초록 ▼

An apparatus (32) is preferably part of an occupant protection system (10), and the apparatus determines a characteristic of an object (70) that may be located on a seat (14) of a vehicle (12) for use in control of the system. The object (70) may be a vehicle occupant, and the preferred characterist

An apparatus (32) is preferably part of an occupant protection system (10), and the apparatus determines a characteristic of an object (70) that may be located on a seat (14) of a vehicle (12) for use in control of the system. The object (70) may be a vehicle occupant, and the preferred characteristic that is determined is distance between the object and an instrument panel (22) of the vehicle (12). An emitter array (36) and a detector array (50) are located on the instrument panel (22). Each emitter (40) emits a beam (42) along a different path on which the object (70) may be located. Each detector (52) receives beams (42) emitted from the emitter array (36) that are reflected from the object (70). Each reflected beam received at the detector array (50) is indicative of distance between the instrument panel (22) and the object (70). An object sensor controller (34) determines relative intensities at each detector (52) of each reflected and received beam, and also determines time-of-flight of each reflected and received beam(s). The controller (34) processes each determined relative intensity and each determined time-of-flight to determine the object characteristic.

대표청구항 ▼

[ Having described the invention, the following is claimed:] [1.]1. An apparatus for determining an object characteristic of an object that may be located on a seat of a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:an array of emitting means on a portion of the vehicle, each emitting means for emitting a beam

[ Having described the invention, the following is claimed:] [1.]1. An apparatus for determining an object characteristic of an object that may be located on a seat of a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:an array of emitting means on a portion of the vehicle, each emitting means for emitting a beam along a path on which the object may be located, each path being in a different direction;an array of receiving means on the portion of the vehicle, each receiving means for receiving beams emitted from said array of emitting means that are reflected from the object, each reflected beam received at said array of receiving means being indicative of distance between the portion of the vehicle and the object;means for determining relative intensities at each receiving means of each reflected and received beam;means for determining time-of-flight of each reflected and received beam between emission of the beam from said array of emitting means and reception of the beam at said array of receiving means; andmeans for processing each determined relative intensity and each determined time-of-flight to determine an object characteristic, and for providing a signal indicative thereof.