Patent ID: 7194346
Filing Date: 2007-03-20
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
1. Apparatus for detecting and identifying occupants of a vehicle cabin having first and second seats, comprising: a first receiver disposed at a central location of said cabin for receiving and identifying radio frequency signals; a first transmitter located in the first seat for radiating a first uniquely identifiable radio frequency signal that is weakly received by said first receiver when the first seat is unoccupied and strongly received and identified by said first receiver when a first human occupant is present on the first seat due to the first radio frequency signal being coupled to the first receiver through the first human occupant; a second transmitter located in the second seat for radiating a second uniquely identifiable radio frequency signal that is weakly received by said first receiver when the second seat is unoccupied and strongly received and identified by said first receiver when a second human occupant is present on the second seat by virtue of the second radio frequency signal being coupled to the first receiver through the second human occupant; and a processor coupled to the first receiver for determining a total number of said human occupants and their seat locations based on whether the first radio frequency signal and the second radio frequency signal are strongly received by said first receiver.