Patent ID: 6158768
Filing Date: 2000-12-12
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
An apparatus for determining at least one of presence, type, and size value of a vehicle occupant located within a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:first capacitive sensor means located on an instrument panel of the vehicle that is on a first side of an occupant seating location within the vehicle for sensing a first capacitance value and for providing a first signal indicative of the first capacitance value;means for determining from the first signal whether the first capacitance value is indicative of an occupant located proximate to said first capacitive sensor means;means for determining a first distance between said first sensor means and the proximately located occupant using the first signal;second capacitive sensor means located on a second side of the occupant seating location for sensing a second capacitance value and for providing a second signal indicative of the second capacitance value;means for determining from the second signal whether the second capacitance value is indicative of the occupant located proximate to said second capacitive sensor means; andmeans for determining a second distance between said second sensor means and the proximately located occupant using the second signal.