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. 10, 2009
Filed:
Jan. 10, 2008
Chun Seok Park, Gwangmyeong-si, KR;
Jae Haeng Yoo, Yongin-si, KR;
Chun Seok Park, Gwangmyeong-si, KR;
Jae Haeng Yoo, Yongin-si, KR;
Hyundai Motor Company, Seoul, KR;
Kia Motors Corporation, Seoul, KR;
Abstract
An apparatus for classifying a vehicle occupant to determine whether to deploy an airbag is disclosed. The classification apparatus includes a sensor which is installed in a seat of a vehicle and is supplied with AC power, the sensor having a sensing conductor and a guard conductor electrically connected to each other, with an insulator interposed therebetween. A controller compares an imaginary current value, attributable to variation in capacitance of the sensor, measured on an output side of the sensor, and a real current value, attributable to variation in resistance of the sensor, with preset threshold values, thus classifying an occupant who is sitting in the seat. According to the classification apparatus, even if moisture permeates into a seat, an occupant can be precisely classified using the real current value and the imaginary current value.