Robert Boschgmbh

Aerojet-general Corporation

Anthony P Corrado

Stephen W Decker

Paul K Benbow

Ralf Seip

Tomas Lehntz

An automobile rearview mirror mount assembly adapted to mount sensors and wiring for automotive occupancy sensing (AOS) systems for sensing the nature or type of occupant and the location of the occupant with respect to the vehicle interior, particularly AOS systems employing Keep-Out-Zone-Incursion (KOZI) sensors. The mirror mount assembly provides a protected conduit for AOS wiring independent of the windshield, allowing windshield replacement without the removal or possible damage to the wiring. The mirror mounting assembly is characterised by a elongated cantilevered arm extension of the mirror mount, the arm being pivoted from the vehicle roof or a roof- or header-mounted AOS console, The mirror mounting assembly includes a bracket incorporating one or more AOS sensor(s), preferably a Keep-Out-Zone-Incursion (KOZI) sensor(s). The cantilevered arm carries the electronic connections linking the sensors to the AOS system. The mirror mount assembly is also fixed to the windshield by a zero-force attachment assembly which permits the mounting assembly to be detached and pivoted away from the windshield for windshield maintenance or replacement without compromising the electronic connections. The two point attachment, one end being pivoted, permits precise location and alignment of the sensors so they look at the proper predetermined zone of the vehicle, e.g., a KOZI or the vehicle seat.

AOS sensor mirror mount assembly

A system for sensing the presence, position and type classification of an occupant in a passenger seat of a vehicle, as well as for sensing the presence of a rear-facing child seat therein, for use in controlling a related air bag activator control system to enable, disable or control inflation rate or amount of inflation of an air bag. The sensor system employs sensor fusion, a process of combining information provided by two or more sensors (,), each of which &ldquo;sees&rdquo; the world in a unique sense. In a preferred embodiment, infrared sensor inputs (,) and ultrasonic sensor inputs (,) are combined in a microprocessor by a sensor fusion algorithm (,) to produce an occupancy state output signal (,) to the air bag controller.

Method of operating a vehicle occupancy state sensor system

An automotive occupancy sensing system and method for use in conjunction with airbag deployment systems, by which occupant nature, location and motion parameters within the vehicle interior are determined by ultrasound (US) and/or infared sensors. (IS). Criteria for airbag disablement or airbag modified/partial deployment are used to determine whether appropriate disablement or modified/partial deployment control signals are transmitted to the vehicle airbag deployment system. More particularly the system establishes a Keep Out Zone (KOZ) within the vehicle interior relative to the dashboard or instrument panel and determines actual or imminent incursions by occupants into the KOZ to produce a Keep Out Zone Incursion (KOZI) signal, and determines crash-imminent signal (CIS) criteria derived from one or more sensors within the vehicle. Both the KOZI and the CIS may be used to increase the rate of US pinging as well as to determine airbag disablement/modified deployment criteria.

Keep out zone incursion fast sensing mode for airbag deployment systems

A system for sensing the presence, position and type classification of an occupant in a passenger seat of a vehicle, as well as for sensing the presence of a rear-facing child seat therein, for use in controlling a related air bag activator control system to enable, disable or control inflation rate or amount of inflation of an air bag. The sensor system employs sensor fusion, a process of combining information provided by two or more sensors (24, 26), each of which 'sees' the world in a unique sense. In a preferred embodiment, infrared sensor inputs (78) and ultrasonic sensor inputs (79) are combined in a microprocessor by a sensor fusion algorithm (80) to produce an occupancy state output signal (85) to the air bag controller.

Automotive occupant sensor system and method of operation by sensor

Methods of occupancy state determination and computer programs

Modulation and cutoff system for automotive interior fans/blowers which cuts off fan or closes shutters to stop or divert airflow during preselected Automotive Occupancy Sensor system operations so that the airflow does not interfere with, cause anomalies or short duration signal ambiguities in the US and IR sensor signal detection. The US sensor increases to a fast mode cycle upon receiving a crash imminent (CI) signal or upon detection of a Keep-Out Zone Intrusion (KOZI). Upon receipt of a CI or KOZI signal the fan/blower power is interrupted, slowed or the airstream is diverted. Alternately or additionally, the AOS system can be recalibrated for fan or air stream relative movement, the before/after fan interrupt US/IR signals can be compared, and a 'fan-on' signal can be used to change AOS fusion processing coefficient, feature selections or matrix.

AOS fan modulation systems

A system for sensing the presence, position and type of an occupant in a passenger seat of a vehicle, as well as for sensing the presence of a rear-facing child seat therein, for use in enabling or disabling a related airbag activator. The sensor system employs sensor-fusion, a process of combining information provided by two or more sensors, each of which 'sees' the world in a unique sense. In a preferred embodiment, occupancy sensor samples two detectable properties, a first being a thermal signature and associated motion, and a second is acoustically measured distance and the associated motion. Infrared sensor inputs and an ultrasonic sensor input are combined in a microprocessor circuit by means of a sensor fusion algorithm to produce an output signal to the air bag controller. The output signal results from preselected confidence weighing for feature parameters generated by the two sensors and upon a fusion process which ultimately makes a decision which is extremely reliable. The sensor fusion matrix processes the sensor outputs in a decision making operation which includes weighing inputs to guarantee reliability. All sensor outputs, along with calibration data, initial conditions and historical reference data are considered in the process of making a decision of whether or not to deploy the passenger-side air bag in a collision.

Growing community of inventors

Clarkston, MI, United States of America

Anthony P Corrado