Patent ID: 6249729
Filing Date: 2001-06-19
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
A method of control of airbag deployment in an automotive vehicle interior to protect vehicle occupants event of an impact, said vehicle including an automotive occupancy sensor system for said vehicle interior which includes a Keep Out Zone, said automotive occupancy sensor system including signal processing to provide a processed signal to a passive restraint deployment system, said automotive occupancy sensor system has a plurality of sensors of which at least one of said sensors is an ultrasound sensor, said method comprising the steps of:a) outputting from at least one of said sensors a signal indicative of imminent incursion of said Keeo Out Zone;b) increasing the excitation rate of said ultrasound sensor:c) determining from said imminent incursion signal that at least one of:i) said incursion is occuring;ii) said incursion will occur; andd) bypassing said automtive occupancy sensor system signal processing to send a disable signal to said passive restraint deployment system.