Patent ID: 6577023
Filing Date: 2003-06-10
Classification: B60N,B60R,G01V

Abstract:
A system for detecting an occupant in a vehicle with a safety restraint system, comprising:a. a first electric field sensor comprising at least one first electrode mountable in a seat bottom of a vehicle seat, wherein said first electric field sensor is responsive to at least one electric-field-influencing property of an object on said vehicle seat; b. a first sensing circuit operatively coupled to at least one said first electrode of said first electric field sensor wherein said first sensing circuit generates a first signal responsive to said at least one electric-field-influencing property of an object proximate to said first electric field sensor, wherein said first sensing circuit further comprises: i. a reference capacitor; and ii. a switch for switching said reference capacitor in place of said first electric field sensor, wherein said first sensing circuit compares the measurement of said reference capacitor with the measurement of said first electric field sensor, calibrates said first signal responsive to said comparison; c. a weight sensor operatively coupleable to said vehicle seat for measuring the weight of an object upon said vehicle seat; and d. a controller operatively coupled to said first electric field sensor and to said weight sensor, wherein said controller discriminates a type of object on said vehicle seat responsive to said first signal and to said weight sensor, and said controller controls the actuation of the safety restraint system responsive to said type of object.