vehicle seat by said first electric field sensor.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
55 words
A system for detecting an occupant in a vehicle with a safety restraint system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said controller disables the safety restraint system if an occupant is not detected as seated on said vehicle seat by said first electric field sensor for a period of time greater than a threshold.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
63 words
A system for detecting an occupant in a vehicle with a safety restraint system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said controller enables the safety restraint system if said first electric field sensor detects an occupant seated on said vehicle seat and said first range/proximity sensor does not detect a portion of the occupant within said region proximate to said restraint actuator.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
50 words
A system for detecting an occupant in a vehicle with a safety restraint system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said first range/proximity sensor generates a range measurement and said controller adapts an actuation characteristic of the safety restraint system if said range measurement is less than a threshold.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system for detecting an occupant in a vehicle with a safety restraint system as recited in claim 33 , wherein said actuation characteristic is adapted responsive to said range measurement at a time of a collision.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
46 words
A system for detecting an occupant in a vehicle with a safety restraint system as recited in claim 33 , wherein said threshold corresponds to a range from a restraint actuator within which an occupant is likely to experience an injury from said safety restraint system.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
43 words
A system for detecting an occupant in a vehicle with a safety restraint system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said first range/proximity sensor operates at a sufficiently fast rate to be responsive to the effects of pre-impact braking on said occupant.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
80 words
A system for detecting an occupant in a vehicle with a safety restraint system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said controller is further responsive to said first signal from said first electric field sensor if said first signal indicates that an occupant is not seated on said vehicle seat wherein said first signal is the capacitance of said occupant on said vehicle seat and said safety restraint system is disabled if said capacitance is less than a threshold.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3111608A
Cited
US3177481A
Cited
US3237105A
Cited
US3324848A
Cited
US3439358A
Cited
US3740567A
Cited
US3898472A
Cited
US3943376A
Cited
US4300116A
Cited
US4430645A
Cited
US4625329A
Cited
US4796013A
Cited
US4831279A
Cited
US4887024A
Cited
US5071160A
Cited
US5118134A
Cited
US4980519A
Cited
US5398185A
Cited
US5232243A
Cited
US5624132A
Cited
US5166679A
Cited
US5247281A
Cited
US5247261A
Cited
US5446391A
Cited
US5835613A
Cited
US5845000A
Cited
US6039139A
Cited
US5822707A
Cited
US5748473A
Cited
US5653462A
Cited
US5848802A
Cited
US5214388A
Cited
US5330226A
Cited
US5442347A
Cited
US5829782A
Cited
US5793176A
Cited
US5446661A
Cited
US5490069A
Cited
US5724024A
Cited
US5373245A
Cited
US5366241A
Cited
US5411289A
Cited
US5454591A
Cited
US5626359A
Cited
US5439249A
Cited
US5413378A
Cited
US5782485A
Cited
US5914610A
Cited
US5844415A
Cited
US5525843A
Cited
US5515933A
Cited
US5482314A
Cited
US5890085A
Cited
US5901978A
Cited
US6014602A
Cited
US5802479A
Cited
US5602734A
Cited
US5618056A
Cited
US5539292A
Cited
US5636864A
Cited
US5570903A
Cited
US5528698A
Cited
US5702123A
Cited
US5531472A
Cited
US5722686A
Cited
US5549323A
Cited
US5770997A
Cited
US5691693A
Cited
US5730165A
Cited
US5948031A
Cited
US5726581A
Cited
US6027138A
Cited
US6024378A
Cited
US5844486A
Cited
US5871232A
Cited
US6007095A
Cited
US5943295A
Cited
US5983147A
Cited
US6043743A
Cited
US5964478A
Cited
US6186538B1
Cited
US5954360A
Cited
US6158768A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-02-17 | 2006-08-19 | 2007-02-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-02-17 | 2010-08-19 | 2011-02-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-02-17 | 2014-08-19 | 2015-02-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |