The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 02, 1996
Filed:
May. 01, 1995
John H Semchena, Royal Oak, MI (US);
Ernest M Faigle, Dryden, MI (US);
Richard J Thompson, Imlay City, MI (US);
Joseph F Mazur, Washington, MI (US);
Charles E Steffens, Jr, Washington, MI (US);
TRW Vehicle Safety Systems, Inc., Lyndhurst, OH (US);
Abstract
Apparatus and method for controlling an occupant restraint system in a vehicle (10) comprises storing in a ROM memory (220) a block of image data representative of a viewing field within the vehicle (10). The viewing field includes an unoccupied vehicle seat (18) located in the occupant compartment (12) of the vehicle. A new block of image data is obtained which is representative of the viewing field with an occupant (202) on the seat (18). This image data is obtained with an image sensor (200), such as a CCD sensor, mounted in the vehicle (10) for viewing the field. The new block of image data is compared with the stored block of image data by a controller (30) to obtain the occupant's size and/or position in the vehicle. The controller (30) provides a control signal having a value which is a function of the comparison. A restraint regulator (120), such as a vent valve, responds to the control signal for controlling the occupant restraint system.