Patent ID: 7205902
Filing Date: 2007-04-17
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
1. An occupant detection system comprising: a load sensor that measures a load applied to a seat of a vehicle; and an electronic control unit having a determination section that determines occupancy status of the seat based on a result of the load measurement, a power supply section that supplies power to the load sensor and the determination section with a power supply voltage lower than a battery voltage of the vehicle, and a communication section that sends a result of the occupancy status determination to an external device, wherein, the load sensor and the power supply section are electrically connected with each other via a sensor power supply line in which a resistor having a specific resistance is connected, the specific resistance is predetermined so that the resistor becomes open when a short occurs and does not affect to a dynamic range of the load sensor, the power supply section and the resistor are electrically connected with each other via an internal power supply line to which a zener diode having a specific breakdown voltage is connected through branch connection, and the specific breakdown voltage is predetermined between the power supply voltage and a guaranteed voltage of the electronic control unit.