Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Jon Larkins

William Jerome Olsen

Ryan Ritter

Keith Richard Warner

Method and apparatus are disclosed for determining vehicle seat occupancy. An example vehicle includes a vehicle seat, an accelerometer coupled to the vehicle seat, and a restraint control module. The restraint control module is configured to determine a minute of arc measurement for the vehicle seat based on data received from the accelerometer, determine that the vehicle seat is occupied based on the minute of arc measurement, and provide an alert.

Systems and methods for vehicle seat occupancy detection

A system for testing a pressure sensor of a seat includes a loading device and a processor. The loading device removably applies weight to the seat. The processor receives a measurement of a pre-installation pressure offset of a bladder of the pressure sensor measured before installation of the pressure sensing assembly into the seat. The processor is programmed to receive a weighted measurement from the pressure sensor in the seat when the loading device applies weight to the seat and an empty seat measurement from the pressure sensor in the seat when the loading device does not apply weight to the seat. The processor determines a threshold value by subtracting the empty seat measurement from the weighted measurement. The processor determines a seat pressure offset value by subtracting the pre-installation pressure offset value from the threshold value. The processor compares the seat pressure offset value to a selected range.

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Temperance, MI, United States of America

Jon Larkins