Abstract: A method (60) for reprogramming application software in a microcontroller (10) without making the microcontroller vulnerable to failure. The method (60) divides the application memory space (18) into five distinct regions including a reset vector space (20), a pre-boot software space (22), and an application software space (24) that is further divided into a main application boot space (26) and a back-up application boot space (28). In another embodiment of the present invention, the application software space (24) is programmed to contain a reset vector jump table (52). The back-up space (28) is programmed (64) to contain data necessary to reprogram the microcontroller until the main application space (26) has been reprogrammed (68) as desired. The back-up boot space (28) cannot be erased until the main application space (26) has been properly reprogrammed. Thereafter, the back-up boot space (28) can be erased (70) and reprogrammed as desired.

Abstract: An improved pressure-based weight estimation system that includes an adaptive technique for reliably and accurately determining the vacant, or unoccupied, seat pressure. The vacant seat pressure is initially determined by a factory calibration procedure, and is thereafter suitably updated by an adaptive learning algorithm based on temperature, time, and the measured pressure. If the seat temperature is within a normal range, and the measured pressure remains at least a predetermined amount below the calibrated vacant seat pressure for at least a predetermined time, a fraction of the difference between the measured and calibrated values is subtracted from the calibrated value to form a new calibration value. The predetermined difference amount determines the sensitivity of the control, and the predetermined time prevents adaptive correction of the calibration value due to transient pressure conditions.