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:
Jun. 10, 2003
Filed:
Dec. 29, 1999
Applicant:
Inventors:
James G. Stanley, Novi, MI (US);
Robert A. Stopper, Jr., Plymouth, MI (US);
Judson G. McDonnell, Farmington Hills, MI (US);
Assignee:
Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc., Farmington Hills, MI (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B60L 1/00 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
B60L 1/00 ;
Abstract
An occupant detection system comprises an electric field sensor in the seat bottom of a vehicle seat for discriminating objects on the seat, and a seat weight sensor for sensing the force upon the seat. The electric field sensor discriminates normally seated occupants from other seating conditions, and disables a restraint actuator unless a normally seated occupant is present. The seat weight sensor disables the restraint actuator if force upon the seat is less than a threshold.