Abstract: A vehicle occupant sensor apparatus (34) has an imager (36) that gathers an image of an occupant (12). The image has focus attributes. A focal plane associated with the imager (36) is at a distance from the imager. A 2D high-pass filter (42), a multiple frame temporal filter (46), and a position determination component (52) operate to determine position of the occupant (12) relative to the focal plane (38) via use of the focus attributes.

Abstract: A system (10) has a portion (e.g., 30, 42 and 44) for sensing the presence of a person in a vehicle interior compartment (e.g., 20). The system (10) also has a portion (e.g., 34 and 50) for determining if the temperature in the vehicle interior compartment (20) is potentially dangerous to the person. The system (10) further has a portion (e.g., 60, and 66, 68, 70, or 72) responsive to the determination of potentially dangerous temperature for providing aid to the person in the vehicle interior compartment (20). An associated method includes sensing the presence of a person in a vehicle interior compartment, determining if a temperature condition exists in the vehicle interior compartment that is potentially dangerous to the person, and providing aid to the person in the vehicle interior compartment in response to the determination.

Abstract: An apparatus (30) and associated method determine a vehicle occupant characteristic. An imager (32) collects a first image of an occupant location while the occupant location is subject to a first lighting condition. A light source (38) provides light onto the occupant location. The imager (32) collects a second image of the occupant location while the occupant location is subject to the first lighting condition and the provided light. A subtractor device (50) generates a third image of the occupant location indicative of the difference between the first and second images. An image processing device (52) processes the third image to determine the vehicle occupant characteristic.

Abstract: An occupant sensing system (12) and an associated method provide for the sensing of an occupant (14). An illuminating element (46) of the system (12)selectively illuminates the interior of a vehicle (8). An image sensor (50) acquires a first image of the interior of the vehicle (8) when the interior of the vehicle is illuminated by ambient sources only and acquires a second image of the interior of the vehicle when the interior of the vehicle is illuminated by ambient sources and the illuminating element (46). A controller (34) removes the effect of ambient sources by comparing the first and second images to produce a third image of the interior of the vehicle (8) as illuminated by the illuminating element (46) only. The controller (34) determines the presence of an occupant (14) by comparing the third image to a produced map of the interior of the vehicle (8).

Abstract: A vehicle occupant sensor apparatus (34) has an imager (36) that gathers an image of an occupant (12). The image has focus attributes. A focal plane associated with the imager (36) is at a distance from the imager. A 2D high-pass filter (42), a multiple frame temporal filter (46), and a position determination component (52) operate to determine position of the occupant (12) relative to the focal plane (38) via use of the focus attributes.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for controlling actuation of at least one actuatable protection device (18, 20, 22, 24) includes a controller (26) having a first sensor input effective to receive a first sensor signal (64, 66, 70) having a value indicative of a first condition of an occupant of the vehicle seat (14, 16). The apparatus (10) also includes a second sensor input effective to receive a second sensor signal (82, 84, 86, 88, 94) having a value indicative of a second condition of the occupant of the vehicle seat (14, 16). The controller (26) is operative to determine a default value for the value of the first sensor signal (64, 66, 70) upon determining that the value of the first sensor signal is either outside an expected range of values or is absent. The controller (26) is operative to provide a control signal (136, 174, 176) to control actuation of at least one actuatable protection device (18, 20, 22, 24).

Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection system (10) includes an actuatable device (e.g., 20) for protecting a vehicle occupant (12). An accelerometer (e.g., 50) and a crash determination portion (66) of a controller (56) derive a first metric indicative of a vehicle crash condition. A Z-axis accelerometer (54) and a safing portion (50) of the controller (38) derive a second metric indicative of a vehicle vertical acceleration characteristic. The controller (66) actuates the device (e.g., 16) to protect the occupant (12) in response to the first metric indicating a vehicle crash condition and the second metric exceeding a predetermined threshold. Preferably, the system (10) includes a second device (e.g., 18) and another accelerometer (e.g., 58) and another crash determination portion (72) of the controller (56) to derive a third metric indicative of a vehicle crash condition. The controller (66) actuates the device (e.g.