Patent ID: 7289894

Claim:
An occupant sensing system comprising: a plurality of load sensors, each of which senses a load applied to a seat of a vehicle; and an occupant sensing ECU that determines an occupant state on the seat by comparing a corresponding one of at least one sensed load data value with at least one occupant determination threshold value, wherein: each of the at least sensed load data value is originated from corresponding one or more of the plurality of load sensors; the at least one occupant determination threshold value is for determining a type of an occupant on the seat; the occupant sensing ECU stores at least one adjustment value, each of which is used to adjust a predetermined design value of each of the at least one occupant determination threshold value to obtain the at least one occupant determination threshold value; each of the at least one adjustment value is a difference between a corresponding one of at least one empty-state 0 point load value and a predetermined design value of the corresponding one of the at least one empty-state 0 point load value; and each of the at least one empty-state 0 point load value indicates a load applied to the seat in an empty state of the seat and is sensed through the corresponding one or more of the plurality of load sensors.