Abstract: A collision detection system for a vehicle is provided with multiple hollow members which are arranged at a periphery portion of the vehicle and define therein substantially closed spaces, at least one housing defining therein a substantially closed space, multiple transferring members for respectively communicating the spaces in the hollow members with the space in the housing, at least one detection unit which is arranged in the housing to detect a status of air in the housing, and a control unit. The control unit determines whether or not there occurs a collision of the vehicle based on detection signals from the detection unit.

Abstract: An occupant sensing electrode is embedded in a seat. An empty seat capacitance reducing electrode is placed between the occupant sensing electrode and a seat frame of the seat in an opposed relationship to the occupant sensing electrode. A dielectric base film may be interposed between the occupant sensing electrode and the empty seat capacitance reducing electrode. The occupant sensing electrode may include a plurality of electrode portions. The electrode portions may include high potential electrode portions and low potential electrode portions.

Abstract: A side door of a vehicle includes an outer panel, an inner panel, a reinforcing member, a front attaching part, a rear attaching part, and an acceleration sensor. The reinforcing member is located between the outer panel and the inner panel. The front attaching part and a rear attaching part are coupled with the reinforcing member. The front attaching part is fixed to a front attached portion provided at one of a front end portion of the outer panel and a front end portion of the inner panel. The rear attaching part is fixed to a rear attached portion provided at one of a rear end portion of the outer panel and a rear end portion of the inner panel. The acceleration sensor is disposed at one of the end portions.

Abstract: A pressure sensor includes a pressure detecting element for detecting a pressure, a circuit board having an electrical circuit to be connected to the pressure detecting element, and a housing having a housing member and a cover. The housing member partitions at least a part of a first space for accommodating the pressure detecting element and at least a part of a second space for accommodating the circuit board such that the first space and the second space are separated from each other. The cover partitions at least a part of a remainder of each of the first space and the second space.

Abstract: A capacitance type sensor installed in a vehicle includes the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode. The first electrode is arranged inside a seating portion of a seat or a backrest portion of the seat, or both. The second electrode is arranged adjacent to the first electrode inside at least one of the seating portion and the backrest portion of the seat, whatever the first electrode is arranged. The second electrode forms an electric field together with the first electrode between them in a wetness determination mode in which a wet condition of the seat is determined. The third electrode forms an electric field together with the first and the second electrode between them in an occupant determination mode in which an occupant in the seat is determined.

Abstract: An occupant detecting system includes a temperature sensor that sequentially detects temperatures at a fixed position, a plurality of weight sensors disposed at predetermined positions of a seat to respectively provide weight signals, an occupant ECU. The ECU estimates temperatures of the weight sensors based on the temperatures sequentially detected by the temperature sensor and temperature characteristic data of the weight sensors relative to temperatures detected by the temperature sensor and corrects the weight signals based on the estimated temperatures.

Abstract: A pressure sensor includes a case with an air passageway having a first opening leading to an inside of the case and a second opening leading to an outside of the case, pressure sensing means that is placed inside the case and includes a pressure sensing surface for detecting pressure, and a breathable filter that is provided with the air passageway to cover at least one of the first and second openings. The pressure sensing means is fixed to the case through mounting means that allows the pressure sensing means to be spaced from the case to prevent stress that is applied to the pressure sensing means by the case.

Abstract: A pressure sensor is provided with a housing which has an opening portion for communicating an interior of the housing with an exterior, and a pressure detecting unit which has a detection surface for detecting a pressure applied thereto through the opening and is arranged in the housing. One of a perimeter of the detection surface and that of the opening portion has a protrusion portion which protrudes toward other of the perimeters. The other of the perimeters has a groove, into which a tip of the protrusion portion is inserted. A seal member is arranged between the groove and the protrusion portion, to seal therebetween and buffer stress caused by relative displacement between the housing and the pressure detecting unit.

Abstract: A passenger detection system for a person on a seat of a vehicle, includes a long range capacitance sensor for measuring a long range capacitance between a seating portion of the seat and a body of the vehicle and a short range capacitance sensor for measuring a short range capacitance in the seat, and a detection unit for detecting a passenger on the seat based on the measured long range capacitance and the measured short range capacitance. Therefore, the passenger detection system accurately detects a passenger on the seat of the vehicle while suppressing a detection error caused by an external effect.

Abstract: In a vehicle collision sensing system, a relative pressure sensor senses a pressure difference between a pressure at an inside of a door interior space and a pressure at an outside of the door interior space. An air bag ECU determines the collision of the vehicle based on the pressure difference, which is sensed by the relative pressure sensor.

Abstract: A pressure detection device includes a case unit which has therein an accommodation space and a pressure introduction passage, and a pressure detection unit having a detection surface for detecting a pressure applied thereto. Two ends of the pressure introduction passage respectively have a first opening portion which is opened toward the accommodation space, and a second opening portion which is opened toward an exterior of the case unit. The pressure detection unit is accommodated in the accommodation space. The pressure introduction passage further has a third opening portion which is opened toward the exterior. The pressure detection unit is disposed to detect the pressure, with the first opening portion and the third opening portion being positioned at an upper side of the second opening portion.

Abstract: A diaphragm-type pressure sensing apparatus includes a pressure sensor having a diaphragm for converting pressure into an electrical signal, a circuit board for processing the electrical signal, and a housing in which the pressure sensor and the circuit board are sealed. The pressure sensor is bonded to the housing and sandwiched between the circuit board fixed to the housing and the housing. This structure reduces compressive stress applied to the pressure sensor and the circuit board so that accuracy of the pressure sensing apparatus can be improved.

Abstract: A pressure sensor includes a pressure detecting element for detecting a pressure, a circuit board having an electrical circuit to be connected to the pressure detecting element, and a housing having a housing member and a cover. The housing member partitions at least a part of a first space for accommodating the pressure detecting element and at least a part of a second space for accommodating the circuit board such that the first space and the second space are separated from each other. The cover partitions at least a part of a remainder of each of the first space and the second space.

Abstract: An occupant sensing ECU determines an occupant state on a seat by comparing occupant determination threshold values with a corresponding sensed load data value, which is originated from load sensors. The ECU stores an adjustment value, which is used to adjust a predetermined design value of each of the occupant determination threshold values. The adjustment value is a difference between an empty-state 0 point load value and a predetermined design value of the empty-state 0 point load value.

Abstract: A passenger detection device for a vehicle is provided with multiple load sensors, each of which detects a load on a seat of the vehicle within a predetermined detection range of the load sensor, and an ECU that determines passenger information of the seat. The ECU has at least one calculation range, each of which limits the detection range of each corresponding one of the multiple load sensors. The ECU determines the passenger information based on a detection data value of each load sensor, which is outputted from the load sensor and falls within the corresponding calculation range of the load sensor.

Abstract: A passenger protecting system for a vehicle has a space defining member which partially constructs a chassis of the vehicle and defines therein an inner space deformable due to a collision of the vehicle, a pressure detection member which is arranged in the inner space to detect a pressure of air in the inner space, a temperature detection member which is arranged in the inner space to detect a temperature of air in the inner space, a determination unit, and a passenger protection device for protecting a passenger in the vehicle. The passenger protection device is actuated, when the determination unit determines that there occurs the collision of the vehicle based on a variation of the pressure and a variation of the temperature.

Abstract: A passenger-protecting system includes a pressure sensor for detecting a pressure in an inner space of a door and a side airbag installed in the door. The pressure in the inner space increases when a side collision occurs. When the pressure in the inner space of the door exceeds a predetermined threshold level, the side airbag is inflated to protect a passenger from a side collision. There are certain situations where the operation of the side airbag is not necessary even if the pressure in the inner space of the door exceeds the threshold level. Such situations include: when the door is abruptly closed and a front airbag is inflated to protect a passenger from a frontal collision. According to the present invention, unnecessary operations of the side airbag are effectively avoided.

Abstract: A collision detection system for a vehicle is provided with multiple hollow members which are arranged at a periphery portion of the vehicle and define therein substantially closed spaces, at least one housing defining therein a substantially closed space, multiple transferring members for respectively communicating the spaces in the hollow members with the space in the housing, at least one detection unit which is arranged in the housing to detect a status of air in the housing, and a control unit. The control unit determines whether or not there occurs a collision of the vehicle based on detection signals from the detection unit.

Abstract: A pressure sensor includes a case with an air passageway having a first opening leading to an inside of the case and a second opening leading to an outside of the case, pressure sensing means that is placed inside the case and includes a pressure sensing surface for detecting pressure, and a breathable filter that is provided with the air passageway to cover at least one of the first and second openings. The pressure sensing means is fixed to the case through mounting means that allows the pressure sensing means to be spaced from the case to prevent stress that is applied to the pressure sensing means by the case.

Abstract: A pressure detection device includes a case unit which has therein an accommodation space and a pressure introduction passage, and a pressure detection unit having a detection surface for detecting a pressure applied thereto. Two ends of the pressure introduction passage respectively have a first opening portion which is opened toward the accommodation space, and a second opening portion which is opened toward an exterior of the case unit. The pressure detection unit is accommodated in the accommodation space. The pressure introduction passage further has a third opening portion which is opened toward the exterior. The pressure detection unit is disposed to detect the pressure, with the first opening portion and the third opening portion being positioned at an upper side of the second opening portion.