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 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: 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: 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 distributed vehicle safety system (10) includes a plurality of devices (16), each of which performs a function associated with safety at a vehicle (12). A bus (18) conveys communication regarding the devices (16). An isolation device (28) is associated with each device (16) and electronically isolates one of the devices from the bus (18) upon occurrence of a fault condition. Preferably, the system (10) includes a plurality of control circuitries (26), each for controlling a respective one of the devices (16), and the control circuitry is isolated with the associated device (i.e., each control circuitry/device arrangement is isolated). In one embodiment, a plurality of bus connector/bus plug mated pairs (20 and 22) connects the plurality of control circuitry/device arrangements (26 and 16) to the bus (18). Each connector/bus plug pair (20 and 22) includes a switch (e.g.