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:
Mar. 13, 2001
Filed:
Feb. 12, 1999
Stephen R. W. Cooper, Fowlerville, MI (US);
Frederic Marcel Sejalon, Commerce Township, MI (US);
TRW Inc., Lyndhurst, OH (US);
Abstract
A sensor arrangement (,and,) and an associated method are provided for sensing at least one occupant characteristic of a vehicle occupant (,). At least one transmitter (e.g.,,A) transmits an energy signal (e.g.,,A) toward an occupant location within a vehicle (,). At least one detector (e.g.,,A) detects whether absorption of the energy signal (,A) by the occupant (,) occurs and provides a signal (e.g.,,A) indicative thereof. An occupant sense module (,) processes the signal (,A) to determine at least one occupant characteristic. Preferably, the sensor arrangement (,and,) is part of an occupant protection system (,).