Patent ID: 7233852

Claim:
A method of distinguishing between a normally seated adult and a cinched car seat in an occupant classification system for a seat of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of: measuring parameters during movement of said vehicle including a force applied to said seat and a z-axis acceleration of said vehicle; determining an average of the measured seat force; determining one or more dynamic characteristics correlative of a normally seated adult occupant of said seat based on said measured parameters; determining one or more dynamic characteristics correlative of a cinched car seat occupant of said seat based on said measured parameters; computing a first overall confidence level in favor of a normally seated adult occupant based on the average seat force and the dynamic characteristics correlative of a normally seated adult occupant; computing a second overall confidence level in favor of a cinched car seat occupant based on the average seat force and the dynamic characteristics correlative of a cinched car seat occupant; determining that a normally seated adult occupant is present if the first overall confidence level is greater than the second overall confidence level; and determining that a cinched child seat is present if the second overall confidence level is greater than the first overall confidence level.