Mazda Motor Corporation

Yousuke Nishimoto

Takayuki Seto

Hiroaki Nakao

Kenji Muramatsu

The present invention has as its object to provide a vehicle passenger detection device that is able to prevent erroneous determinations arising from mechanical hysteresis. The present invention provides a vehicle passenger detection device comprising: weight measurement means, provided with a weight sensor disposed between a seat and floor of a vehicle, that measures the load applied to the seat; fluctuation amplitude detection means that detects the amplitude of fluctuation in values measured by the weight measurement means; correction means that applies a negative correction to the value measured by the weight measurement means when the fluctuation amplitude is smaller than a stipulated value; and passenger presence determination means that determines the presence of a passenger upon the seat by comparing the value measured by the weight measurement means against a stipulated threshold value.

Vehicle passenger detection device

A seat belt system which does not interfere with the ingress and egress of rear seat passengers, and can detect the presence of an occupant without being influenced by the seat belt tension to provide the accurate weight detection. In one embodiment, the seat belt system comprises a retractor disposed in the rear door, an anchor of the seat belt webbing, and a rail member that allows the anchor of the seat belt webbing to slide in the vehicular longitudinal direction. The front end of the rail member is attached substantially on the seat side above a weight detecting device. The weight detecting device is disposed between the front seat and the floor panel, while the buckle capable of engaging the tongue of the seat belt webbing is disposed on the seat above the weight detecting device.

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Hiroshima, Japan

Yousuke Nishimoto