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. 29, 2004
Filed:
Jun. 11, 1997
Marc R. Simon, Whitefish Bay, WI (US);
Larry Matthies, La Canada, CA (US);
William J. Janutka, West Allis, WI (US);
Sabrina Elizabeth Kemeny, La Crescenta, CA (US);
Eaton Corporation, Cleveland, OH (US);
Abstract
A motor vehicle control system includes a pair of cameras for producing first and second images of a passenger area. A distance processor determines distances that a plurality of features in the first and second images are from the cameras based on the amount that each feature is shifted between the first and second images. An analyzer processed the distances and determine a size of an object on the seat. Additional analysis of the distance also may determine movement of the object and the rate of that movement. The distance information also can be used to recognize predefined patterns in the images and thus identify the object. A mechanism utilizes the determined object characteristics in controlling operation of a device, such as deployment of an air bag.