Patent ID: 7216557

Claim:
An apparatus for testing an occupant position sensing system of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising: a motor having a stationary portion and a movable portion; a test object fixed relative to the movable portion of the motor and configured to be monitored by the occupant position sensing system, wherein the test object is made of a light-weight foam material and includes an outer covering that is configured to be sensed by the occupant position sensing system; a motor position sensor for sensing a position of the movable portion of the motor relative to the stationary portion and for providing a motor position signal indicative thereof; motor drive electronics that are responsive to the motor position signal for controlling the motor for moving the test object; a data recorder adapted to receive and record data from the occupant position sensing system and adapted to receive and record the motor position signal provided by the motor position sensor, the motor position signal providing a reference position of the test object against which the data from the occupant position sensing system may be compared; and means for positioning the test object in the vehicle and in front of a backrest portion of a seat associated with a location of the vehicle to be tested by the occupant position sensing system, wherein the means for positioning the test object includes a rod having first and second ends, the test object being fixed to the first end of the rod and the second end of the rod being fixed to the movable portion of the motor.