Denso Corporation

Shoichi Ishida

Tadashi Ozaki

Sadayuki Kuwahara

A seating condition detecting system has four load sensors, a belt tension sensor and a self-diagnostic system. The first and second abnormal ranges are set for detecting abnormal operations of the system. The upper limit of the first range is set so that a total load becomes heavier as a belt tension becomes higher. The lower limit of the second range is set so that the total load becomes heavier as the belt tension deviates from the point at which the total load becomes lightest. When the total load falls in the first range or the second range, an abnormal operation of the seating condition detecting system is determined.

Seating condition detecting system for vehicle

In a passenger detection apparatus for a vehicle, a microcomputer conducts a timer counting operation using a sub-clock signal fed from an CR oscillation circuit in a stand-by state and carries out a zero-point correction on a load sensor in an activated state. In addition, the microcomputer calibrates the accuracy of the timer count through the use of a main clock signal fed from a crystal oscillator. This enables the timer count to be conducted in a low current dissipation state by the CR oscillation circuit, and enables the accuracy of the timer count to be surely maintained through the calibration based on the main clock signal.

Electronic control unit and passenger detection apparatus for vehicle

An auxiliary circuit continuously executes a timer counting operation under a condition that electric power is directly supplied from a vehicle battery to the auxiliary circuit. A main circuit receives no electric power during a waiting condition and hence minimizes current consumption. Only when a predetermined timer activation time is counted by the auxiliary circuit or an ignition key switch is turned on, electric power is supplied to the main circuit for allowing the main circuit to execute a zero point correction for load sensors.

On-vehicle electronic control apparatus with timer-based power supply

A sensor output processing device has an amplifier circuit for amplifying a sensor output signal of a sensor and a buffer circuit for limiting the amplified signal to a high limit level lower than a high side voltage of a power source or a low limit level higher than a low side voltage of the power source. This limited signal is normally produced as an output signal to an external circuit. When a self-diagnosis circuit determines an abnormality in the sensor or in the amplifier circuit and the buffer circuit, the output signal is fixed to a level higher than the high limit level or lower than the low limit level.

Sensor output processing device having self-diagnosis function

A seat load measuring system for use in a vehicle occupant protection device for a vehicle seat has a zero point adjusting capability. The seat load measuring system comprises four weight sensor assemblies; a hub assembly for collecting the weight sensor outputs and providing an output determined by the weight sensor outputs; and means for communicating a user's desire for a zero point adjustment to each weight sensor assembly. Each weight sensor assembly includes a zero point adjusting section, which receives an output from the communication means for executing a zero point adjusting operation. If a zero point of a weight sensor assembly is not within a predetermined range, the zero point adjusting section may providing an alert. A zero point adjusting command may be entered by a command input device and passed to the zero point adjusting section. Alternatively, the zero point adjustment may be initiated through a momentary switch provided in the hub assembly.

Seat load measuring system with zero point-adjusting capability

An airbag system having a crash sensor generates a crash trigger signal when a crash is detected. A passenger detected system detects at least a passenger in the motor vehicle to generate data regarding the passenger. In response to the crash trigger signal, a latest piece of the data regarding the passenger is held in non-volitile memory when the crash is detected to provide the data for the accident analysis.

Passenger protection apparatus for a motor vehicle

An occupant protection system of a vehicle comprises a seat load measuring subsystem and an occupant protection subsystem. The seat load measuring subsystem includes a controller and weight sensors attached to a vehicle seat, each weight sensor providing a weight signal. The controller provides information determined by a weight of an occupant of the vehicle seat. In response to a detection of a crash, the occupant protection subsystem provides a crash signal determined by a magnitude of the crash. In response to a reception of the crash signal, the controller automatically decides whether a weight sensor under diagnosis is normal, abnormal or intermediate between normal and abnormal on the basis of a level of the crash signal and the weight signals obtained from the weight sensor before and after the crash.

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Oobu, Japan

Shoichi Ishida