Patent ID: 7730794

Claim:
A method for classifying passengers, comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of load sensors disposed in a passenger seat of an automobile for measuring a load applied to the passenger seat; obtaining a sum by summing respective values obtained by multiplying respective load values measured from the plurality of load sensors by weighted load values of the respective load sensors; comparing the sum with a reference value to classify a passenger on the passenger seat; wherein the plurality of load sensors consists of three load sensors and the weighted load values of the three respective load sensors are determined so as to satisfy all of [Equation 1], [Equation 2], and [Equation 3] under the condition that [Equation 4] is satisfied: Ai=X 1 i*S 1 i+X 2 i+*S 2 i+X 3 i*S 3 i [Equation 1] wherein Ai is an adult test measurement weight value measured in advance under a predetermined condition (i), Xki is a weighted load value of a k-th load sensor under the predetermined condition (i), and Ski is a load value measured by the k-th load sensor when an adult dummy is seated on the passenger seat, Ci=X 1 i*S 1 i+X 2 i*S 2 i+X 3 i*S 3 i [Equation 2] wherein Ci is an infant test measurement weight value measured in advance under a predetermined condition (i), Xki is a weighted load value of a k-th load sensor under the predetermined condition (i), and Ski is a load value measured by the k-th load sensor when an infant dummy is seated on the passenger seat, X 1 i+X 2 i+X 3 i=T [Equation 3] wherein Xki is a weighted load value of a k-th weight load sensor under the predetermined condition (i) and T is a specific limit value, MAX[MIN(Ai)−MAX (Ci)] [Equation 4] wherein Ai is an adult test measurement weight value measured in advance under a predetermined condition (i), and Ci is an infant test measurement weight value measured in advance under the predetermined condition (i).