초록 ▼

Predetermined multiple points of the front passenger seat and its periphery are irradiated with spot beams, caught with a camera, and distances are measured based on the irradiation position of the spot beams. Conversely, the characteristics for each status of use of the seat such as the shapes of t

Predetermined multiple points of the front passenger seat and its periphery are irradiated with spot beams, caught with a camera, and distances are measured based on the irradiation position of the spot beams. Conversely, the characteristics for each status of use of the seat such as the shapes of the contour of the seat or the contour of a child seat are detected from the picture information caught with the camera. The status of use of the seat is decided based the characteristics for each status of use and the distance information that was previously measured. Based on this decision, the operation of a passive safety device such as an air bag device is controlled.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A decision device for a vehicle, said device comprising:a ranging unit configured and arranged to measure a plurality of distances between a predetermined overhead point and an occupant of a seat, each of the plurality of distances being determined with respect to an image of a spot illuminated b

1. A decision device for a vehicle, said device comprising:a ranging unit configured and arranged to measure a plurality of distances between a predetermined overhead point and an occupant of a seat, each of the plurality of distances being determined with respect to an image of a spot illuminated by a corresponding beam, each beam being directed along a different angle from the predetermined overhead point; an imaging unit configured and arranged to obtain image information of an area that includes at least a part of the seat; and an occupant type discriminator configured and arranged to determine the occupant type based on both the image information and the plurality of distances, wherein the ranging unit includes a spotlight source configured and arranged to emit the corresponding beams.