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:
Nov. 30, 2004
Filed:
May. 21, 2002
James G. Stanley, Novi, MI (US);
Robert A. Stopper, Jr., Plymouth, MI (US);
Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc., Farmington Hills, MI (US);
Abstract
An occupant detection system comprises a weight sensor and an electric field sensor, each operatively coupled to a seat. The electric field sensor generates an electric field from at least one electrode in the seat bottom of the seat, provides for generating a response to an influence of the occupant thereupon, and is adapted to provide for discriminating from the response a seated infant or child seating condition from another seating condition. If a measure of weight from the weight sensor is less than a threshold, or if a seated child seating condition is detected by the electric field sensor, then a signal processor provides for disabling an associated restraint actuator. The electric field sensor may comprise a plurality of electrodes over separate first and second regions of differing proximity to a seated infant or child, or at least one electrode in cooperation with a shield or void over at least one of the regions.