Patent ID: 9555722
Date: 2017-01-31
CPC Classifications: B60N,B60R

Claim:
1. A seat occupancy determination apparatus, comprising: a seat belt attachment detection device configured to detect attachment and detachment of a tongue plate and a buckle of a seat belt device; a first load detection sensor and a second load detection sensor arranged spaced-apart from each other in frontward and rearward direction beneath a portion of a vehicle seat in a direction where the buckle is provided, the first load detection sensor and the second load detection sensor configured to independently detect a part of a load that is applied on the vehicle seat; and a controller configured to: the first predetermined condition is satisfied in a case where the front-rear load difference value, within a time range between the time point of engagement and the first time point including the time point of engagement, increases by an amount equal to or more than a first predetermined amount from the front-rear load difference value at the first time point or the time earlier to the first time point, and the second predetermined condition is satisfied in a case where the front-rear load difference value, increased by the amount equal to or more than the first predetermined amount, decreases by an amount equal to or more than a second predetermined amount within a time range between the time point of engagement and a second time point that defines a point in time elapsed by a second predetermined length of time from the time point of engagement.