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, 2002
Filed:
Apr. 07, 2000
David S. Breed, Boonton Township, Morris County, NJ (US);
Wilbur E. Duvall, Kimberling City, MO (US);
Wendell C. Johnson, San Diego, CA (US);
Automotive Technologies International Inc., Denville, NJ (US);
Abstract
Method and system for detecting the presence of the child seat on the seat including a receiving unit for receiving waves from a space above the seat and a signal-generating component which generates a signal based on the received waves which is indicative of the occupancy of the space above the seat. A different signal is generated for different occupants of the seat when the seat is occupied. A signal from the receiving unit representative of the received waves is analyzed, e.g., by a processor applying pattern recognition techniques, in order to generate the signal indicative of the occupancy of the seat and thereby enable a determination of whether a child seat is present in the seat and optionally the orientation thereof. A wave-emitter may be provided for emitting waves, e.g., ultrasonic or electromagnetic waves, into the space above the seat. One or more other systems or components in the vehicle, e.g., an occupant restraint device, may be affected or controlled based on the signal indicative of the occupancy of the seat, and more particularly, the determination of whether a child seat is present on the seat.