Abstract: A passenger detection system includes a satellite sensor circuit; and a master determination unit. The satellite sensor circuit includes an antenna electrode which is provided in at least one of a seating face or a back face of a seat; and an electric field generation unit which generates an electric field around the antenna electrode, and generates a current signal based on the electric field. The master determination unit includes a current detection unit which detects a variation of the current signal; and a control unit which determines a sitting situation of a passenger by comparing signal data with threshold data, the signal data being related to a current signal which flows based on the electric field which is obtained from the current detection unit and which is generated at the antenna electrode, the threshold data being related to the sitting situation of the passenger. The satellite sensor circuit and the master determination unit are connected via a power supply line and a ground line.

Abstract: A passenger detection system includes a satellite sensor circuit; and a master determination unit. The satellite sensor circuit includes an antenna electrode which is provided in at least one of a seating face or a back face of a seat; and an electric field generation unit which generates an electric field around the antenna electrode, and generates a current signal based on the electric field. The master determination unit includes a current detection unit which detects a variation of the current signal; and a control unit which determines a sitting situation of a passenger by comparing signal data with threshold data, the signal data being related to a current signal which flows based on the electric field which is obtained from the current detection unit and which is generated at the antenna electrode, the threshold data being related to the sitting situation of the passenger. The satellite sensor circuit and the master determination unit are connected via a power supply line and a ground line.

Abstract: The change in voltage or current of the antenna is measured by the time to reach a particular voltage level. Using either charging and/or discharging, the times to reach two or more different levels of the total charge are measured. By providing sensor electronics with each sensor or antenna, a more versatile system may be provided. The sensors and associated electronics communicate using a bus or other communication path to a processor. The processor determines an occupant state based on the received sensor information. Different numbers of sensors may be used with the same system.

Abstract: An occupant determination apparatus and an occupant determination method accurately determine a size of an occupant, with a simple configuration where a plurality of electrodes are arranged on one layer, and eliminate errors due to the capacitance between an occupant and surrounding car-body metal parts or the like, and thus suppress erroneous determination. The apparatus includes a sensor having a plurality of seat section electrodes arranged on a sitting section, and a determination section. The determination section includes an oscillator, a capacitance detecting section which detects the current flowing through a seat section electrode in order to detect the capacitance, a switching circuit which switches the connection of the capacitance detecting section to the seat section electrode, and a controlling section which outputs a switch control signal.

Abstract: The change in voltage or current of the antenna is measured by the time to reach a particular voltage level. Using either charging and/or discharging, the times to reach two or more different levels of the total charge are measured. By providing sensor electronics with each sensor or antenna, a more versatile system may be provided. The sensors and associated electronics communicate using a bus or other communication path to a processor. The processor determines an occupant state based on the received sensor information. Different numbers of sensors may be used with the same system.

Abstract: An occupant determination apparatus and an occupant determination method are provided that can accurately determine the size of an occupant, with a simple configuration where a plurality of electrodes are arranged on one layer, and can eliminate errors due to the capacitance between an occupant and surrounding car-body metal parts or the like, and thus suppress erroneous determination. The occupant determination apparatus (10) comprises a first sensor (11) including a plurality of seat section electrodes (111 to 117) arranged on a sitting section (1a), and a first determination section (20). The first sensor section (11) comprises: a first seat section electrode (111); a reference electrode array (12a) where second seat section electrodes (112 to 114) are arranged separate in the x-direction; and a reference electrode array (12b) where third seat section electrodes (115 to 117) are arranged separate in the x-direction, arranged separate in the y-direction.

Abstract: In a crash detection apparatus, the output signal of an accelerometer is integrated at intervals and a velocity signal is produced. Those frequency components of the accelerometer output which appear uniquely during a vehicle crash are extracted and their amplitude is squared to produce an impact energy signal. An airbag is operated when the velocity signal exceeds a first threshold, or when a sum of the velocity and impact energy signals exceeds a second threshold, or operated when the impact energy signal exceeds a third threshold. In a modified embodiment, the accelerometer output is integrated both at longer and shorter intervals to produce a long-term and a short-term velocity signal. The airbag is operated when the long-term velocity signal exceeds a first threshold, or when the short-term velocity signal and the impact energy signal simultaneously exceed a second and a third threshold, respectively.

Abstract: A vehicle collision detecting apparatus includes an acceleration sensor detecting acceleration of a motorcar, a frequency filter extracting a signal in a predetermined frequency band from the acceleration signal, and a detector for detecting a collision in accordance with the extracted signal. The detector supplies a trigger pulse to an airbag driver circuit.