Abstract: An occupant detection system and method are provided. The system includes a capacitive sensor having an electrode arranged in a seat proximate to an expected location of an occupant for sensing an occupant presence approximate thereto. The capacitive sensor is configured to provide an output indicative of the sensed occupant presence. Occupant detection circuitry processes the sensor output and determines an aging compensation value to compensate for aging characteristics of the seat. The occupant detection circuitry detects a state of occupancy based on the sensor output and the aging compensation value.

Abstract: A child seat anchor apparatus includes at least one sensor for measuring tension exerted on a system including a pair of anchor brackets disposed between the bottom and back cushions of a vehicle seat. In a first mechanization, the anchor brackets are directly coupled to individual sensors mounted on an anchor frame that is bolted to the seat frame. In a second mechanization, the anchor brackets are fastened to an anchor frame that is pivotably mounted on the seat frame, and the anchor frame is additionally coupled to the seat frame through a single sensor responsive to the tension exerted on the anchor frame by the anchor brackets.

Abstract: A child seat anchor apparatus includes at least one sensor for measuring tension exerted on a system including a pair of anchor brackets disposed between the bottom and back cushions of a vehicle seat. In a first mechanization, the anchor brackets are directly coupled to individual sensors mounted on an anchor frame that is bolted to the seat frame. In a second mechanization, the anchor brackets are fastened to an anchor frame that is pivotably mounted on the seat frame, and the anchor frame is additionally coupled to the seat frame through a single sensor responsive to the tension exerted on the anchor frame by the anchor brackets.

Abstract: An occupant weight-based airbag suppression method utilizes adjustable time constant filtering and dynamic threshold adjustment to reliably determine and indicate airbag suppression status. The filter time constant is ordinarily set to a first value that provides relatively fast tracking of the raw occupant weight, but is set to a second value that provides relatively slow tracking of the raw occupant weight when both the raw and filtered occupant weights are within a specified band about the threshold value. The threshold value and band are dynamically adjusted after the suppression status is initially determined so as to effectively increase the separation between the filtered weight and the threshold.

Abstract: An improved method of selectively suppressing deployment of a vehicular inflatable restraint utilizes dynamic variation in the apparent weight of a vehicle occupant to infer a free mass of the seat occupant. The free mass of the occupant is inferred by filtering out portions of a weight-responsive signal due to occupant position adjustment and inferring the occupant free mass based on the variation of the apparent weight with respect to the variation in vertical acceleration of the vehicle. The decision to allow or suppress deployment of the restraint is determined based on a comparison of the static weight reading with at least one threshold, and the occupant free mass is used to adjust the threshold in a direction to minimize the overall variability of the system. Measures of the seat belt tension and the seat temperature are also be used to adjust the threshold in a direction to minimize system variability.

Abstract: A child seat anchor apparatus includes at least one sensor for measuring tension exerted on a system including a pair of anchor brackets disposed between the bottom and back cushions of a vehicle seat. In a first mechanization, the anchor brackets are directly coupled to individual sensors mounted on an anchor frame that is bolted to the seat frame. In a second mechanization, the anchor brackets are fastened to an anchor frame that is pivotably mounted on the seat frame, and the anchor frame is additionally coupled to the seat frame through a single sensor responsive to the tension exerted on the anchor frame by the anchor brackets.

Abstract: An improved method of selectively suppressing deployment of a vehicular inflatable restraint utilizes dynamic variation in the apparent weight of a vehicle occupant to infer a free mass of the seat occupant. The free mass of the occupant is inferred by filtering out portions of a weight-responsive signal due to occupant position adjustment and inferring the occupant free mass based on the variation of the apparent weight with respect to the variation in vertical acceleration of the vehicle. The decision to allow or suppress deployment of the restraint is determined based on a comparison of the static weight reading with at least one threshold, and the occupant free mass is used to adjust the threshold in a direction to minimize the overall variability of the system. Measures of the seat belt tension and the seat temperature are also be used to adjust the threshold in a direction to minimize system variability.

Abstract: An improved occupant detection system and method includes a fluid-filled polymeric seat cushion bladder defining multiple fluid-filled chambers corresponding to different areas of the seat cushion, with no fluid flow between such chambers. Fluid pressures in the various individual chambers are detected and processed to develop a weight estimation that is compensated for occupant position. The chambers are configured to detect occupant weight in at least forward, rearward, inboard and outboard regions of the bottom seat cushion. When the detected pressures are unevenly distributed and the pressure in the forward, rearward, inboard or outboard regions of the seat exceeds the average pressure by at least a predetermined amount, a composite pressure indicative of occupant weight is adjusted in a direction to bias the suppression status in favor of allowing restraint deployment, unless the occupant is forwardly positioned on a seat that is also forwardly positioned.

Abstract: An improved occupant detection system and method includes a fluid-filled polymeric seat cushion bladder defining multiple fluid-filled chambers corresponding to different areas of the seat cushion, with no fluid flow between such chambers. Fluid pressures in the various individual chambers are detected and processed to develop a weight estimation that is compensated for occupant position. The chambers are configured to detect occupant weight in at least forward, rearward, inboard and outboard regions of the bottom seat cushion. When the detected pressures are unevenly distributed and the pressure in the forward, rearward, inboard or outboard regions of the seat exceeds the average pressure by at least a predetermined amount, a composite pressure indicative of occupant weight is adjusted in a direction to bias the suppression status in favor of allowing restraint deployment, unless the occupant is forwardly positioned on a seat that is also forwardly positioned.

Abstract: An improved weight-based occupant characterization method reliably distinguishes between a child or small adult and a tightly cinched child seat based on a variance in the sensed occupant weight and a variance in the vehicle acceleration. The weight variance and acceleration variance are used to determine a relative or normalized variance that compensates for the effects of operating the vehicle on a rough road surface. The occupant is characterized as a child seat if the normalized variance is below a first threshold for a predetermined interval, and as a child or small adult if the normalized variation exceeds a second threshold for a predetermined interval.

Abstract: An improved weight-based occupant characterization method reliably distinguishes between a child or small adult and a tightly cinched child seat based on a variance in the sensed occupant weight and a variance in the vehicle acceleration. The weight variance and acceleration variance are used to determine a relative or normalized variance that compensates for the effects of operating the vehicle on a rough road surface. The occupant is characterized as a child seat if the normalized variance is below a first threshold for a predetermined interval, and as a child or small adult if the normalized variation exceeds a second threshold for a predetermined interval.

Abstract: An improved occupant weight detection system measures the pressure in a fluid-filled bladder disposed in or under a foam seat cushion as an indication of occupant weight, and periodically adjusts the pressure vs. occupant weight relationship to compensate for changes due to aging and usage of the foam seat cushion. The system controller develops an aging adjustment value based on a measure of the cumulative aging and usage of the seat, and uses the developed adjustment value to compensate the operation of the system. The aging adjustment value is determined primarily as a function of occupant weight and time of seat occupancy, and the compensation is achieved by using the aging adjustment value to adjust either the estimated weight, or a threshold to which the measured pressure is compared for purposes of deciding if restraint deployment should be enabled.

Abstract: An improved occupant weight detection system measures the pressure in a fluid-filled bladder disposed in or under a foam seat cushion as an indication of occupant weight, and periodically adjusts the pressure vs. occupant weight relationship to compensate for changes due to aging and usage of the foam seat cushion. The system controller develops an aging adjustment value based on a measure of the cumulative aging and usage of the seat, and uses the developed adjustment value to compensate the operation of the system. The aging adjustment value is determined primarily as a function of occupant weight and time of seat occupancy, and the compensation is achieved by using the aging adjustment value to adjust either the estimated weight, or a threshold to which the measured pressure is compared for purposes of deciding if restraint deployment should be enabled.

Abstract: An improved weight-based occupant characterization method distinguishes between an empty seat and a seat having a small object on it using primary and secondary classification techniques. The primary classification technique is initiated prior to vehicle movement, and characterizes the seat occupant based on measured seat pressure. If deployment of the restraint is suppressed due to the characterization of the primary classification technique, the seat occupancy is characterized by a secondary classification technique based on variation of the measured pressure once the vehicle is in motion. Once the secondary classification technique has characterized the seat occupancy, the characterization of the primary classification technique is discarded in favor of the characterization of the secondary classification technique.