Abstract: Method for controlling output of a classification algorithm which classifies an occupant of a seat in a vehicle in which a bladder or other type of weight sensor is arranged in a bottom cushion of the seat, data relating to the pressure exerted by the occupant on the bottom cushion is obtained from the weight sensor, the occupant is initially classified, a current classification is output using data from the weight sensor, the occupant is periodically re-classified using data from the weight sensor, and a classification change is allowed only upon obtaining evidence of a new classification which is greater than evidence of the current classification. The classification change may be enabled by determining a substantially consecutive period of time when the re-classification is unchanged and different from the current classification, and enabling the classification change upon when the consecutive period of time is greater than a threshold.

Abstract: Arrangement and method for controlling deployment of a side airbag to protect a vehicular occupant during a crash. The presence and/or position of the occupant is/are determined and deployment of the airbag is controlled based thereon. A transducer receives waves from a space above a seat portion of the seat and a signal representative of the presence and/or position of the occupant is generated based on the received waves. The transducer may transmits waves into the space above the seat portion. The transducer may be mounted in a door of the vehicle and possibly adjacent the airbag module. Deployment of the airbag can be suppressed, the time at which deployment of the airbag starts, the rate of gas flow into the airbag, the rate of gas flow from the airbag and/or the rate of deployment of the airbag is/are controlled based on the presence and/or position of the occupant.