Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-29
2001-03-13
Rice, Kenneth R. (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
active
06199904
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to an occupant sensing and crash behavior system for a motor vehicle, and more particularly to detecting an occupant by microwave absorption.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Motor vehicles are equipped with air bag systems that are electrically activated in the event of a vehicle crash. The activation of the air bag systems is generally accomplished by way of impact sensors strategically positioned in various places about the vehicle.
It is known that an adaptive restraint system can be accomplished by using weight sensors to determine the weight characteristic of the seat's occupant. By determining the relative weight of the occupant, the force of deployment for the air bag can be determined. However, it is possible that the seat's occupant may be quite heavy and still be small in size, which requires different deployment forces than a larger, lighter occupant. Likewise, it is important to distinguish between a human occupant and an inanimate object in determining air bag deployment.
Sensors to detect the mere presence of a seat occupant are also known. For example, capacitive sensors have been used to detect the presence of a human occupant in the seat in order to determine air bag deployment forces. However, capacitive sensors merely detect the presence of a human occupant and cannot distinguish between a small occupant and a large occupant, nor can the capacitive sensor distinguish between a heavy occupant and a light occupant.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to sense the presence of a seat occupant. It is another object of the present invention to sense the position of the seat occupant.
It is a further object of the present invention to determine the size and weight of a seat occupant. It is still a further object of the present invention to determine the deployment force necessary to properly restrain the seat occupant based on the presence, position, size and weight of the seat occupant. It is yet a further object of the present invention to determine the deployment force necessary based on information received from a microwave emitter/detector system mounted in the vehicle.
In carrying out the above objects and other objects and features of the present invention there is provided a method and system for detecting an occupant in an automobile seat by microwave absorption. According to the present invention, a low power microwave emitter is positioned in the vehicle to illuminate the seat in a predefined pattern. A reflective surface inside the structure of the seat reflects energy back to a detector.
An occupant will leave part of the reflector exposed. The portion of exposed reflector is dependent to the size of the occupant. Energy not reflected is absorbed proportional to the size of the occupant. The intensity of the reflected signal can be calibrated to determine the presence, position, size and weight of the seat occupant. The calibrated signal is then used to determine the force of the air bag deployment.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and appended claims, and upon reference to the accompanying drawings.
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patent: 5871232 (1999-02-01), White
patent: 5927752 (1999-07-01), Bradin
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Ford Global Technologies Inc.
Kelley David B.
Rice Kenneth R.
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