Abstract: A sensor including at least two active areas for receiving light energy and a resistive layer disposed on each of the at least two active areas for providing a pair of current signals corresponding to a position of light energy of a predetermined wavelength striking the active area. The two or more active areas are electrically isolated from each other and operate independent of each other. Preferably, the two or more active areas are electrically isolated with silicon dioxide.

Abstract: An improved infrared occupant detection system that provides accurate and reliable occupant intrusion information at a speed sufficient to timely inhibit or otherwise control deployment of occupant restraints. An array of infrared emitters is selectively activated to emit a predetermined pattern of IR beams in an area between the passenger seat and the point of deployment of the restraint, and the reflected IR energy is detected by a photo-sensitive receiver and analyzed to determine whether an occupant is out of position for deployment of the restraint. In the preferred embodiment, the intensity of the received beam energy and the position of the respective beam are used to construct a table of individual intrusion factors, and a composite intrusion factor based on the individual intrusion factors is categorized by magnitude to form an indication of occupant intrusion level, which in turn, is used to determine whether, or how forcefully, to deploy the restraint in the event of a serious crash.

Abstract: A sensor including at least two active areas for receiving light energy and a resistive layer disposed on each of the at least two active areas for providing a pair of current signals corresponding to a position of light energy of a predetermined wavelength striking the active area. The two or more active areas are electrically isolated from each other and operate independent of each other. Preferably, the two or more active areas are electrically isolated with silicon dioxide.

Abstract: An improved infrared occupant detection system that provides accurate and reliable occupant intrusion information at a speed sufficient to timely inhibit or otherwise control deployment of occupant restraints. An array of infrared emitters is selectively activated to emit a predetermined pattern of IR beams in an area between the passenger seat and the point of deployment of the restraint, and the reflected IR energy is detected by a photo-sensitive receiver and analyzed to determine whether an occupant is out of position for deployment of the restraint. In the preferred embodiment, the intensity of the received beam energy and the position of the respective beam are used to construct a table of individual intrusion factors, and a composite intrusion factor based on the individual intrusion factors is categorized by magnitude to form an indication of occupant intrusion level, which in turn, is used to determine whether, or how forcefully, to deploy the restraint in the event of a serious crash.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, an infrared optical position detection system, including: an infrared emitter to emit infrared radiation toward an object; a receiver to receive the infrared radiation scattered by the object and to determine position of the object; the receiver including a detector; and the receiver including an optical system having two and no more than two lenses.

Abstract: An improved IR occupant position detection system that provides accurate and reliable classification and position information at a speed sufficient to timely inhibit or otherwise control deployment of occupant restraints. A two-dimensional array of IR emitters is selectively activated to periodically illuminate two or more of predetermined viewing planes in the vicinity of a passenger seating area, and the reflected IR energy is detected by a photo-sensitive receiver and analyzed to detect the presence of an occupant, to classify the occupant, and to identify and dynamically track the position of the occupant's head/torso relative to predefined zones of the passenger compartment. Modulating the intensity of the emitted IR beams with a known carrier frequency, band-pass filtering the received signal, and synchronously detecting the filtered signal distinguishes the reflected IR energy from other signals picked up by the IR receiver.