Patent ID: 9694714
Date: 2017-07-04
CPC Classifications: B60N,G01G

Claim:
1. An apparatus for classifying a passenger in a vehicle, comprising: a seat cushion for a seat in the vehicle, the seat cushion having an adult detection area and a child detection area; a first chamber disposed in the adult detection area; a second chamber disposed in the child detection area; at least one pressure sensor configured to measure a first pressure based on a first weight applied to the first chamber and a second pressure based on a second weight applied to the second chamber; a first tube connecting the first chamber to the pressure sensor, and a second tube connecting the second chamber to the pressure sensor to output a first adjusted pressure value based on the first pressure and a second adjusted pressure value based on the second pressure, respectively, wherein the first adjusted pressure value is greater than the second adjusted pressure value when the first weight is substantially equal to the second weight; and a control unit for classifying a passenger as an adult or as a small child according to at least one of the first and second adjusted pressure values, wherein the first and second tubes deliver a working fluid to the pressure sensor, wherein the first tube has a smaller cross-sectional area than the second tube, and wherein the control unit sets a first gain value for the first weight or for the first pressure and a second gain value for the second weight or the second pressure, in which the first gain value is greater than the second gain value.